Multi-Functional Heavy Lift VTOL UAS for Resupply and Combat Operations

Near Earth Autonomy and Kaman Aerospace propose a multi-functional, heavy-lift VTOL UAS to address the US Army's resupply and combat needs in contested logistics environments. Beyond resupply, this system can serve infrastructure movement, communication relay, and even host weaponry, redefining modern combat. Designed for organic fielding by troops, it features modular payload attachment systems for easy equipment customization. Seamlessly handling field loading and unloading, the UAS guarantees successful autonomous and human-intervention missions. Equipped with advanced technology, navigation controls, obstacle avoidance, and foolproof overrides, it navigates adeptly and selects safe landing zones, ensuring mission safety and efficiency.The robustness of the proposed solution comes from a simple design, autonomy functions that keep the vehicle safe during all phases of flight, and an architecture designed to fail safely. A core component is intended to operate at a high assurance level even if critical parts of the system fail. In addition, the system has an intuitive interface for both dispatch and supervision in the field. The system requires minimal infrastructure to allow the operators to specify, monitor, and alter missions using rugged tablet interfaces.Our proposal builds on an ongoing collaborative project between Near Earth Autonomy and Kaman Aerospace, aimed at developing a comprehensive resupply solution for defense and commercial applications. Testing of subcomponents, sub-scale aircraft flights, and fully autonomous flights on a surrogate aircraft haveĀbeen completed, with integration for final flight testing currently underway.During the first year of the proposed program, we will demonstrate the transport of 500 lb of cargo and explore enhancements to enable carrying heavier loads ranging from 800 to 1400 lb over distances exceeding 100 miles. We will showcase the basic feasibility of our system at Project Convergence 2024, followed by an optimized operation in August 2024. Additionally, we will recommend means to automatically load/unload payloads, enabling seamless switches between cargo resupply, reconnaissance, and other mission-critical operations.Near Earth Autonomy is a leader in autonomy systems, having integrated and demonstrated autonomy on over 110 airframes, totaling 6,600 uncrewed flights and 2,000 flight hours since its founding in 2012. Our partner, Kaman Aerospace, excels in mission-critical components and aerial systems. Its K-MAX helicopter, designed for heavy lift and external operations in challenging environments, played a crucial role in autonomous combat resupply for the US Marine Corps in Afghanistan. This system achieved over 2,150 unmanned flight hours and a mission readiness rate of greater than 94%.With advanced technology and robust design, the proposed UAS offers a reliable and adaptable solution to the US Army's resupply and combat requirements.