Unmanned Aircraft System with Modular Payload Bays and Payload Interfaces

The Unmanned Systems market is exploding with applications, products and services. For example, an increasing number of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are serving the military, commercial and research markets today. To better serve these markets, it would be beneficial if the beginning design stages of UAS development included the capability to support multiple sensors, payloads, and concept of operations. In this way, expansion of the UAS capabilities, or the integration of newly developed subsystems would not require a redesign, yielding a UAS that is truly adaptable to many payloads and missions. The UAS developed and flight tested under this Phase II effort will be capable of supporting a variety of sensors, weapons, and concepts of operations through modular payload bays and payload interfaces. Our modular payload bays and interfaces allow the UAS to support missions with varying endurance and payload needs via interchangeable bays capable of supporting extra fuel, batteries, sensors, or ordinance. By utilizing a systems engineering approach and drawing on years of UAS design experience, the prototype systems developed under the Phase II effort will validate the Phase I design and demonstrate the proposed UAS is a cost-effective solution for a large variety of payloads, customers, and missions. BENEFIT: Military, border surveillance groups, search and rescue teams, and researchers could all benefit from an affordable UAS with long endurance and modular payload capabilities. For instance, the low cost UAS developed under this Phase II effort could be equipped with a laser illuminator and be flown into high risk areas to aid soldiers during night operations or be configured to carry large amounts of fuel and a small sensor to provide persistent surveillance over a specific area or along convoy routes. With the United States Department of Homeland Security already capitalizing on larger Unmanned Systems, this system can fly non lethal directed energy payloads to deter illegal immigrants as they cross the border. Moreover, a gimbal with geo-location software could be flown onboard an asset loaded with fuel to search for hikers lost in the mountains. Researchers and scientists could also benefit from a system specifically designed to ease their payload integration and logistics needs, allowing them to remain focused on the science and not the platform. Furthermore, the long endurance platform would allow researchers to capture more data in a single flight without the increased risks associated with multiple launch and recoveries. In summary, a highly versatile, low cost, small UAS is needed to interact with multiple payloads, for a variety of missions, with the capability to operate over an extended period of time. Our Phase I design will be validated during Phase II flight testing to effectively fill this capability gap, meeting the needs of the Unmanned Systems market, on schedule and within budget.