Joint Unmanned Aircraft System Mission Environment (JUAS-ME)

Transcription

1 Joint Unmanned Aircraft System Mission Environment (JUAS-ME) A Ground Test Architecture for Army Manned/Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) Robert E. Stone JUAS-ME Army Program Manager (PM) Advanced Technology Office US Army Redstone Test Center (RTC) Lewis Hundley JUAS-ME Assistant PM Trideum Corporation Michael J. O Connor JUAS-ME Architecture Lead Trideum Corporation November 4, 2015 U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command

2 Manned/Unmanned Teaming MUM-T is an Army capability in which manned aircraft assume varying Levels of Interoperability (LOI) (i.e. control) of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to accomplish intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and target prosecution. These LOI s are defined as follows in NATO STANAG 4586: LOI 1 Direct Receipt of Secondary Data from UAS LOI 2 Direct Receipt of UAS Sensor/Payload Data LOI 3 Control of UAS Sensor/Payload LOI 4 UAS Flight Control LOI 5 Launch and Recovery of UAS 2

3 Conceptual MUM-T Scenario MUM-T is a True SoS and Requires a SoS Test Environment LOI 1-4 Defs 3

4 MUM-T Test Challenges Testing of MUM-T systems has several unique challenges: MUM-T is a true system of systems (SoS), comprising manned aircraft, the UAS/ground control station (GCS), and in some scenarios dismounted soldier systems. Testing of these capabilities must be performed in a true SoS environment to assess all functionality and limitations of the combined systems. MUM-T functionality is inextricably tied to the transmission of data across the tactical data link. The ability to control this link in an open air test environment is limited at best. Current FAA restrictions on UAS flight in the National Airspace (NAS) typically requires expensive ferry and logistics costs to colocate the manned aircraft at the UAS flight area for testing of MUM-T capabilities. 4

5 JUAS-ME Ground Test Solution In order to meet these challenges, RTC developed a ground test architecture linking existing tactical hardware in the loop (HITL), installed systems test facilities (ISTFs), labs, and ranges using the Defense Research Engineering Network (DREN) into an aggregate SoS environment for MUM-T testing. The architecture, known as the Joint UAS Mission Environment, is comprised of the following Team Redstone facilities: RTC Aviation System Test and Integration Lab (AvSTIL) a manned aircraft installed systems test facility focusing on MUM-T and ASE testing. The AH-64E was placed in virtual flight using AvSTIL capabilities. AMRDEC Joint Systems Integration Lab (JSIL) A Gray Eagle HITL facility with both air vehicle and GCS. The Gray Eagle was also placed in virtual flight within the facility. 5

6 JUAS-ME Ground Test Solution (continued) RTC Distributed Test Control Center (DTCC) a unique capability focused on the design, control and execution of distributed tests. Additionally the DTCC houses the tactical data link emulation, the common scenario simulation (OneSAF) and serves as the focal point for data collection and analysis. RTC Laser Lab - a sensor performance testing lab in which UAS payload laser designators can be fired and characterized. RTC Range Facilities test towers with full view of 5 km range. Provides instrumented targets for tracking and lasing with full suite of witness sensors networked into the test architecture. 6

7 JUAS-ME Ground Test Solution (concluded) While JUAS-ME development focused on the AH-64E and Gray Eagle, the architecture can integrate any TCDL based HITL or ISTF for manned or unmanned aircraft with only minor modifications. JUAS-ME is a tri-service development sponsored by the Test Resource Management Center s Central T&E Improvement Program (CTEIP). JUAS-ME successfully demonstrated the base architecture in FY13 and FY14, and was awarded the Army Modeling and Simulation Office (AMSO) Award for FY14 in the Team T&E category. 7

8 JUAS-ME Concept MDBCTT Common Sensor Payload RTC AvSTIL 1553 PLD Msgs AMRDEC JSIL RTC Range AH-64E TSPI MQ-1C Air Vehicle TSPI TCDL Tactical Msgs TCDL Tactical Msgs JSTEN RTC DTCC OSRVT TCDL Tactical Msgs MQ-1C GCS TSPI OneSAF 8

