Autonomous Marsupial GNATs

Centeye and subcontractor Airgility jointly propose a Phase 2 effort to build, test, and demonstrate a marsupial system in which a Parent UAS (PUAS) carries five autonomous Child UAS (CUAS) to an area of interest to perform a remote chemical sampling mission in a GPS-denied environment. The PUAS and CUASs will be co-designed and of a novel configuration optimized for marsupial use. The system will allow remote designation of multiple targets and a landing site via an Airgility ground control station. The PUAS will land and sent targeting information to the CUASs autonomously. Each of the five CUAS flights including taking off, flying to its respective target, performing chemical sampling, and returning to dock with the PUAS, will also be autonomous. The PUAS and CUASs will incorporate Centeye neuromorphic omnidirectional obstacle avoidance sensing in addition to target pursuit, navigation techniques, and docking assistance techniques developed in Phase 1. We will conclude this effort with a full demonstration of the system to DTRA personnel. This work will be performed to benefit both civil and military applications.