Retrofit Might Be The Answer

Request For Proposal; Retrofit Might Be The Answer

Roy Sandridge

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide

7.4 – Research: Unmanned Systems (UNSY 530)

Abstract

California faces numerous challenges in its ability to respond to the multitude of natural disasters affecting this great state.  The scientific community has almost assured us there will be another earthquake like the one that very nearly destroyed  San Francisco in 1906, Southern California residence are reminded daily of the critical drought while at the same time other states face floods, and the summer season is also known as “Fire Season” in The Golden State.  Responding to these challenges has not been easy.  In the face of natural disaster, every available resource must be leveraged in response, so we can minimize loss of life, or destroyed natural habitat,  and property.  One possible solution to aerial equation can be the employment of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to deliver water or other fire suppression material to aide in combating these disasters.  Developing an aircraft in its entirety might prove to be cost prohibitive.  This paper explores the potential for equipping existing manned aircraft with the equipment necessary to make them UAS.

 

Request For Proposal

 

Out of Harm’s Way

Sending humans to fight fires puts them at risk, and putting them in an aircraft to fly above and fight a fire compounds that rise exponentially.  While aircraft has been proven to be exceptional assets in fighting fires, developments in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) may provide a solution to the conundrum of putting human lives at greater risk while fighting those fires.  In this research paper I hope to explore the potential for retrofitting existing aerial assets to make the UAS capable, and functional in providing fire fighting support.

System Requirements: Current aerial assets are employed in fire fighting situations as delivery platforms, bringing water, or fire suppression chemicals directly over a fire.  The asset currently requires a “man at the stick”, but recent technological advances now make it possible to remove the human from the cockpit in nearly any aircraft in use today.  Any proposed solution must be adaptable to function with the existing inventory of aircraft.

1. Transportability: The transport of all necessary equipment to appropriate air fields in operation.
   1. [Derived Requirement]: All component parts of the retrofit, test, or support equipment shall be transportable by commercial or USPS ground, sea, or air transportation.
      1. Test Requirement: Document review of shipping standards and USPS regulations.
2. Cost: Development cost will be covered separately; after which cost per air vehicle must meet agreed upon maximums. 
   1. [Derived Requirement]: Cost shall not exceed $1M per retrofitted aircraft.
      1. Test Requirement: Reviewed cost sheets.
   2. [Derived Requirement]:  Maintenance cost shall not exceed 10% annually of the cost to retrofit each aircraft.
      1. Test Requirement: Review of cost sheets.
3. Control System Element: A sub-system of UAS
   1. [Derived Requirement]: One Ground Control Station (GCS) per region shall control multiple aerial vehicles.
      1. Test Requirement: Monitors will display symbology of multiple (real-time) aircraft in an area not less than 50 square miles.
      2. Test Requirement:  GCS shall display the health and status of all active retrofitted aircraft in the area of interest.
4. Development Schedule:  (Fielded by 2018)
   1. [Derived Requirement]: Design shall be complete NLT Dec 2016.
   2. [Derived Requirement]: Ground Station testing shall begin NLT Jun 2016.
   3. [Derived Requirement]: Flight testing shall begin NLT Aug 2016.
5. Associated Design Considerations:
6. Development Process:
   1. This effort shall follow a Spiral test and development process in order to facilitate a quick response and initial fielding of the approved system.
       

Design Rational

Retrofitting existing aircraft would likely be more cost effective in the near term for state governments rather than designing aircraft not currently in existence, where their function is to carry large/bulky payloads such as water, or fire suppression chemicals.  The military has already provided a proof of concept where existing aircraft have been retrofitted to function as UAS as discussed by Colin Dunjohn (2013).   While retrofits generally occur on site, or by flying an aircraft to a designated location, I’ve recommended all necessary design, development, and test equipment be ground transported to the aircraft’s home station, thereby minimizing the time the aircraft would be out of operation.  Cost factors are weighed giving consideration that state and local governments will not have budgets equivalent to that of the federal government.  The development schedule was somewhat arbitrary, and would likely be extended due to FAA regulatory processes.
References

Dunjohn, C., (09/27/13), Boeing Converts F-16 Fighter Jet Into an Unmanned Drone, Gizmag, Retrieved 10/26/15: http://www.gizmag.com/boeing-f16-jet-unmanned-drone/29203/