Unmanned Operation of Fly-by-wire Testbed Aircraft Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Topic No.: N091-038 Topic Title: Unmanned Operation of Fly-by-wire Testbed Aircraft Proposal No.: N091-038-0909 Firm: AeroMech Engineering, Inc. 888 Ricardo Ct San Luis Obispo, California 93401 Contact: Robert Miller Phone: (805) 503-4304 Web Site: www.aeromechengineering.com Abstract: Optionally piloted tactical testbed aircraft could enable high risk weapons flight tests. Fly-by-wire aircraft like the F-16, F/A-18, and F-117 offer the best retrofit conversion candidates. A FlexRay based vehicle management system will provide a low cost, frame synchronous, redundant, and highly reliable interface to the existing digital flight control system. An intelligent, learning flight control law module will allow greater flexibility, adaptability and reliability than traditional classic control schemes. The SharkFin ground control station (GCS) will provide a next generation user interface that is uniquely tailored to optionally-piloted vehicle operations. SharkFin is the state-of-the-art: this real-time, many-on-many, intuitive, STANAG 4586 compliant UAV control system will be modified for OPV operation, enabling operators with minimal training to take full advantage of the aircraft's autonomous capabilities. Benefits: Innovative methods that would allow for rapid and low cost conversion of manned fly-by-wire aircraft into optionally-piloted platforms could potentially be of interest to aircraft manufacturers and weapons systems integrators. Application of this technology to next generation FSATs could substantially reduce system design and development as well as per unit retrofit costs. Once developed and proven, the technology could be applied to general aviation and VTOL fly-by-wire aircraft. Return