Modular Unmanned Aircraft Systems for the 2011 Commander"s Challenge

ABSTRACT: Applications for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are growing rapidly. The target training market is one area in which the"pilot-less"capabilities provided by UAS have been continuously exploited. To better serve this market, it would be beneficial if the UAS technology development included the modularity to support multiple airframes, sensors, payloads, and concept of operations. In this way, expansion of the UAS targets could progress alongside the ever-evolving target application needs. For example, Ultra-light aircraft have become more prevalent for drug trafficking across the US-Mexico border. This new target type and the requirement to engage the target non-lethally is an ideal candidate for modular UAS technology. The modular UAS developed and flight tested under this Phase II effort will be capable of supporting a variety of concepts of operations such as non-lethal engagement of Ultra-Light aircraft, which is the focus of the 2011 AFRL Commander"s Challenge. By utilizing a systems engineering approach and drawing on years of rapid UAS design and flight test experience, the UAS test assets developed under this Phase II effort will enable the successful execution of this year"s Commander"s Challenge event. BENEFIT: The modular technologies utilized to create the Ultra-Light test assets for the Commander"s Challenge event could be utilized to convert any manned vehicle into an unmanned target or test vehicle. More importantly, the successful conversion of an Ultra-Light aircraft to UAS will lead to the development of a solution technology capable of engaging these and similar target vehicles. The capability to non-lethally engage a variety of manned and unmanned vehicles is needed to better support incidences of drug or human trafficking, terrorist attacks, and even pirate activities. These solutions could be commercialized and successfully marketed to the Customs and Border Protection and local law enforcement groups to support our Nation"s security initiatives. In summary, the modular technologies developed during the Phase I effort will be validated during Phase II flight testing of the converted Ultra-Light aircraft in order to effectively meet the immediate needs of the Commander"s Challenge event and foster new development in border security research and development.