Unmanned System Data Protocol and Format

Unmanned System Data Protocol and Format

Summary

            The United States Navy will benefit from a Department of Defense (DOD) investment of $600 million in Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UAV). (Pomerleau, M., 2016).  The capabilities include Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, inspection and identification, oceanography, communications, and more.  (Pomerleau, M., 2016).  The Remus 6000 made by Hydroid will likely be one of the systems the United States Navy acquires given the company has just been awarded $36.32 million of that DOD investment. 

Discussion

            The Remus 6000 is able to operate in up to 6000 meters of water for applications ranging from Organic mine countermeasures, hydrographic survey, area search, and surveillance and reconnaissance.  The sensor suite is reconfigurable to meet unique mission requirements.  A common element throughout the Remus fleet of systems is a common software and interface system for vehicle maintenance, permission checkout, planning, and data analysis on a Microsoft Windows platform.  (Hydroid, n.d.).  Full system specifications can be found on the Kongsberg website.  The 28 inch diameter vehicle is 12.6 feet long and weighs 1900 pounds, and operates with rechargeable Li-ion batteries which give it a 22 hour on station capability.  Communication between the vehicle and the remote station is accomplished through two connectors, one for shore power and one for data.  Alternatively the system can use 802.11 wireless connectiveity.  Communications is provided via acoustic modem, iridium, modem and 802.11G WiFi.  Navigation is provided via Long Baseline Transducer (7-15 kHz upwar looking transducer and Dead Reckon with ADCP inertial Navigation System (INS).  The acoustic link allows operators to monitor the AUV’s mission progress.  (Konsberg.com).

    Data export is accomplished via export from the vehicle in either ASCII text or Metlab format into spreadsheets for processing, and can include vehicle position, depth, altitude, time and other parameters.  (Konsberg).

    The reconfigurable sensor suite may include Naval sonar ASW and mine hunting, multibeam sonar, side-scan sonar, single-beam sonar, and synthetic aperture sonar.

      Alternative systems include the Remus 100, and Remus 600 which meet many of the same specifications, but lack the depth capability provided by the Remus 6000.

    Because this is an underwater system, it is necessary for the system to surface to transfer large amounts of data.  The previously discussed connection methods are used for this, as well as the WiFi capability.  An alternative method seen with other systems is via satellite linkup when those systems surface, though the transmissions are sometimes smaller.

Conclusion

            The Remus 6000 provides the United States Navy in incredible capability for sensor data collection.  There are few systems that can provide this level of data collection.

 

References

Kongsbert.  (n.d.). Retrieved 4/17/16: http://www.km.kongsberg.com/ks/web/nokbg0240.nsf/AllWeb/96066CED6C722354C125738D004DCD85?OpenDocument

Pomerleau, M. (2/4/16), DOD Plans to Invest $600M in Unmanned Underwater Vehicles.  Defense Systems.  Retrieved 4/17/16:  https://defensesystems.com/articles/2016/02/04/dod-navy-uuv-investments.aspx

Remus 6000.  (n.d.) Hydroid, A Kongsberg Company.  Retrieved 4/17/16:  http://www.hydroid.com/remus-6000-defense

 

Unmanned Aerial Systems Sensor Placement

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide

(UNSY 605) – Unmanned Systems Sensing, Perception, and Processing

 

 

UAS Sensor Placement

Summary

            The DJI Phantom 3 Professional seems to be the industry leader in providing cost effective aerial photography services below 400 feet Above Ground Level.  The closest competitor in many of the reviews I’ve read is the Parrot Drone, but the Phantom wins out on camera stability.

Discussion

            The DJI Phantom 3 incorporates an easy to use controller, and out-of-the box software system that makes it an easy to use tool for several industries including Real Estate, video journalism, and research just to name a few.  It is the exceptional aerial imaging capability that makes the DJI Phantom stand out from the competition though.  For most users, the 4K video is more than enough at 30 frames per second (dji.com).  For still images the DJI Phantom provides a 12-megapixel capability.  What makes this exceptional is the stability with which it is able to capture the video and images, made possible by the 3-axis gimbal.  The DJI provides an ideal solution for professionals in need of aerial imagery.

