Vermeer + AFSOC: AR Drone Navigation

There is a critical mission need to improve the operator and collection manager’s ability to rapidly leverage UAS assets in realtime on the battlefield for ISR and to support combat operations..   Reduction in the planning time and an accurate tactical operating picture is critical to act quickly and decisively on the battlefield, mitigate operational risk , ensure secure operations and execute effective BDA post missions. AFSOC has a national defense-related mission in the area of UAS Operations and Mission planning for ISR in support of SOF. Vermeer’s AR mission planning technology solution under 20.R SBIR will contribute to enhancing mission capabilities to support the data-to-decision requirements for current and future threats.  The main goals of AeroCine Ventures Inc involvement in this project is to integrate Vermeer as a platform agnostic UAS visual mission planning tool that leverages AR navigation protocol and demonstrates methodology (and potential TTPs) for operations in both accessible and “denied” environments. The mission impact of this project on the Air Force and the Department of Defense will be to advance their operations in dynamic, contested environments; to aid in mission pre-planning, deconfliction, and collection operations; intuitively navigate across different terrains; and to maximize collection of high fidelity imagery and FMV in real-time.  Warfighters using a visual platform for controlling sUAS will realize one critical feature : the ability to reduce operator (shooter) time looking down, and increase operators "heads-up" during actual ground operations.In addition, Vermeer software has the ability to reduce operator expertise required  in UAS flight control training.  The potential concept to launch and "forget" until notified of activity is of critical interest to several mission areas within AFSOC and DoD writ large.