state of the art unmanned aircraft - barnard...

BARNARD microsystems

State of the Art Unmanned Aircraft for use in Beyond Radio Line of Sight Civilian, Security and Military missions, anywhere in the world

Unique capabilities of the BML Unmanned Aircraft (UAV)

• Local machine intelligence and decision making are present on each UAV

• Each UAV is equipped with an automatic collision detect and avoid system

• Each VTOL capable UAV can operate from a rough grass strip – no runway is needed

• Internet Of Things (IOT) mesh network wireless connectivity between UAVs in a swarm

• Each UAV has a satellite communications link between the UAV and the Ground Control Station

BARNARD microsystems limited

Using a formation of intelligent Unmanned Aircraft

Above: the BML UAV Formation Flight Simulation software is used in pilot training and in mission planning.

There are many advantages to using a formation of UAVs, rather than a single UAV, to perform a mission.

• Reduced time to complete a mapping mission, since multiple UAVs can fly line abreast to map a much wider swathe, so we get the results sooner.

Above: the BML Mission manager software provides the staff at the GCS with real time situational awareness and the ability to control any, or several, unmanned aircraft flying in a formation.

• Increased probability of completing the mission, since the failure of one UAV in the formation does not stop the mission – we simply experience a graceful degradation in capability, and it will just take a little longer to complete the mission with fewer unmanned aircraft.

• Reduced mission cost, since the mission cost is dominated by the salaries of the three people at the GCS (Pilot - in - Command, Safety Co-Pilot and the Payload Operator). Clearly the staff costs will be spread over the UAVs in the formation, leading to a greatly reduced mission cost and duration.


On-board machine intelligence is essential to detect statistically significant anomalies

• On board machine intelligence on each UAV reduces the amount of information that needs to be relayed from the UAV to the Ground Control Station, and reduces the number of payload operators needed at the GCS to monitor the detection of statistically significant anomalies (such as people, vehicles and / or weapons)

• Machine intelligence is used on each UAV to interpret video data from visible spectrum machine vision cameras and from thermal imaging cameras in real time

• The hardware and the software for use in machine intelligence applications are both progressing rapidly as a result of the global interest in development driverless vehicles

Above: rather than have one payload operator per unmanned aircraft in a formation of UAVs, we use machine intelligence to interpret sensor data in real time on each unmanned aircraft to detect statistically significant anomalies, and then only relay information when an anomaly is detected.

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Number of unmanned aircraft used in the survey

Normalised geomagnetic survey cost versus number of UA used


2D and 3D mapping

• Visible spectrum colour digital photographs and high resolution thermal camera images

• After the UAV has returned, the photographs are stitched together to form a large map

The Pix4D software is used to generate 2D and 3D maps from the photographs taken from the UAV.

Above: magnetic intensity contour map of the Alloa Kinross region in Scotland.


Airborne multi-spectral imaging and geomagnetic survey

Traditionally, a single manned, or unmanned, aircraft would fly a raster scan to perform a survey, as shown above. The advantage of using a formation of UAVs, rather than a single UAV, to perform a geophysical survey is lower cost because staff salaries are the dominant cost, and the three staff members at the GCS can manage a formation of UAVs from one GCS. Additionally, the survey is also completed more quickly.


Monitoring and the detection of statistically significant anomalies

Above: example from a FLIR TAU2 640 thermal imaging video camera taking 8.3 frames per second and fitted with a 25mm focal length (field of view = 25° x 20°) lens – from the FLIR_tau2_Family_Brochure.pdf.

Parameter Value Comment

Maximum person detection range 820 m For 25 mm focal length lens

Maximum person recognition range 210 m For 25 mm focal length lens

Maximum person identification range 104 m The UAV typically flies at 120 m AGL

Above: inspection of the state of a roof of a farm building, showing weak spots in the roof.


Above: image of a high voltage electrical power line taken using a thermal imaging camera on a UAV. One can detect high temperature points on the line, which are indicative of high resistance points (e.g. joints).

Above: vehicle movement in a border area can be detected using thermal imaging cameras on a UAV.

