Design of a Graphical Interface for Managing Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

"This proposal describes the design of an interface for controlling multiple UAVs in a real-time situation. Named the Uninhabited Air Vehicle Management Interface (UAVMI), it is centered on a 3-dimensional graphical representation of the operationalgeographic area. The operator is able to move a 3D cursor around within this geographic volume, selecting groups, paths, and targets in 3D space. Cybernet System's extensive experience in force-feedback input devices allows us to easily incorporate thisaspect into the UAVMI system. Coupled with an off-the-shelf 3D Stereoscopic glasses or a Head-Mounted Display (HMD), the interface will allow the user to essentially reach into the virtual battlefield/airspace to control swarms of UAV entities while"feeling" aspects of the virtual representation. As a testbed for the UAVMI, we will use the OpenSkies simulation software developed by Cybernet Systems. The OpenSkies system is a state-of-the-art PC-Based simulation software package designed from theground up as a general-purpose simulation tool kit. The UAVMI enhancement to OpenSkies will be used to evolve OpenSkies into a real-time 3D combat strategy game (As of this writing we are aware of no such game that allows the user to direct combatstrategy missions in 3 dimensions in real-time). Other potential application areas include air traffic control, both military and commercial, control of uninhabited vehicles in other domains (e.g. underwat