Micro Air Vehicles for Munition Bomb Damage Assessment

The Air Force has identified a need to develop innovative concepts that use low-value assets to gather timely and accurate bomb damage assessment (BDA) information. The focus of the Phase II research is to develop a munition deployed micro air vehicle(MAV) for BDA applications. The concept is to attach an expendable MAV to an air-launched munition. The MAV, which is housed in a parachute-equipped protective dispenser, is jettisoned from the munition at a pre-determined point along the munition'sdescent trajectory. The parachute unfurls to decelerate the dispenser, thereby enabling the MAV to safely exit the dispenser and achieve stable flight. The camera-equipped MAV autonomously navigates towards, and loiters in, the target area and transmitsreal-time BDA imagery for 20 minutes until its on-board power source is exhausted. The SDI/UF team shall design and fabricate an MAV that accommodates the payload required for autonomous flight, yet fits within the small volume of an air-launchedmunition. The MAV will incorporate UF's flexible-wing technology that features an airframe with a carbon fiber framework covered with a nylon monofilm membrane. The MAV will be equipped with miniature camera and 2.4 GHz video transmitter. Waypointnavigation will be achieved by utilizing an on-board avionics package that consists of a GPS receiver, inertial sensors, and magnetic and pressure sensors to stabilize and guide the air vehicle. The MAV, with its wings folded, will be shock-isolatedwithin its protective dispenser. The Phase II effort will culminate in an F-16 drop test at Eglin AFB.