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Technical challenges
- The following non-trivial technical challenges require the application of advanced miniature electronics technology, sophisticated software algorithms and a huge amount of testing, to verify the reliability of the solution.
- This work requires close collaboration between the end users and the UAV development companies.
from Air4All Questionnaire and Workshop, from http://www.air4all.net/?OBH=314
Achieving a very high operational reliability, especially in the engine and airframe
- Development of fail-safe systems, to guarantee high safety confidence levels, in the event of aircraft failure, or, the loss of all communications with the Unmanned Aircraft.
- Demonstration of precision flying, in terms of altitude and flight path, over extended periods of time, in all weather conditions, both day and night.
- Development of very efficient, low vibration, engines and a gyro-stabilised platform technology, for high resolution imaging and accurate measurements of gravitational field strength
Development of a Network Centric infrastructure, to enable any member of a team to control the Unmanned Aircraft and retrieve imagery and sensor information, in real time.
- Development of a lower data rate mm wave link to compliment the FSO, to be used in adverse weather conditions, when it is not possible to support a FSO link. FSO and mm wave communication link re-establishment, after link connection loss
In general, the cost of high performance sensor modules, such as Cesium beam based magnetometers, must come down, if they are to be used in a fleet of Unmanned Aircraft.
- Development of a lighter, cost effective, reliable, compact, absolute gravity measuring instrument (“gravimeter”) and / or relative gravitational field strength meter (“gradiometer”). Current gravity gradiometers weigh typically 450+ kg…
- Development of an air vehicle sense and avoid system, to enable the UAV to become aware of its environment, enabling it to take evasive action, if necessary.
Embedded “sense and avoid” intelligence, coupled with vectored engine thrust, for enhanced manoeuvrability, small dry propellant rocket assisted emergency acceleration and fast acting air brakes, to realise an effective ability to minimise the possibility of a mid-air collision with any other aircraft.
- Development of automated image data compression algorithms, stitching of aerial imagery, data fusion software intelligently to fuse many pieces of information from many sensors and subsequent automated, computer based, interpretation of data.
From presentation by Colonel Langlois of the EDA at the Unmanned Systems Europe 2007 Conference in Cologne.
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