autonomous uavs: a look into the future

Autonomous UAVs:

A Look Into the Future

Mr. Mike Huggins

Chief Engineer

Aerospace Systems Directorate

Air Force Research Laboratory

Distribution Statement A (88ABW-2016-3639)

Outline

• Aerospace Systems Directorate Overview

• Game Changers - Hypersonics

- Directed Energy Weapons

- Autonomous UAVs

• Other Highlights - Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technologies (LCAAT)

- Recent Successes


Space Vehicles

• Space Electronics • Space Environmental

Impacts & Mitigation • Space OE/IR • Space Experiments • Platforms & Operations

Technologies

Materials and

Manufacturing

• Functional Materials & Applications

• Manufacturing & Industrial Technology

• Structural Materials & Applications

• Support for Operations

Sensors

• Advanced Devices & Components

• Layered Sensing Exploitation

• Multi-Int Sensing (RF/EO)

• Spectrum Warfare

• Fuze Technology • Munitions AGN&C • Munitions System

Effects Science • Ordinance Sciences • Terminal Seeker

Sciences

Munitions

Aerospace Systems • Air Vehicles • Control, Power &

Thermal Management • High Speed Systems • Space & Missile

Propulsion • Turbine Engines

Directed Energy

• Directed Energy & EO for Space Superiority

• High Power Electromagnetics

• Laser Systems • Weapons Modeling

and Simulation

Information

• Autonomy, C2, & Decision Support

• Connectivity & Dissemination

• Cyber Science & Technology

• Processing & Exploitation

Human Performance

• Bio-effects • Decision Making • Human Centered ISR • Training

AF Office of

Scientific Research

• Aerospace, Chemical & Material Sciences

• Education & Outreach • Mathematics,

Information, & life sciences

• Physics & Electronics

AFRL Technical Directorates &

Competencies


Edwards AFB, CA

Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

Established

1917

Established

1947

• Liquid Rocket Engines

• Solid Rocket Motors

• Spacecraft Propulsion

Technologies

• Aerodynamics & Structures

• Hypersonics

• Power & Thermal

• Controls & Autonomy

• Turbine Engines/Novel Propulsion

• Fuels

Technologies

Aerospace Systems Directorate Overview

1799 people

$570M / year (core S&T) (FY17PB includes FY17-FY21)

(OH $484M / CA $85M)

$4.1B in facilities (OH $2.0B / CA $2.1B)

Established 2014

AEDC (RQHX), TN


Game Changers

Revolutionary technology to make and keep the fight unfair

Directed Energy − High Power Microwave alternative to kinetic weapons − Lasers with air & ground selectable effects & reduced

collateral damage

Autonomy − Decisions at speed of computing − Self-awareness & troubleshooting intelligence

Hypersonics − Survivable, fast-flying − Defeat deep-layered A2/AD strategies


AFRL’s Hypersonic Technology

Development Approach

Stair-step approach builds upon prior successes

Expendable Vehicles Small Engines Cold Structures with TPS Medium Lift/Drag Aero

Reusable Platforms Large Engines Hot/Hybrid Structures Advanced Aero & Controls

Expendable/Reusable Systems Medium Engines Light Weight Warm/Hot Structures High Lift/Drag Aero

Contrasting Air-breathing Engines

Hydrocarbon Scramjet

Turbine Engine

Compressor/ Compression surface

Fuel/engine controls

Combustor Nozzle

Turbine

Ramjet (Mach 2.5 - 6)

Scramjet (Mach 6 - 15)

Incoming air is

supersonic

Exhaust air is

supersonic

Air slows to subsonic speed inside the

engine as it mixes with the fuel and burns

Air flows supersonically inside the engine

as it mixes with the fuel and burns

Incoming air is

supersonic

Exhaust air is

supersonic

Fuel Injection

Fuel Injection

Contrasting Ramjet and Scramjet

Hypersonic S&T Technology Maturation Areas

Propulsion

Materials & Structures

Systems Analysis

Aeromechanics Guidance, Navigation

& Control

Mission Systems

(Ordnance & Sensors)

