By Peter La Franchi in Paris
The US Air Force is planning to fit its General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-1 Predator unmanned air vehicles with an interim, optically based air traffic sense-and- avoid capability by mid-2008 using technology in the final stages of research testing.
The prototype technology is being developed by the US Air Force Research Laboratory’s [AFRL] sensors directorate under a technology demonstration effort that is also looking at a fully autonomous version. That advanced variant would be developed into an operational suite between 2007 and 2009 for the USAF Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV and to replace the interim Predator system.
The planned suite will be based on optical sensors and processing systems jointly developed by AFRL and Defence Research Associates.
According to the deputy head of AFRL’s sensors directorate Col Garry Hopper, the technology will be “ready at the end of this month” for handover to the USAF Predator system programme office.
The suite being used in the trials programme, carried aboard an Aeronautics Aerostar UAV and flown out of Las Cruces airport in New Mexico, comprises three off- the-shelf electro-optical cameras in staring mounts.
Each camera covers an arc of ±95º ahead of the UAV. Imagery from the cameras is analysed in real time to identify deviations from the prevailing optical flow pattern.
Speaking at UVS International’s UAV 2006 conference in Paris earlier this month, Hopper said the algorithms used by the analysis software are based on the USAF’s own optical encounter model that has been used by the service since 1980 to develop high and low observability colour schemes for its aircraft. The research suite weighs 25lb (11kg) and draws 0.11kW of power.
The interim MQ-1 fit is still in the design stage, but preliminary concepts are based on development of a “strap-on” kit, which would be attached to the lower nose area of the aircraft, ahead of the existing sensor turret.
The interim suite will also incorporate new wide-angle cameras to cover a forward arc of 110º. Hopper said that AFRL is also now working on a small-UAV version of the system, and has received funding worth $1.5 million to develop the variant over the next 30 months. The mini suite has a target weight of 0.45kg.
Source: Flight International
