HCI and C2 for Autonomous Air Evacuation of Casualties

Fixed wing UAVs such as the Predator, Global Hawk, and Shadow have become invaluable C4ISR and force projection assets. They have acted as force multiplers, have reduced risk to human personnel, and have enabled new tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). Use of Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) unmanned craft is growing as well, including large platforms such as the Blackhawk and K-Max, and smaller C4ISR platforms such as FireScout and A-160. While each DoD Service and nearly all the major DoD Primes have fielded fixed wing systems, the set of fielded unmanned VTOL craft is currently limited to the K-Max and FireScout. The growing planned use of unmanned VTOL aircraft such as the K-Max provides an opportunity to expand the scope of unmanned air missions, but also requires new methods for Human-Computer Interfaces (HCI) and Command and Control (C2). To address this requirement, Neya Systems, LLC proposes to develop VERTI: A VTOL Evacuation and Resupply Tactical Interface. VERTI will leverage Neya's expertise in developing intuitive, easy to use mission specification and management systems.