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Network UAV C3 Stage 2 Program Preview

Timothy X Brown, Brian ArgrowUniversity of Colorado at Boulder

Interdisciplinary Telecommunications ProgramElectrical and Computer Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

July 25, 2005

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Introduction

• CU is developing a capability for Small-UAV Multi-plane operations– Wireless Networking Test Bed– Stage 1: UAV subsystem integration– Stage 2: UAV intelligent behavior– Stage 3: Networked-UAV cooperation

• Outline– current state– related activities– potential Stage 2

program goals

Completed

Completed

Start Soon

Future

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Current State: Test bed + UAV subsystem integration

Virtual Cockpit real-time UAV

monitoring

AUGNet real-time communication

monitoring

Navigation Overide

Lab hardware-in-the-loop virtual testing facility

UAV with integrated comm, sensors, and

autonomous nav

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AUGNet Related Activities

• Ad hoc Network Jamming – AFRL/BBN• Phased Array Flying – AFRL/Fidelity Comtech• Cognitive Radios – DARPA/NSF/Shared Spectrum• Novel UAV Platforms – DBF/SAE• Tube Launch UAV – SNC• Laser Altimeter – Oregon Iron Works• UAV Drop Sonde – CU UROP• Cooperative Tracking – AF/MLB• Sensor Flock – NSF• RECUV Center – Lockheed Martin

CU needs a core project to tie these activities together

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Stage 2 Program Goals

• Develop capability to intelligently coordinate UAV subsystems

• Demonstrate on three Concept Applications– Sensor leashing– Autonomous Patrol– Dynamic antenna steering

• Further goals if funding is available– Mobile node leashing– Data ferrying– UAV-UAV antenna steering

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Concept Application 1:Sensor Leashing• UAV uses signal strength

data to choose an optimal communication relay location

• Improves sensor data collection

Click to start: UAV (red), Sensors (blue)

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Concept Application 2:Autonomous Patrol

• UAV patrols area and investigates sensor events

• Quick reaction capability

• Augments simple sensors

1. Patrol

2.Sensor Event

4.New Patrol

3. Find Sensor

5. Relay Detailed Information

Patrol area with sensors

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Concept Application 3:Dynamic Antenna Steering

• Antenna points at receiver as UAV maneuvers

• Better links• Lower probability

of intercept

Phased Array

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Optional Goals:

• Mobile node leashing– Keeping mobile

nodes connected

• Data Ferrying– Creating connectivity

with mobility

• UAV-UAV antenna steering– Better UAV-UAV links