• Monitor railway lines for encroachment of vegetation, wear of overhead power lines

• Detect people and vehicles in an oil pipeline Right of Way


Humanitarian missions and support for disaster relief efforts

• Air drop food, water and medical supplies by parachute

• Monitor and contribute to the management of disaster relief efforts

• UAV VTOL capability enables the UAVs to deliver aid to areas that are inaccessible by road

• Payload mass: 5-20 kg (10 kg nominal)

• Payload volume: 33 litres

• Minimum release altitude: 350 feet

• Maximum release airspeed: 130 knots

• Parachute landing speed: 15-30 mph

• Payload mass: 20 – 80 kg (40 kg nominal)

• Payload volume: 375 litres

• Minimum release altitude: 500 feet AGL

• Maximum release airspeed: 120 knots

• Parachute landing speed: 15-30 mph

The above information from Air Drop Box Limited ( www.airdropbox.co.uk )

• Use of thermal imaging cameras on the UAV enables the detection of people in a disaster area.

• BML UAVs can land in rough weather conditions, due to the extra stability introduced by the additional electric motors on the lift pylon under each wing.

• UAVs can be used to transport blood, DNA and other medical samples to a medical centre for analysis. This can form part of a preventive health programme for rural communities.

• Unmanned aircraft, routinely used in other applications, could rapidly be re-tasked to contribute to humanitarian and / or disaster relief efforts, as and when required.

http://www.airdropbox.co.uk/


Military and security applications

Above: BML has been developing unmanned aircraft systems technology since 2004. In 2007, BML received support from the UK Ministry of Defence to participate in the MOD Grand Challenge to demonstrate the use of robotics technology to detect threats to military personnel.

Above: the Visual Target Analysis (VTA) software from Roke Manor Research detects anything that moves.


There are many military and security applications of a swarm of VTOL capable stealth V Wing UAVs

• Wide area, single pass, covert mapping of a wide area (e.g. 20 UAVs flying line abreast will cover a 1 km wide swathe) using a formation of UAVs

• Use a real time spectrum analyser together with a Radio Direction Finding (RDF) antenna on each UAV to locate and characterise sources of CW and pulsed RF signals from 300 MHz to 6 GHz

• Use thermal imaging cameras on each UAV and difference detection image processing for real time situational awareness in a complex military environment, e.g. camouflaged troops and vehicles

Other military and security applications

Cargo transportation using the Panchito VTOL capable unmanned aircraft

• Stockpile ammunition, food, water and medical supplies at an unattended location for later use by reconnaissance (recce) troops, leaving no tell-tale footprints, or tyre tracks, to the stockpile. The recce troops can also send back captured documents and weapons using the cargo UAVs

• Transport spares for a broken down vehicle in a location that might be difficult to reach

• Cargo transportation using a formation of VTOL UAVs with automatic cargo detachment capability will allow you to transfer huge cargos quickly, even if bridges are destroyed, roads are impassable and / or the destination is in a difficult location, such as in a jungle, or in a combat zone

Radio relay via satcoms terminal on a high flying InView ESM UAV (seen on the front cover)

• Use a lightweight, inexpensive PMR-446 (“Walkie Talkie”) transceiver on the ground to communicate with a PMR-446 transceiver connected to a satcoms terminal on an InView ESM UAV. The satcoms terminal on the UAV will then connect you to Headquarters, regardless of where you are on Earth

• You can use the 2.4GHz Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) link between your laptop on the ground and the 2.4 GHz wireless modem on the UAV that is connected to the satcoms terminal to provide you with Internet connectivity, and you do not need to carry a satcoms terminal with you

Use the InView ESM UAV in an Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) role

• Use the scanning Solid State RADAR mounted in the nose of the InView ESM UAV to detect low flying aircraft and helicopters, and relay that information to the GCS via the satellite communications link, as the InView UAV circles the area of operations for hours on end

• When the InView ESM UAV is flying below 1,000 feet Above Ground Level, the RADAR on the InView ESM UAV will also detect moving of distant vehicles

• Control a high resolution pan, tilt and zoom video camera on the underside of the InView ESM UAV, and relay the imagery to the GCS via the satellite communications link to provide the staff at the GCS with real time situational awareness of what is going on in the region being patrolled by the UAV


Maritime patrol

• Unmanned aircraft equipped with Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR – to detect oil slicks) and an Automatic Identification System (AIS – look at the ships with their AIS turned OFF) can be used in maritime patrol applications to detect illegal activities at sea, including illegal fishing, piracy, or emptying of oil tanks at sea

Above: use of unmanned aircraft to monitor shipping activities and the safety of oil platforms.

