The Use of Simulation to De-risk Maritime UAV Operations

The UK ShipAir Interface Framework SAIF project has developed a networked simulation architecture for the purposes of studying the dynamic interface between an air vehicle and the ship from which it operates. The SAIF project has enhanced the simulation technology developed for the 13 nation NATOPfP Interoperability and Re-Use Study NIREUS, and has initially been aimed at developing a simulation system capable of accurately predicting the ShipHelicopter Operating Limits SHOLs for a helicopter operating from a wide variety of current and future ship platforms. Since the SAIF architecture is independent of any particular ship or aircraft type, it has the potential to assess the operational performance of fixed or rotary wing Maritime UAV MUAV concepts in the key launch and recovery phases. This paper summarises the findings of a joint Systems Engineering and Assessment SEA and QinetiQ feasibility study into the potential application of the SAIF architecture for MUAV simulation experiments. The study concluded that the use of simulation offers a powerful methodology for developing shipMUAV operating limits in a flexible and cost effective manner. The use of a federated architecture also provides the opportunity to develop a collaborative simulation architecture with partner nations for use in MUAV studies.