MODULAR AEROSTAT COMMUNICATIONS RELAY (MACREL)

Robotic Research LLC in an exclusive partnership with Carolina Unmanned Systems (CUV) and Unmanned Systems International Corporation (UnSysCorp), is developing the Modular Aerostat Communications Relay system (MACRel). MACRel is a system for deployment and recovery of a Lightweight Aerostat System (LAS) to an unmanned surface vehicle (USV). The work will include a sensor study that allows for a low cost method for the MACRel system to identify and react quickly to changing environment conditions that influence the launch, stable flight and recovery of the LAS. Using sensor inputs, iMACRel makes it possible to predict when to deploy or retract tether in order to decrease strain on the aerostat and the tether itself. The objective is to increase the communications range between the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) seaframes and Mission Package Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) by developing a modular aerostat communications relay system for the radio that is semi-autonomously deployed and retrieved from the LCS Unmanned Influence Sweep System USV.