Anti-poaching

• Use a formation of UAVs, flying in elliptical flight paths, to detect poaching activities in a game reserve

Border patrol

• Use a Follow - the - Leader formation of unmanned aircraft to provide unbroken monitoring of a porous border, using on-board machine intelligence on each UAV to automatically detect people and vehicles

Modular UAV construction allows the BML unmanned aircraft to be configured to suit any mission

• Ease of transportation of the UAV modules in a van, allowing for assembly at the launch site

• Ease of maintenance of the UAV – just replace a faulty, or damaged, module so the UAV can soon fly again, while the faulty or damaged module can be cost effectively repaired in a local workshop

• Ease of upgrading a module, for example, the autopilot, without incurring a huge expense

• The UAV configuration, for example, the wing span (can be increased to carry extra fuel for long range missions), or the sensor tray, can be changed to suit the mission


Training and Mission Simulation

BML has developed accurate UAV flight simulation for use in:

• UAV mission simulation and planning

• UAV operations and mission training

Above: BML has developed a photo-realistic UAV flight simulator, with accurate UAV flight dynamics.

UAV maintenance and upgrading

BML UAVs are modular in construction, enabling:

• Easy transportation in a van

• In-field assembly in less than an hour

• Quick replacement of damaged modules

• Upgrading of modules, such as the UAV autopilot

• Addition of fuel drop tanks for long range missions

• Replacement of engine modules after every 500 hours of operational use

• Selection of payload sensors (e.g. day or night sensors) to suit the mission

BML provide comprehensive operations and maintenance documentation and training.

If the damage incurred to the UAV is small, the user will be able to repair the UAV without needing to replace any module. BML UAVs are intended for use in rugged environments – they are “bush planes”.


The BML stealth V Wing UAV

Unique features of the VTOL capable stealth V Wing UAV are:

• Wings that are shaped for minimum RADAR cross section and hence detectability

• Very low acoustic and visual signatures – it is difficult to detect this UAV from the ground

• Solar cells on the top wing surface allow battery charging while the UAV is sitting on the ground

Airframe Value Comments

Wingspan 1.7 metres Modular construction

Maximum take-off weight 12.3 kg

Maximum payload 3.5 kg

Propulsion 1x electric motor Using Lithium Polymer batteries

Communications Iridium satcoms + wireless Ethernet link + radio Control

Performance Value Comments

Stall air speed 16 kph

Cruise air speed 34 kph

Maximum air speed 83 kph

Maximum range 95 km At cruise speed


The BML Panchito General Purpose VTOL capable UAV

Above: The VTOL capable Panchito UAV on a cargo carrying mission

Endurance 6 hours using standard fuel tanks, 13 hours using extended range fuel tanks

Range 1,250 km

Video/Data Line of sight link, 30 to 60 km with tacking antenna

1,250 km using satellite communications data relay

Payload High definition and low light level camera + thermal imaging camera, satellite data relay + image classifier + collision detect and avoid system + map location tracker

Launch method VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) and STOL (Short Take Off and Landing)

Recovery VTOL and STOL

Power system Battery, Gasoline (petrol) and mechanical

Speed range From 1 m/s in hover to over 200 kph

Hover time 8 minutes

Other features Flight stabilised in adverse weather (e.g. cross winds)

Sub stall flight down to 3 m/s

Emergency landing VTOL - using four pairs of electric lift motors


The BML long range InView Electronic Support Measures UAV

Unique features of the twin engine, long range, InView Electronic Support Measures UAV are:

• On board RADAR and stereovision based automatic collision detect and avoid system.

• The huge sensor tray can carry a wide range of sensors, to map and monitor the underlying terrain

Airframe Value Comments

Wingspan 4 metres Modular construction

Maximum take-off weight 78 kg

Maximum payload 25 kg 32 kg with reduced range

Take-off method STOL Short Take Off and Landing

Propulsion 2x 170cc IC engines Fuel injected internal combustion engines

Communications Iridium satcoms + Inmarsat / Ka band satcoms + wireless Ethernet

Performance Value Comments

Stall air speed 32 kph

Cruise air speed 80 kph

Maximum air speed 123 kph

Maximum range 1,250 km Can be increased with a reduced payload



Unit 4, 44 – 54 Coleridge Road

London N8 8ED

United Kingdom

TELEPHONE +44 208 245 6226

enquiries Dr Joseph Barnard

email [email protected]


• BML is on the Airbus Defence and Space Approved Vendors List

• BML is a technology supplier to the UK Ministry of Defence

• BML is the preferred UAV supplier to 2Fovi Limited

BML UAV brochure v7

mailto:[email protected]

state of the art unmanned aircraft - barnard...

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