            For the more casual enthusiast that has been bitten by the drone bug, few hobbies can be more exciting than flying, and while flying a small plane may not be possible, nothing can be closer than flying a drone using a first-person-view (FPV) headset.  The Quanum Nova provides this capability to a quadcopter giving the user the perception as though they were in the cockpit. This places the user somewhere between real flying, and virtual reality since there is a real aircraft involved.  The sport is becoming increasingly more popular with Freestyle competitions and other racing events across the country.  As the sport grows, so too is the number of organizations, clubs, and magazines focused on drone and small unmanned systems (sUAS) (Kapper, C., 2015).

            What I find most appealing is the fact that both professionals and hobbyists are accepting the responsibility that goes along with these systems.  The FAA recently passes regulations making it a requirement that the owners of sUAS register their machines (FAA.gov).  Even before that requirement was passed, there were organizations encouraging the safe operation of drones; KnowBeforeYouFly.org.  It’s refreshing to see a new product be so widely accepted and responsibly used for its intended purpose.

Conclusion

            It is remarkable to note the progress seen in the use of sUAS.  Both professionals have embraced the use of these systems for aerial photography, and hobbyists alike.  As research in sensor capabilities continue to evolve, these systems will most assuredly find new uses and become even more prevalent in our every day lives.

 

References

DJI Phantom 3 Professional, (n.d.), dji.com.  Retrieved 4/10/16:  http://www.dji.com/product/phantom-3-pro/camera#sub-feature

FAA.gov.

Kapper, C, (10/27/15), PCWorld.  Retrieved 4/10/16:  http://www.pcworld.com/article/2997557/consumer-electronics/first-person-view-drone-racing-five-essential-tips-for-beginning-pilots.html

Unmanned Maritime Systems Search and Rescue

Summary

            In March 2014, Malaysian Airline flight 370 went missing with 239 people on board (ABC News, 4/2/16).  Since that time, the search for the wreckage has been ongoing from the air, on the surface of the water, and from under the surface of the water using both manned and unmanned vehicles (CBS News, 4/14/14).  The Bluefin-21, made by Bluefin Robotics, was used in the search to create a three-dimensional sonar map of the ocean floor where searchers hoped to find the wreckage.  This paper will discuss the Bluefin-21s capabilities, and how it was used in the search for the missing aircraft.

Discussion

            The Bluefin-21 is modular, and has an operational endurance of up to 25 hours (Bluefin Robotics).  The proprioceptive Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) provides dead reckoning drift which is estimated to be less 0.1% of distance traveled (Bluefin Robotics).  It also houses integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) and Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) which provides accurate position updates.

            The standard sensor suite includes side scan sonar, sub-bottom profiler, and an echosounder.  CBS News reported each dive of the Bluefin-21 allows it to search for 16 hours, covering a 15-square mile grid, at 15,000 feet below the surface of the water.  While this is an exceptional capability, the Bluefin-21 lacks the capability to retrieve any wreckage should it find any.  There are other AUVs that possess articulating arms, which is one added capability I would add to future systems.

Conclusion

            Several countries have assisted in the search for the lost Malaysian Airlines flight, with both manned and unmanned systems, from the air, on the surface of the water, and beneath the surface.  On a few occasions searchers received signals thought to be from the flight data recorder.  Recently, what is thought to be aircraft fragments have drifted onto shore, though the crash site has yet to be found.  When it is found, it is likely AUVs such as the Bluefin-21 will be employed once again.

 

References

ABC News, (4/2/16).  Malaysia Airlines MH370: Debris Found in Mauritius to be Examined by Investigators.  Retrieved 4/3/16:  http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-03/mh370-investigators-to-examine-wreckage-found-in-mauritius/7295306

Bluefin-21, (n.d.). Bluefin Robotics.  Retrieved 4/3/16:  http://www.bluefinrobotics.com/vehicles-batteries-and-services/bluefin-21

CBS News, (4/14/14).  Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Search Goes Deep with Bluefin 21 Robotic Sub as Black Boxes Fall Silent.  CBS News.  Retrieved 4/3/16:  http://www.cbsnews.com/news/malaysia-airlines-flight-370-search-bluefin-21-robotic-sub-black-boxes-silent/