Power & Thermal Management


Test163-SED_X-1.wmv

AF Roadmap: Laser Weapons

Concept: 100 kW-class HEL on

4th and 5th gen aircraft

Entry Level Capability

10s of kW HEL

• Aircraft self-defense: defeat

moderate salvo of SAMs

• A-A missions: Defeat missiles

& aircraft at moderate range

• A-G Missions: Ultra-precise

weapon against moderately

hard targets

• A-A Missions: Defeat IR missiles

• Defeat sensors

• Defeat aircraft beyond visual range

• Defeat hard targets in flight at range

• Hard ground target defeat

Reducing SWaP and Increasing Capability for A2/AD Environment

Key Laser System S&T Disciplines • Target effects

• Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing

• Beam Control

• Laser sources

• Power & thermal management

• Numerical design & analysis

2018-2021 2025 2029+

Concept: 300 kW-class HEL on 6th

gen aircraft


Power & Thermal Technologies

Po

wer

& T

herm

al L

oad

F-15E

F-15C/D

Time Today

~~

F-16

F-35 CTOL, CV

F-22

+ Electronic Attack

(EA) 1000’s

KW

100’s

KW

+ DEW

Gap

Aircraft Power • Electrical power needs continue to grow

- Mission avionics

- DE weapons

Thermal Management • As power grows, so will heat generation

- More effective thermal systems

- Higher temperature electronics

- Less heat through improved efficiency

Turret Aerodynamics • Flow control to mitigate aero-optic

interference around a laser turret


Autonomy Overall Roadmap

Autonomy S&T Challenges

• Airman-Machine Teaming for Efficient

Re-coupled, Shared Situational

Awareness

• Coordinated Machines that Execute

Commander’s Intent for Continuous,

Integrated Effects

Operating safely & efficiently

Mission continues thru A2/AD

Optimized platform operations delivering

integrated ISR and weapon effects

Machine-assisted ops compressing the kill chain

Today 2020 2030+

Collision Avoidance

Work-centered PED cell

Unmanned wingman extends effects and reach

Intelligence analytic system fuses INT

data & cues analyst of threats

Executing Airman’s Intent at the Speed of Computing across Domains


13

Autonomy

Background

Digital Fly-by-Wire – Outer Loop Trajectory

Integrated Flight and Mission Management

Au

tom

ati

on

System

s Desig

n &

An

alysis

1950s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

2000s

Fly-by-Wire – Inner Loop Stabilization

Fully Powered Control

V&V of Complex and Adaptive

Systems

Air-Launched UAS Operation

UAS Cooperative Control

Auto Ground Collision Avoidance System

Manned-Unmanned

Combat Teaming

Automated Aerial Refueling

Augmented Control

2010s

2020+

Sense & Avoid

Ground-Air-Ground Operations

Mechanical Sys & Hydraulics

Analog Systems

Digital Systems

Software Driven Automation

Automation

Control Power

Stabilization

Vehicle Performance

Mission Performance

Autonomy

Safety, Survivability,

and Efficiency

Complexity & Trust

Adaptive Guidance & Reconfigurable

Control

Dynamic Resource Allocation


14

Autonomy

Goals 16

• Automated flight maneuvers

• Ground & air collision

avoidance for manned aircraft

• Airborne sense and avoid for

group 3-5 UAS

Advanced automation

for safe, efficient

operations

Increased capability

for full spectrum

of missions

Unmanned aircraft

as teammates in

complex missions

• Airborne launch and control of

UAS for tactical targeting

• Robust, cooperative ISR

• Ground-air-ground operations

• Automated tanker & receiver

refueling operations

• Control of complex vehicle

configuration and systems

• Dynamic resource allocation

• Manned-unmanned teaming

for combat operations

• Trusted systems

Next Now Future


15

Kettering Bug

(Secret 1918 Project)

16

Why are UAVs called Drones

1 - Google Search Definition for “Drone”

