REMOTELY PILOTED VEHICLE (RPV) TECHNOLOGY

RGI, THROUGH ITS ARRANGEMENTS WITH SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, PROPOSES TO DEMONSTRATE THROUGH ANALYSIS THE FEASIBILITY OF USING MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE OMAR (OPTICAL MICROWAVE APPROACH AND RANGING) SYSTEM TO ENHANCE THE RELIABILITY OF RPVS. OMAR, CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT AS A PRECISION, LOW VISIBILITY LANDING SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT (WITH EMPHASIS ON HELICOPTERS), LENDS ITSELF UNIQUELY TO RPV REQUIREMENTS. MODIFICATIONS TO OMAR WILL BE REQUIRED FOR SPECIALIZED RPV USE BUT BASIC CONCEPTS OF LUNEBERG LENS BEAM SHAPING WITH ANGLE/RANGE PROCESSING WILL REMAIN VALID. OMAR CHARACTERISTICS, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO OPERATE IN A PASSIVE (COVERT) MODE, MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE AS A PORTABLE MILITARY POSITIONING AND CONTROL SYSTEM. FOR RPV APPLICATIONS ITS RESPONSE TO AUTHENTICATION CODED INTERROGATION, STRUCTURED IN DIRECTIONAL, LOW-POWER REFLECTIVE BEAMS, PROVIDE A LOW PROBABILITY OF INTERCEPT ENVIRONMENT.