The JAUS Tool Set team has released version 1.0 of the Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS) Tool Set, an open-source software toolkit to make it easier to develop software and vehicles that are interoperable.
This software toolkit is free to all commercial, academic and governmental organizations and provides the tools necessary to define interface specifications, create compliant software, generate documentation and test compliance.
The work was supported by the US Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics/Unmanned Warfare, Navy Program Executive Officer (PEO) Littoral and Mine Warfare, PEO Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, the Office of Naval Research and the Air Force Research Laboratory.
The JAUS Tool Set provides the tools to define advanced interoperability based on current and emerging SAE standards. Unique but useful interfaces, such as the protocols for operating unmanned aircraft in conventional aircraft terminal areas, can be defined, implemented and shared without risking a company's proprietary information. Users can add additional restrictions or features while still supporting testing via common interfaces.
System developers are able to use the open-source JTS standard with minimal cost to their programs to foster collaboration between developers. Toolkit developers say it will ultimately lead to better interoperability among unmanned systems.
"We are excited about the release of JTS and expect it to confer benefits to a number of stakeholders," said Rich Ernst of OSD. JTS development is on going, with future releases planned for late 2010 and spring 2011.
Source: Flight Daily News