Precision Automated Instrumented Landing Survey

To address the U.S. Air Force’s need for rapid qualification of aviation navigation aids (navaids), such as the Deployable – Instrument Landing System (D-ILS), under military contingency and natural disaster conditions, Intellisense Systems, Inc. (ISI) proposes to develop a new Precision Automated InStrumented Landing SurvEY (PAISLEY) system hosted on a mature, long endurance, unmanned aerial system (UAS) platform. Specifically, the innovations in integration of calibrated commercial off-the-shelf radio frequency (RF) navigation instrumentation with precision navigation combined with mission planning software tools will enable the system to provide fast, accurate, and reliable near-field and far-field navaid measurements and characterization. As a result, this technology offers automated UAS-based measurement and testing of navaid glideslope, localizer, and marker signals throughout the landing corridor, which directly addresses the Air Force Flight Standards Agency requirements for rapid D-ILS certification in support of combat tactical operations or providing humanitarian mission support. In Phase I, ISI demonstrated the feasibility of PAISLEY by performing UAS glideslope antenna RF instrumented flight tests. In Phase II, ISI plans to design and integrate a fully functional prototype system and to demonstrate it in an operational environment while working with the USAF stakeholders to prepare for transition of the technology to the field.