A System and Testing Methodology for Autonomous Ship-Based Resupply VTOL Aircraft

There is a need by the Navy to develop unmanned aircraft for ship-based resupply. Given the Navys recent investment in the AACUS and SALRS programs that have developed fundamental technology for autonomous rotorcraft and ship-relative navigation, it is possible to leverage recent advances in sensing, perception, and motion planning for such a capability. Near Earth proposes to extend and test technology developed under the AACUS and SALRS programs in two fundamental areas. First, we will demonstrate complete ship to shore to ship missions on a small aircraft using a miniaturized payload that reduces size, weight, power, and cost significantly over the state-of-the-art. Second, we will demonstrate safe and precise autonomous landing in a significantly visually degraded environment that is severe enough that renders manned platforms unable to perform resupply missions. A key outcome of the proposed project will be a design and a prototype of a small, low-power-consumption payload capable of delivering affordable, robust, and unassisted airborne navigation in a variety of CONOPS and environmental conditions.