9 JUAS-ME Unique Developments Several unique components were developed to support the JUAS-ME effort. Joint Scalable Tactical Emulated Network (JSTEN) - An established Army product that provides tactical network emulation for a variety of terrestrial and airborne RF based networks. JUAS-ME updated JSTEN to: Include bit-level processing algorithms based on the Air Force s Standard Common Data Link (SCDL) Specification. Incorporate a unique IP Multicast Multiplex function allowing separation of publish and subscribed multicast data. Implement a deterministic Data Link Filter allowing user selected data link messages to be blocked. 9

10 JUAS-ME Unique Developments (concluded) Multiplex Data Bus Controller Translator Transmitter (MDBCTT) Used within AvSTIL to overdrive MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC 429 busses for virtual flight. JUAS-ME modified MDBCTT to: Allow 1553 bus data to be converted to IP, routed over a standard network structure, and then re-converted back to Extends MIL-STD-1553 Busses over ten s of kilometers Allows UAS payloads to be placed on the RTC range and still function under the control of the UAS bus controller. 10

11 JSTEN Joint Scalable Tactical Emulated Network TDL Msgs Passed to Rx Platform TDL Msgs From Tx Platform GFP Forward error Correction Weather RF Propagation Terrain GFP Forward error Correction -OR- Radio Performance Radio Performance TDL Msgs Stopped Antenna Performance Relative Geometry Antenna Performance Bit-Level Data Link Spec Algorithms Tx Platform Vehicle RF Parameters Physics Based Algorithms JSTEN Data Link Emulation Allows MUM-T Functionality Evaluation Under Full Range of Conditions Rx Platform Vehicle RF Parameters 11

12 MDBCTT Multiplex Data Bus Controller Translator Transmitter JSIL MQ-1C HITL MDBCTT 1553 PLD Messages Range Targets On RTC Range Gray Eagle AV Payload Control Computer CSP C2 Commands INS NAV Data P S RT (Surrogate CSP) MDBCTT DREN (via DTCC) Gigabit E-net BC (Surrogate PCC) MDBCTT P S CSP EU CSP TU Overdrive Data Source JUAS-ME MDBCTT Allows 1553 Buses to be Extended up to Approximately 25 km 12 12

13 Gray Eagle Apache AMRDEC JSIL Emulated Data Link RTC AvSTIL Extended MIL-STD-1553 CSP RTC DTCC Data Link Emulation RTC Range Tower JUAS-ME Test Geometry 13 13

14 JUAS-ME Virtual Test Scenario Gray Eagle in loiter pattern north west of Redstone GCS located at RTC airfield OSRVT located at Bldg 4500 AH-64 flying south east of Redstone 14

15 Example of Tactical Video Degradation During Target Tracking in LOI 3 Due to Emulated Data Link Quality Degradation JSTEN Control and Monitoring GUI Apache Gray Eagle UAS Apache Received Video UAS Transmitted Video As Relative Range Increases, Video Packets Begin to Drop Out 15 15

16 Data Link Degradation Video in LOI 3 Gray Eagle CSP Video From Range CSP Video Received at Apache 16

17 Emulated Target Prosecution Using UAS Laser Designator in LOI-4 CSP Track (symbology removed) Witness Camera 17

18 Summary The JUAS-ME architecture integrates Army manned and unmanned systems into a SoS environment to support ground testing of MUM-T capabilities. JUAS-ME allows full software functionality testing of MUM-T systems, including target prosecution with actual UAS sensors on the range. Program development focused on Apache, Gray Eagle, and OSRVT, but any TCDL based system can be integrated into the architecture. JUAS-ME cuts across organizational boundaries to maximize use of existing HITL, ISTF, Laboratory, and Range assets from RTC and AMRDEC to support the Aviation Warfighter. 18