Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) Applications. Royal Aeronautical Society HQ Lecture 11 March 2015

Transcription

1 Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) Applications Royal Aeronautical Society HQ Lecture 11 March 2015 Dr Joseph Barnard Barnard Microsystems Limited Unit 4, Coleridge Road London N8 8ED U.K.

2 AUVSI March 2015 RPAS VLOS Applications RPAS BLOS applications Oil, gas and mineral geophysical survey work Oil pipeline and linear infrastructure monitoring Land and maritime border patrol Small cargo operations Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 2

3 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System BLOS applications We will consider civilian RPA, as shown here, operating Beyond Line Of Sight in: Oil, gas and mineral geophysical survey ( GS ) work Oil pipeline and linear infrastructure monitoring Land and maritime border patrol Small cargo operations Financial aspects Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 3

4 In a geomagnetic survey, the Users want a mapping of the Earth s magnetic field. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 4

5 In a geomagnetic survey, the User wants a mapping of the Earth s magnetic field. Barnard Remotely Piloted Results Aircraft from Systems the UASatCom (RPAS)... by Feasibility Barnard Microsystems Study Limited 5

6 How are airborne Geomagnetic Surveys ( GS ) performed today? Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 6

7 In an airborne GS, the aircraft need to fly from 20m to 80m Above Ground Level... Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 7

8 One would also like the survey to be performed at night when the electrical and magnetic noise levels are lowest. Quiet period from midnight to noon From a presentation by James Macnae at SEG 2006 Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 8

9 So why not use a Remotely Piloted Aircraft to perform a geophysical survey? The GeoRanger was based on the InSitu ScanEagle, and was used in geomagnetic surveys in Canada. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 9

10 An RPA operating BLOS in a remote area needs a satcoms data relay link This is what is referred to as the Remotely Piloted Aircraft SYSTEM Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 10 Results from the UASatCom Feasibility Study 10

11 The sensors carried on an RPA engaged in a geophysical survey can be expensive The crash of an RPA carrying these expensive sensors will clearly impact the business case: a Headwall HyperSpec SWIR hyperspectral camera costs around $ 95,000 two Scintrex CS-3SL Cesium beam magnetometers, each costing $ 20,200 A Reigl VUX-1 geophysical survey grade LIDAR unit costs in the region of 85,000 RPA survivability is critical: we need a reliable RPA, and a robust and adaptive autopilot. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 11

12 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System BLOS applications We will consider civilian RPA, as shown here, operating Beyond Line Of Sight in: Oil, gas and mineral geophysical survey work Oil pipeline and linear infrastructure monitoring ( PM ) Land and maritime border patrol Small cargo operations Financial aspects Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 12

13 An oil and gas production service involves the monitoring of oil and gas pipelines The User needs to: routinely monitor several 100+ km stretches of oil pipeline; at least once every 2 weeks; and detect and identify people, vehicles and other nearby objects. Above: timely (within 15 minutes) detection of an oil leak from a pipeline contributes to a societal benefit associated with reduced environmental pollution. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 13

14 An oil and gas production service involves the monitoring of oil and gas pipelines The User needs to: routinely monitor several 100+ km stretches of oil pipeline; at least once every 2 weeks; and detect and identify people, vehicles and other nearby objects. Above: timely (within 15 minutes) detection of an oil leak from a pipeline contributes to a societal benefit associated with reduced environmental pollution. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 14

15 In PM, the User needs to be notified of vehicles and people in the Right of Way Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 15 Results from the UASatCom Feasibility Study 15

16 The oil pipeline must be monitored at times in extreme climatic conditions Severe weather conditions in the Arctic: total darkness (in winter time) temperatures: drop to -40 C spray icing (wing icing) snow and ice Part of the Trans Alaska Pipeline In North Africa and in the Middle East, an unmanned aircraft could encounter: temperatures that reach +50 C fine dust abrasive sand storms. Pipeline in Saudi Arabia Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 16

17 High performance, commercially available, sensors are typically used. Canon EOS 5DS R DSLR camera body 8,688 x 5,792 Pixels = 50.3 MPixels computer interface and control via USB 2 price > 3,500 Canon EF mm f/2.8l IS zoom lens viewing angle = 10 x 7 at 200mm 4 stop image stabilisation price = 1,671 Side looking photo from an aircraft travelling at 30 mph, with no image enhancement. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 17

