Accession Number:
ADA622132
Title:
System Architecture of Small Unmanned Aerial System for Flight Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight
Descriptive Note:
Master's thesis
Corporate Author:
AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
Personal Author(s):
Report Date:
2015-09-17
Pagination or Media Count:
142.0
Abstract:
Small Unmanned Aerial Systems UAS have increasingly been used in military application. The application in expanding scope of operations has pushed existing small UAS beyond its designed capabilities. This resulted in frequent modifications or new designs. A common requirement in modification or new design of small UAS is to operate beyond visual Line-Of-Sight LOS of the ground pilot. Conventional military development for small UAS adopts a design and built approach. Modification of small Remote Control RC aircraft, using Commercial-Off-The Shelf COTS equipment, offers a more economical alternative with the prospect of shorter development time compared to conventional approach. This research seeks to establish and demonstrate an architecture framework and design a prototype small UAS for operation beyond visual LOS. The aim is to achieve an effective and reliable development approach that is relevant to the militarys evolving requirements for small UASs. Key elements of the architecture include Failure Mode Effect and Criticality Analysis FMECA, fail safe design for loss of control or communication, power management, interface definition, and configuration control to support varying onboard payloads. Flight test was conducted which successfully demonstrated a control handoff between local and remote Ground Station GS for beyond visual LOS operation.
Descriptors:
- *AIRCRAFT
- *FLIGHT TESTING
- *LINE OF SIGHT
- *UNMANNED
- AIRBORNE
- ARCHITECTURE
- COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT
- COMMUNICATION AND RADIO SYSTEMS
- COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
- CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
- CONTROL
- FAIL SAFE
- FAILURE
- FLIGHT
- GROUND STATIONS
- LOSSES
- LOW COSTS
- MANAGEMENT
- MODIFICATION
- OFF THE SHELF EQUIPMENT
- ONBOARD
- OPERATION
- PAYLOAD
- POWER
- PROTOTYPES
- RELIABILITY
- REMOTE AREAS
- REMOTE CONTROL
- REQUIREMENTS
- THESES
Subject Categories:
- Pilotless Aircraft