Backup Shipboard Landing System for Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Air Vehicles

The objective of this SBIR Phase I is the development of a system-level hardware-software architecture and algorithms for a backup shipboard landing system for VTOL UAVs. The proposed system is comprised of a combination of a multi-modal sensor suite and a synergistic combination of algorithmic components including data fusion, perception, stochastic motion prediction, path planning, decision making, and inner-loop controls. The proposed effort demonstrates the feasibility of our approach through system-level design, identification of the sensor suite, development of the required algorithms, implementation of a demonstration software prototype of the algorithms, and simulation studies to demonstrate viability of the proposed system. The Phase I effort will provide a solid foundation for carrying out the Phase II objectives which would encompass implementation and integration of the entire suite of constituent algorithms within the system, integration of a hardware-software prototype of the system, Hardware-In-The-Loop simulation studies, and performance demonstration through experimental flight trials. While the primary focus in the design of the shipboard landing system in this proposal is on mid-size VTOL UAVs such as the Northrop Grumman Fire Scout, the system to be developed and the underlying technologies can address a wide range of VTOL UAV and ship platforms.