18 How are pipeline monitoring services performed today? PM in Nigeria PM in Azerbaijan PM in Saudi Arabia PM in the USA Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 18

19 An RPA operating BLOS needs a single hop satellite based data relay link. This is the RPA SYSTEM for use in BLOS oil pipeline monitoring work. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 19

20 Remotely Piloted Aircraft BLOS applications We will consider civilian RPA, as shown here, operating Beyond Line Of Sight in: Oil, gas and mineral geophysical survey work Oil pipeline and linear infrastructure monitoring Land and maritime border patrol Small cargo operations Financial aspects Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 20

21 In border patrol work, the RPA needs to use a high data rate satcoms terminal. The satcoms terminal must support a data rate in excess of 8 Mbit/sec in order to relay high definition video on demand. Example of a satellite communications dish on a large military RPA: in this case, a General Atomics Predator. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 21

22 The high data rate satcoms terminal is used to relay real time video from the RPA. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 22

23 In land and maritime border patrol work: An RPA on border patrol will typically fly at 8,000 to 12,000 feet above Mean Sea Level A L band satcoms terminal, such as the Cobham SB 200 terminal shown on the left hand side, is used to relay lower data rate mission critical Command and Control data. A high data rate satcoms unit, such as the $350,000 Viasat terminal shown on the right hand side, is needed to relay the payload high definition video data. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 23

24 The Ka band satcoms unit is used in addition to the C2 link L band terminal... Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 24

25 Remotely Piloted Aircraft BLOS applications Oil, gas and mineral geophysical survey work Oil pipeline and linear infrastructure monitoring Land and maritime border patrol Small cargo operations Financial aspects Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 25

26 Small cargo operations Developing industry targets < $3,000 per platform < 60 per km per 10 kg package Small cargoes of around 20 kg warehouse to village ready Swissair, FedEx and others are interested - from The Flying Donkey Competition Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 26

27 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System BLOS applications We will consider civilian RPA, as shown here, operating Beyond Line Of Sight in: Oil, gas and mineral geophysical survey work Oil pipeline and linear infrastructure monitoring Land and maritime border patrol Small cargo operations Financial aspects Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 27

28 Estimated price for a suitable RPA with 4 kg payload and 700 km range. 4 kg x 700 km = 2,800 kg.km and price = * 2,800^0.6 = $ 108k FY_02 = $ 131.5k FY_10 Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 28

29 The cost of Remotely Piloted Aircraft systems versus the cost of a light aircraft Cessna aircraft: prices scaled to FY_02 Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 29

30 Human error causes most Predator crashes Air Force researcher finds that biggest problem is operator mistakes. Above: Col. Charles W. Manley, commander of the 163d Maintenance Group,163d Reconnaissance Wing, pilots a training simulator for the Air Force's MQ-1 Predator at the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, Calif., in June. Research shows that most Predator mishaps are the result of: inadequate skills lack of teamwork lack of situational awareness. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 30

31 Even with training, human error remains a notable cause of RPA crashes From presentation by Dubi Lavi at AUVSI Israel Chapter Conference, March Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 31

32 Rockwell Collins have demonstrated the use of real time adaptive flight control to continue flying, and then landing, a severely damaged model aircraft. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 32

33 Conclusions Most of the requirements for remotely piloted aircraft operating BLOS in oil, gas and mineral exploration and production activities can be achieved with current technology. One needs to exercise caution in the business case, and especially with the capital cost of remotely piloted aircraft in the light of the Non Recurring Engineering costs. More and more companies and Government Organizations are becoming interested in the use of remotely piloted aircraft systems in their day to day operations. HOWEVER, one requirement that occurs almost without exception in BLOS operations in un-segregated air space is the need for a reliable collision detect and avoid system. I can be contacted at joseph.barnard@barnardmicrosystems.com Acknowledgements Much of this work was supported by: the U.K. Technology Strategy Board in the form of the INMARA Intelligent Machine Reasoning and Action Proof of Concept Project, TSB Reference number , and the UASatCom Feasibility Study, contract number , and the SURMON Demo Project, contract number , both supported by the European Space Agency. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)... by Barnard Microsystems Limited 33