System Optimization for Backup VTUAV Shipboard Landing Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Topic No.: N112-127 Topic Title: System Optimization for Backup VTUAV Shipboard Landing Proposal No.: N112-127-0219 Firm: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation 9950 Wakeman Drive Manassas, Virginia 20110 Contact: James Paduano Phone: (617) 500-4807 Web Site: www.aurora.aero Abstract: Aurora Flight Sciences, working with Optical Air Data Systems (OADS), proposes to develop a retrofit system to perform the functions of the current Fire Scout / UCARS landing system while eliminating or minimizing dedicated communication links and/or specialized equipment on the ship deck. Technologies to be utilized are proprietary OADS methods (Landsafer), camera-based ship-deck position and attitude estimation, or a fused combination of these . By eliminating the use of an active on-deck system, and by placing the measurements and computations on board the VTUAV, a completely disparate system from the current `deck-centric' system will be created. The backup recovery system will be evaluated against landing dispersion requirements for a range of conditions. Additional performance enhancements will be considered, if they are necessary to meet dispersion requirements in elevated sea states and/or poor visibility conditions. Benefits: The Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle (VTUAV) mission includes autonomous launch and recovery operations from ship decks in potentially high sea states. The current shipboard landing system, the UAS Common Automatic Recovery System (UCARS) manufactured by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), is designed to enable recovery on a moving ship deck by providing accurate measurement of the current ship deck state, prediction of ship deck's future state, and active (radar-based) measurement of the Fire Scout's position relative to the deck. Unfortunately, the system is prone to single point failures and requires extensive onboard equipment to perform recovery, including shipboard electronics, a GPS signal, and a dedicated high-rate RF link for ship movement information. The need for a viable backup, together with the goal of expanding the number of ship decks on which the Fire Scout can land, is driving the search for an alternative landing system that minimizes equipment installation on the ship deck. An alternative that mitigates the risks from single point failure modes of the current system would increase the overall safety and reliability of shipboard operations. Return