2 - Merriam-Webster

A continuous humming sound/monotonous speech1

A [stingerless]2 male bee in a colony of social bees, which

does no work but can fertilize a queen1

A person who does no useful work1 or does hard & dull work2

A remote-controlled pilotless aircraft or missile1

Not very exciting

17

• DJI Phantom Intelligent Flight Modes – Follow-Me

– Course Lock

– Waypoints

– Home Lock

– Point of Interest

• Predator MQ-9 Operation

How UAVs are Controlled Now

Northrup’s “Advanced GCS”

Image from Washington Post, June 20, 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/national/drone-crashes/how-drones-work

18

Changing How We Fly and Fight

Increasing Complexity of UAV Ops

Manned

Platform

Replacement

Manned +

Unmanned

Teaming

Unmanned

Teaming

De

pe

nd

ence

on

au

ton

om

y

Next 5-15 Years Now

0-5 Years

Future 10-25 Years

Cooperative

ISR

Cooperative

Strike

Off-Board

Sensing

Persistent

ISR

Distributed,

Cooperative

SEAD

Air-to-

Ground

Def, Off

Counter-Air

DE Strike

Penetrating

Strike

AirDrop

AirLand

Strategic

Refueling

Tactical

Refueling

Systems of air systems

yield operational agility

19

UAS Airspace Integration

Airborne Sense and Avoid

• Cooperative sensors: TCAS, ADS-B

• Non-cooperative sensors: EO, RADAR

• 2015 62 on-collision flight tests

• SC-228 definition of “well clear” satisfied in every test

• 2017 Firebird-D autonomous demonstration

Terminal Area Operations

• Past work focused on surface operations: ACUGOTA ‘14

• Currently work focuses on terminal airspace

• Integrating with ATC (HMI) is the hard part

Seamless integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems into national, international and combat airspace operations.

USAF working with FAA to transition technology

20

Autonomy

S&T Portfolios

Airspace Integration

Tactical Autonomy

Enhanced Mobility Operations

Trust & Certification

State Awareness & Real-Time Response

Automatic Collision Avoidance Technology

Small UAS Power & Control

Aerospace Control


21

Aerospace Control

Future Focus

Maturity

• Adaptive Inner-Loop Flight Control for

Hypersonic Vehicles

– FY17 HIL Demo

• Integrated Adaptive Guidance and

Reconfigurable Control for RLVs

– FY12 FAST Ground Demo

– FY04 Approach & Landing Demo

• Robust Guidance & Energy Management

– Transition to possible future Tactical

Boost Glide

• Adaptive flight control for re-usable

hypersonic aircraft

– Transition to development program (mid

2020’s)

Challenges

• Replicating the adaptability of a human

pilot to overcome unforeseen events

• Testing guidance and control in flight at

hypersonic speeds for low cost

• V&V of adaptive control laws

Foundational Capability


22

Automatic Collision Avoidance

Technology Future Focus

• Auto ICAS for manned fighters

– F-16 training capability – FY18

– F-35 operational capability – FY20

• Auto ICAS for unmanned a/c – FY20

• Precision navigation solution for degraded

or denied GPS environment

Maturity

• Transitioned Auto GCAS in 2010

– IOC for Block 40/50s in Fall 2014

– 4 operational saves through May 2016

• Demoed Auto GCAS on Block 15

• Demoed Auto ACAS in 2014

– Cooperative solution for training

– Limited non-cooperative capability

Challenges

• Developing a nuisance-free system

– Developing nuisance criteria

– Developing nuisance-free maneuvers

– Testing system

• Moving from fail safe to fail operational



23

Airspace Integration

Future Focus

Maturity

• Graduated Multiple Intruder Autonomous

Avoidance ATD (airborne sense and avoid)

– Utilized Calspan Learjet – FY15

• Demoed ground operations from parking to

runway in 2014

– Utilized instrumented car as UAS

– Followed ATC commands

– Navigated airfield

• Vehicle independent sense and avoid demo

in FY17

• UAS terminal airspace operations

• Surface to air and return operations

– Integrates sense and avoid with surface

operations in FY22

Challenges

• Fusing information from disparate sources

with varying uncertainties to provide

actionable situational awareness

• Contingency operations

• Size, weight, and power constraints

• Uncertainty with FAA regulations



24

Enhanced Mobility Operations

Future Focus

Maturity

• AFRL Refueling demos FY06-11

– Demoed differential GPS for position keeping

– Flew 2 hours in contact position, but no fuel transfer

• NAVAIR UCAS

– Probe/drogue refueling of X-47B in FY15

– Differential GPS w/ vision to capture drogue

• Precision Airdrop FCC FY12-17

– Developed CARP automation replacement for C-130H

• Automated Refueling Operations

– Demonstrate boom refueling for unmanned receiver

– Investigate non-GPS precision navigation techniques

– Develop boom automation systems for Next

Generation Tanker (NGT)

