System Optimization for Backup VTUAV Shipboard Landing

Aurora Flight Sciences, working with Optical Air Data Systems (OADS), proposes to develop a retrofit system to perform the functions of the current Fire Scout / UCARS landing system while eliminating or minimizing dedicated communication links and/or specialized equipment on the ship deck. Technologies to be utilized are proprietary OADS methods (Landsafe), camera-based ship-deck position and attitude estimation, or a fused combination of these . By eliminating the use of an active on-deck system, and by placing the measurements and computations on board the VTUAV, a completely disparate system from the current"deck-centric"system will be created. The backup recovery system will be evaluated against landing dispersion requirements for a range of conditions. Additional performance enhancements will be considered, if they are necessary to meet dispersion requirements in elevated sea states and/or poor visibility conditions.