The European Defence Agency (EDA) should pursue phased development of an open architecture, multi-mode datalink suite for future endurance UAVs, according to a newly released study carried out for the agency by Patria and Insta.
The development effort would support standardisation of UAV datalinks across Europe, with flow on benefits for interoperability the study says.
It suggests a 20-year focus, with parallel European-funded research and development projects to support ongoing capability enhancements.
But it calls for a common set of rules and standard interfaces for a multi-link suite need to be defined as a near-term priority.
It also recommends the near-term selection of line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight datalink technologies “that will form the basis for open standardisation of long- endurance UAV datalink systems”.
The study, commissioned by the EDA in December 2005, found there are “strong competencies, as well as many existing elements and work already ongoing in communications technology in Europe. However, attaining the European long-endurance UAV communications long-term vision will be a multilevel issue and strong initiatives, guidance and co-ordination of the efforts are needed”.
The study identified “flexibility, security and networking as the most important capabilities for the long-endurance UAV communications still requiring further research and development” at a pan-European level. It says that such research efforts are also needed to “assure the aspect of multi-source procurement and European self-sustainability of the long-term solutions”.
A multi-link approach is needed to ensure the diverse communication requirements of endurance UAVs are met, and should include air traffic control transceivers and airborne communications node elements as well as standard line-of-sight, beyond-line-of-sight and high-capacity links. A link 16 interface may also be required it says, as well as back-up capabilities for each type.
However, “these logical system types don’t need to be implemented as separate physical components or network topologies. Rather, the system types can be regarded as different link operating modes or waveforms that may be implemented using only few physical on-board systems.
“The number of required separate physical systems depends on the state of technology in different time frames. Hence this multi-link architecture provides the flexibility that is required to the future evolution of different systems.”
A five-year focus for development of a suite would be required to be based on existing standards and solutions, the report says. However, such an architecture would have “some performance gaps”.
A 10-year approach would be likely to result in solutions that are a “mixture of current emerging technologies, standards and systems. The mid-term solution will provide increased functionality and performance, filling the gaps in interoperability, European self-sustainability, throughput and electronic-warfare protection. The utilisation of software defined radio technology will provide additional flexibility and interoperability.”
A long-term solution, based on a 20-year development strategy, would again use rely upon emerging technologies and standards, but would also leverage “technologies still under research. The result would be a co-operative networking solution with sufficient flexibility to adapt to changing regulations and capability requirements. Further improvements in flexibility and performance will be provided, for example, via cognitive radio and free space optical communication technology.”
Patria and Insta carried out the study in co-operation with the University of Oulu and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. All four entities are also part of the FinUVS technology programme working on defining a datalink architecture for the Finnish defence force’s proposed next-generation UAV acquisition project.
The development effort would support standardisation of UAV datalinks across Europe, with flow on benefits for interoperability the study says.
It suggests a 20-year focus, with parallel European-funded research and development projects to support ongoing capability enhancements.
But it calls for a common set of rules and standard interfaces for a multi-link suite need to be defined as a near-term priority.
It also recommends the near-term selection of line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight datalink technologies “that will form the basis for open standardisation of long- endurance UAV datalink systems”.
The study, commissioned by the EDA in December 2005, found there are “strong competencies, as well as many existing elements and work already ongoing in communications technology in Europe. However, attaining the European long-endurance UAV communications long-term vision will be a multilevel issue and strong initiatives, guidance and co-ordination of the efforts are needed”.
The study identified “flexibility, security and networking as the most important capabilities for the long-endurance UAV communications still requiring further research and development” at a pan-European level. It says that such research efforts are also needed to “assure the aspect of multi-source procurement and European self-sustainability of the long-term solutions”.
A multi-link approach is needed to ensure the diverse communication requirements of endurance UAVs are met, and should include air traffic control transceivers and airborne communications node elements as well as standard line-of-sight, beyond-line-of-sight and high-capacity links. A link 16 interface may also be required it says, as well as back-up capabilities for each type.
However, “these logical system types don’t need to be implemented as separate physical components or network topologies. Rather, the system types can be regarded as different link operating modes or waveforms that may be implemented using only few physical on-board systems.
“The number of required separate physical systems depends on the state of technology in different time frames. Hence this multi-link architecture provides the flexibility that is required to the future evolution of different systems.”
A five-year focus for development of a suite would be required to be based on existing standards and solutions, the report says. However, such an architecture would have “some performance gaps”.
A 10-year approach would be likely to result in solutions that are a “mixture of current emerging technologies, standards and systems. The mid-term solution will provide increased functionality and performance, filling the gaps in interoperability, European self-sustainability, throughput and electronic-warfare protection. The utilisation of software defined radio technology will provide additional flexibility and interoperability.”
A long-term solution, based on a 20-year development strategy, would again use rely upon emerging technologies and standards, but would also leverage “technologies still under research. The result would be a co-operative networking solution with sufficient flexibility to adapt to changing regulations and capability requirements. Further improvements in flexibility and performance will be provided, for example, via cognitive radio and free space optical communication technology.”
Patria and Insta carried out the study in co-operation with the University of Oulu and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. All four entities are also part of the FinUVS technology programme working on defining a datalink architecture for the Finnish defence force’s proposed next-generation UAV acquisition project.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