– Design NGT user systems to enable crew reduction

• Precision Airdrop

– Innovative semi-guided solutions

Challenges

• Achieving required system integrity

• Legacy system constraints and integration

• Expensive flight testing of relative

navigation systems

• Unknown performance & operational req’s


Arch, Integration, & V&V


25

Tactical Autonomy

Future Focus

Maturity

• Demoed automated maneuvers in flight

– Formation, rejoin, loiter, route following,

weapons release – HAVE Raider FY15

• Demoed baseline defensive system

manager in simulation – SPARTACUS FY16

• Established air-to-air teaming baseline

through multi-service ATACM ARPI project

• Demonstrate dynamic route planning, lost link

behaviors, auto engagement, and coordinated

strike in flight – HAVE Raider II FY17

• Integrated on-board defensive and offensive

system management – Tactical Battle Manager

• Manned-unmanned teaming for combat

operations

• Integrated, open, and verifiable vehicle control

systems for on-board tactical aircraft experiments

Challenges

• Dynamic, uncertain adversarial

environment

• Short time scales

• Integration of multidisciplinary

technologies to enable capabilities

• Evaluating effects of integrated

technologies with proper employment


Platform Decision Making

Multi-Platform Teaming



26

State Awareness

& Real-Time Response Future Focus

Maturity

• Integrated System Health Management

– Demoed system health management

architecture in RLV HITL – FY14

• Dynamic Resource Allocation

– Demoed model predictive control

concept for vapor compression system

in simulation – FY15

• Dynamic Resource Allocation

– Allocating energy (power, thermal, fuel)

over the mission and across the aircraft

– HITL demo – FY22

• Real-Time Estimation of Ability

– Vehicle operational constraints based

on condition, resources, and demands

– HITL demo – FY20

Challenges

• Lack of interoperability obstructs resource

and information sharing

• Better performance generally comes at the

expense of greater complexity

• Balancing robustness in mission execution

with utilization of vehicle ability




27

Small UAS Power & Control

Future Focus

Maturity

• Tactical Off-Board Sensing ATD program

– Demo mothership integration in Nov 2016

– UAS launch and stabilization, EO/IR sensing,

and waypoint-driven control

– FY17-18 studies focused on improved

automation and human-machine interfaces

• Maturity of TOBS automation to reduce

workload and improve operations

• Adaptation of TOBS technologies onto

other host platforms

• Improvements to SUAV’s sensing, comms,

endurance, and on-board processing

Challenges

• Sensing capabilities that meet KPPs for

target identification in a small form factor

• SUAV control integration into existing

operator stations

• Automation to reduce workload from SUAV

operations within context of mothership

systems



28

Trust & Certification

Future Focus

Maturity

• Intelligent Control and Evaluation of Teams

– Flight demo of decentralized control in comm-

limited environment – Nov 2015

• Specification and Analysis of

Requirements (SpeAR) Tool

– Public release of version 2 – April 2016

• Formal Design & Analysis – Formalized Requirements Analysis - FY18

– Formalized Development Process (Requirement/Architecture/Modeling) - FY20

• Run-Time Assurance for Autonomy – Anticipate flight testing in FY20

• Trusted Autonomy – Formalized human-machine interface in FY18

– Verified cooperative control flight demo in FY20

Challenges

• State-space explosion prevents exhaustive

searching and testing

• Unpredictable environments

• Emergent unintended behavior between

systems and other systems/subsystems

• Human-machine system interaction and

communication

Multi-Platform Teaming



29

Facilities and Assets

Flight Test Expertise

Aerospace Vehicles Technology Assessment and Simulation Lab

SUAS Test Assets

Unattended Ground Sensor


Autonomy Loyal Wingman

• Loyal Wingman “Bomb Truck UAV” Demo FY20

- Manned aircraft will select and designate targets, command UAV to prosecute

• Commands, target info, & mission parameters sent to UAV

- UAV capabilities include: • Formation flying, loiter, rejoin, mission

excursions, weapon drops • Mission planning for new ground targets • Locate, image, attack, and re-image

