Up and Soaring - UAS

Collier Trophy awarded to X-47B team

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has selected the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) team to receive the 2013 Robert J. Collier Trophy, aviation’s highest honor.

Comprised of leaders in government, business, and industry, the NAA voting committee awarded the U.S. Navy, Northrop Grumman, and industry partners for “developing and demonstrating the first unmanned, autonomous air system operating from an aircraft carrier.”

On May 14, 2013, the X-47B was the first unmanned, tailless aircraft to catapult launch from an aircraft carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). Three days later, the aircraft made the first carrier-based touch-and-go landings. On July 10, 2013, the X-47B made history again on CVN 77 by being the first tailless UAV to make an arrested landing aboard a carrier. www.northropgrumman.com

University of Sheffield 3D prints UAS

Engineers at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield in the U.K. have successfully printed a 1.5m-wide prototype unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for a research project looking at 3D printing of complex designs.

The engineers said the polymer craft could form the basis of cheap and potentially disposable UAVs that could be built and deployed in remote situations, potentially in as little as 24 hours.

The Sheffield UAV, comprised of nine snap-together thermoplastic parts, weighs less than 2kg. The engineers are currently evaluating the potential of nylon as a printing material that would make the UAV 60% stronger with no increase in weight. The UAV already has completed a test flight as a glider. www.sheffield.ac.uk

North Dakota UAS test site operational

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that the first of six test sites chosen to perform unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) research is operational more than two-and-a -half months ahead of the deadline specified by Congress.

The FAA granted the North Dakota Department of Commerce team a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) to begin using a Draganflyer X4-ES small UAS at its Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site. The COA is effective for two years.

The main goal is to show that UAS can check soil quality and the status of crops in support of North Dakota State University/Extension Service precision agriculture research studies. The test site also will collect safety-related operational data needed for UAS airspace integration. Maintenance data collected during site operations will support a prototype database for UAS maintenance and repair.

The North Dakota COA covers two locations – in Carrington and at Sullys Hill National Game Preserve near Devils Lake. www.faa.gov

Optionally piloted Black Hawk takes flight

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has successfully demonstrated optionally piloted flight of a Black Hawk helicopter – a step toward providing autonomous cargo delivery functionality to the U.S. Army.

The Optionally Piloted Black Hawk (OPBH), part of Sikorsky’s and the Army’s Manned/Unmanned Resupply Aerial Lifter (MURAL) program, conducted the successful first flight demonstration on March 11, 2014. The demonstration was conducted through the use of Sikorsky’s Matrix Technology systems and software and advanced ground control station (GCS) technologies.

The OPBH demonstrated autonomous hover and flight operations while under the control of a man-portable GCS. Un-crewed operations can increase sorties while maintaining crew rest requirements. Critical resupply missions can be performed with autonomous operations without increasing fleet size or mix, according to a company spokesman. www.sikorsky.com

DARPA advances wireless networks mounted on UAVs

DARPA’s Mobile Hotspots program aims to help overcome the lack of connectivity of forward operating locations to tactical operation centers and access to valuable data.

The program has entered the second phase of building and demonstrating a scalable, mobile millimeter-wave communications network to rapidly acquire, track, and establish a communications link between moving platforms at 1GB/second capacity. Performers created engineering designs for small, lightweight pods to be mounted on an RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The pods, with mobile hotspots components inside, are designed to be no more than 8" wide, weigh less than 20 lb, and use less than 150W of power.

Dick Ridgway, DARPA program manager, says the novel networking approaches are key to providing forward deployed units with the same high-capacity connectivity enjoyed from 4G cell-phone networks. www.darpa.mil

Airbus launches Zephyr program

Airbus Defence and Space has launched the Zephyr 8 high altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) program and invites potential customers and partners to undertake joint flight demonstrations of their payloads and applications.

Running exclusively on solar power and flying at high altitudes above the weather and conventional air traffic, Zephyr is designed to provide services such as satellite-like communications and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance during long periods of time without interruption.

Jens Federhen, Airbus HAPS program manager, said his team can help customers design, build, and operate the payload if necessary, or provide a defined interface and integrate the payload with the aircraft, test fly it, demonstrate the application, and develop the flight procedures.

In 2013, Airbus acquired the assets of the Zephyr program that had been initiated by Qinetiq in the U.K. The Zephyr program achieved several world records, including the longest flight duration without refueling (14 days) as well as very high altitude flights (70,740ft).

The Zephyr 7 vehicle underwent final testing last year before the design of a complete suite of improvements for the Airbus Zephyr 8.

Zephyrs have flown in Australia, the U.S., and Europe, and have flight and safety procedures that have been accepted by four major test ranges. http://airbusdefenceandspace.com

Lockheed Martin demonstrates enhanced GCS for small UAS

Lockheed Martin’s Group 1 family of unmanned aircraft systems is migrating to enhanced automation capabilities using the Kestrel Fly Light flight control systems and mobile ground control station (mGCS) software. The increased automation allows operators to focus on executing the mission, rather than flying various aircraft.

A single, portable system capable of conducting missions, mGCS can manage different types of UAS that would typically require multiple controllers and software. Developed on an open system using commercial off-the-shelf technology, mGCS is interoperable with a variety of portable computers, hand controllers, autopilots, data links, and sensors. The software is compliant with NATO’s Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4586 and includes a full development kit to provide other UAS manufacturers the ability to add systems and capabilities without restriction. www.lockheedmartin.com

Black Knight Transformer completes first flight

Advanced Tactics Inc. has successfully completed the first flight test of the Black Knight Transformer vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. El Segundo, Calif.-based Advanced Tactics’ patented technology combines the capabilities of a helicopter with the capabilities of an off-road automobile. The multicopter, larger than a crew-cab pickup truck, is controlled and stabilized with propeller speed, and has a maximum takeoff weight of 4,400 lb. Its large interior volume is designed to allow it to transport cargo to the front lines and to carry wounded soldiers from the battlefield.

During the flight test at a private location, the aircraft’s stability and attitude were controlled entirely by the autopilot, with commands from the remote human pilot only to increase or decrease power. The aircraft completed multiple short hover flights with altitude limited to less than 10ft above the ground for safety. The aircraft reportedly was stable, controllable, and performed as expected. www.advancedtacticsinc.com