Human-Systems Technology for UAV Ground Stations

The approach that Nascent Technologies will use to satisfy the Phase I objectives is based on a structured methodology for the development and commercialization of human-systems technology. Accordingly, the proposed project has been broken down into a number of tasks and subtasks. The first objective of identifying enabling technologies for UAVs requires three preliminary tasks: (a) the search for enabling technologies must be guided by an understnading of the technology needs of UAV ground-station personnel; (b) the identification of technology needs should be based on assumptions about the future roles and functions of various ground-station personnel; and (c) these assumptions should be grounded in an understnading of the planned uses of UAVs in the battlespace of the future. A subsequent winnowing task is essential to satisfying the second objective which is to deliver a feasible plan for technology development. The second objective lays the groundwork for a Phase II SBIR proposal and, as such, it is the fundamental goal of the proposed SBIR Phase I effort. The third objective is to specify a set of research issues that, of necessity, will result from the winnowing process.