(BDA) target • Demonstrate recovery from internal contingencies • Demonstrate reliable inter-vehicle communication

• Loyal Wingman “SEAD UAV” Demo in FY22

• Builds from FY20 to include capability to scout an area and suppress/destroy enemy air defense within that region


Automated Intelligent Battle Management In Search of a Smarter Way to Survive

- SPARTACUS -

Technical Ideas

• Synergistic weapons effects • Directed energy weapons • Kinetic weapons • Countermeasure suites

• Artificial intelligence to optimize offensive/defensive capabilities

• Efficient course of action automation

Motivation

• Ensure effectiveness/survivability of air superiority platforms in future highly contested environments

Payoff

• Increased platform survivability

• Increased mission success rates

• Decreased operator reaction time/workload

• Applicable to manned/unmanned systems

• Achieve cost vs. capability balance

Defensive System Manager

• Autonomous/Semi-Autonomous

• Man – Machine Teaming

Intelligent Course of Action (ICOA)

Threat

Kinetic

Directed Energy

Counter-measures

Inputs

Distribution D: DoD & DoD Contractors Only

Maneuver Capability


Outline

• Aerospace Systems Directorate Overview

• Game Changers - Hypersonics

- Directed Energy Weapons

- Autonomous UAVs

• Other Highlights - Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technologies (LCAAT)

- Recent Successes


33

LCAAT will enable a family of limited function, rapidly produced, low cost, attritable UAVs to augment manned weapon systems to force a cost imposition effect on near peer adversaries

Amplifies Enduring Attributes Of Airpower • Mass • Responsiveness • Range • Flexibility • Asymmetric force • Increased risk tolerance

Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT)

Game-Changing Technology: LCAAT

Challenge/Problem Space • Rising costs of exquisite Air Force aircraft “In the year 2054, the entire defense budget will purchase just one aircraft.” – Norman Augustine • Permissive through A2/AD environments

Current Status • Initial in-house Op’s & mission engagement analysis

underway • Cost and reliability design methods being developed for

limited life aircraft • Vehicle design, and lifecycle cost estimating in work • Manufacturing studies and risk reduction activity underway • Conceptual vehicle design development in work under

contract with industry • A FYDP campaign of experiments to explore LCAA

technologies, innovations and capabilities is being developed

Weapons Truck LCAAT Concept


X-51 Reaches Revolutionary

Milestone in Hypersonic Flight

• Mach 5+ in 6 min flight

• Collier Trophy Finalist !!

ADaptive Versatile ENgine Technology

• Core demo achieved highest combination

of compressor and turbine temperatures

Adaptive Compliant

Trailing Edge (ACTE)

• NASA & AFRL partnership

• Cruise drag reduction, fuel burn

savings

• Wing weight reduction through

structural load alleviation

• Noise reduction during approach &

landing

Automated Ground Collision Avoidance (AGCAS)

• AFRL, SMC MILSATCOM, LMCO, Rapid

Capabilities Office, Aerojet Rocketdyne

• Combining: 1) improving ground testing,

2) improving MS&A tools, and 3) in-space

flight demonstration/validation on X-37

Flying modified Hall Thruster

X-37B Experiment

Improving T&E

• Four operational F-16 AGCAS

saves since fielding in Sept 2014

• First save occurred during high

angle strafe (Nov 2014)

• Second save occurred during

high aspect fighter maneuvering

over water (Jan 2015)

• Third save occurred during

terrain masking training in

mountains (Aug 2015)

• Collier Trophy Finalist !!

S&T Accomplishments


QUESTIONS?

REVOLUTIONARY · RELEVANT · RESPONSIVE


autonomous uavs: a look into the future

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