Small UAV A French MoD perspective and planning

Small UAV A French MoD perspective and planning

French ISTAR segmentation portable transportable infrastructure System volume Tactical Small UAV Contact Combat Helicopters (MTI) Fighter Aircrafts Land forces Action area Technology limit : data links (Satcom) MALE Theatre area HALE Satellites Technology limit : mobility Strategic interest area Range DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 2 / 20

Small UAV Classification Micro UAV Size : < 15 cm Weight : < 50 g Range : 100 m Mini UAV Size : < 70 cm Weight : < 5 kg Range : 1000 m to 3000 m Autonomy : 15 min to 45 min Very short range UAV Size : portable by 2 soldiers Weight : system < 40 kg, AC < 10 kg Range : 10-15 km typical Autonomy : 1h30 DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 3 / 20

Operational role Military role Close combat support Soldier, commando, vehicle Open or Urban environment Detection Surveillance Target designation Radio Relay Optionally weaponized Homeland security Police operation Suspect tracking Demonstration surveillance DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 4 / 20

Operational Needs Deployment and use Fast and easy Ruggedness Low training required Logistics Reduced to minimum for very tactical use Operator workload Maintained to a minimum not to take much of the soldier attention Discretion Tolerance to various type of operational conditions Wind, strong gust, rain, dust, extended temperature range DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 5 / 20

Small UAV : real challenges Safety For homeland security and peace keeping action Autonomy Autonomous navigation in urban environment and indoor Technologies Miniaturisation Camera : enhance stability and quality Data link : light and robust in urban area Aerologic Tolerance to wind gust and turbulent environment Stealthiness Acoustic noise reduction : fan profile, fairing, Many technical challenges must be solved in Small UAV with low cost objective! DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 6 / 20

Small UAV plans 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 DRAC II (VTOL)? DRAC Univ. contest HOVEREYE MAVDEM SUAV Mini UAV Challenge DEMOZUB Urban Mini UAV MAV07 Micro UAV MAV4G-I AniMEMS DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 7 / 20

DRAC : Main characteristics Very short range system Contract signed Dec. 2004 (25 first systems) Delivery : 2007 Day and night missions : Detection / localization study the service ability of path (bridge, ) Battle assessment Range = 10 km Autonomy = 1h30 MTOW = 7,5 kg Speed : 60-90 km/h Operational altitude : up to 1 000 m Time to deploy = 15 minutes Interchangeable day / night payload DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 8 / 20

Hovereye VTOL MAV demonstrator able of stationary flight in turbulent conditions Data Link optimized for dense urban area Aerodynamics and flight control enhanced => better «wind gust» resistance Lightweight and ergonomic GCS DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 9 / 20

Hovereye characteristics Weight : 4 kg Diameter : 40 cm Speed : 0 à 10 m/s Gust Collision avoidance system (radar) Fully stabilized, High level navigation command Programmable route : GPS way points On board EO camera HOVEREYE 3rd generation Flights performed in 2005 and 2007, Army evaluation mid-2007 DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 10 / 20

MAVDEM Within the frame of EDA, FR/NW/SP/IT VTOL MAV demonstrator able of rapid translation (20 m/s) Design chosen step by step between numerous concepts Demonstrator to be tested in 2008 www.mavdem.org DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 11 / 20

SUAV Small UAV payload & avionics Study and develop payload and avionics for small UAV : Automatic take off and landing, Autonomous navigation based on payload imagery : obstacle avoidance, following infrastructure, Enhance environment sensing : 3D, panoramic view, mosaics, Test generic payload and avionic Fixed Wing and VTOL UAV DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 12 / 20

Mini UAV contests European Micro Air Vehicle Conference and Flight Competition EMAV 7th edition, DGA funding, University Mini UAV contest 2002-2005 Funded by DGA, organised by ONERA 17 teams 5 international teams A real success 27 patents Several small companies funded by students Many contacts with defence industry A new generation of students aware of UAV system approach and operational use. DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 13 / 20

Mini UAV challenge 2007/2009 DGA has decided to continue this initiative To encourage academic researches in the field of MAV To introduce innovation into the field of MAV systems Second edition will be launched very soon 2 years, open to schools and universities form every country Financial support to selected teams including ones that have a partnership with French schools or universities An increased technical support of teams Many intermediate reviews of progress Mid-way platform stability evaluation ONERA technical support experts and facilities DGA is involved in environment protection A special price will be granted to the best ecological conception DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 14 / 20

Mini UAV operational demonstrator Objective : preparation of a future Mini-UAV operational system (2015) Precise operational requirements and demonstrate feasibility Based on the results and experience acquired with Hovereye, MAVDEM, SUAV, UAV contests, DRAC Capability approach Based on Army specification Planned duration : 3 years, starting in 2009 DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 15 / 20

Micro UAV Fully autonomous Fully stealthy Indoor Investigation low cost DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 16 / 20

MAV4G-I Demonstrator (2003-2006) 2006) Flapping wing propulsive system demonstrator based on MEMS technology ( Dragonfly bio-inspired nano-robotic) MAV4G 1st generation functional demonstrator (MAV4G-I) 36 month innovative and exploratory research project (September 2003) wingspan : 6 cm, weight 120mg artificial muscles network (electrostatic actuators) 180.000 muscles / wing DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 17 / 20

Masse totale/ Overall mass: Réseau de muscles / Muscle array: Batterie lithium / Lithium battery: Puissance mécanique / Output mechanical power: ~ 20 mg ~ 2 mg ~ 100 mg ~ 10 milliwatts 200 000 muscles artificiels 200,000 artificial muscles Crédit Philippe PSAILA LA RECHERCHE Février 2006 SCIENCE & DEFENSE AWARD 2005 DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 18 / 20

Ongoing studies bio-inspired navigation : REI Mouche (fly) (To = 01/2006) Micro-battery MEMs: REI µbionique (To = fin 2007) PEA AniMEMs : MAV4G 2 nd generation nanouav (2008-2012) 2 nd generation propulsive system Flight model Fusion of Power Propulsive system Driver Sensors/Navigation/Autonomous decision demonstrator New advanced telecommunication technologies DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 19 / 20

Conclusion DGA is very active in Mini/Micro UAV field Investment in R&T studies Support of academic research Innovative and exploratory research project Funding and organisation of Mini/Micro-UAV contests Preparation of future programs DGA whish to trigger and accompany technological breakthrough in small UAV segment DGA has also an active role in homeland security Ambition : Bring technical and operational solution DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES September 2005 Diapositive N 20 / 20