Investigation of capabilities and technologies supporting rapid UAV launch system development
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Authors
Livesay, Patrick Alan
Subjects
swarm
unmanned aerial vehicle
UAV
launcher
launch system
systems engineering
prototyping
analytical heirarchy process
ROS
Robot Operating System
unmanned aerial vehicle
UAV
launcher
launch system
systems engineering
prototyping
analytical heirarchy process
ROS
Robot Operating System
Advisors
Chung, Timothy H.
Date of Issue
2015-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
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Abstract
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are playing progressively more complex roles in private, commercial, and military applications. One developing mission set of interest to entities in the governmental and defense sectors is UAV swarming: a concept of unit deployment where individuals exhibit complex behaviors when acting as members of a group that are not observed when those units act in isolation. While several barriers exist, one capability gap that must be bridged for fixed-wing systems is the ability to facilitate operationally relevant sortie generation rates. While creating systems mechanically capable of high launch rates is key, there are supporting capabilities that should be considered during the design of UAV launch systems to increase usability and margin to safety. Integration with existing control systems, detection and response to environmental changes, safety interlocks, and software can help achieve these goals and produce a more robust launcher. This report focuses on the identification, selection, and development of such capabilities, which are implemented into launch systems through an iterative prototyping process. Ultimately, a new UAV launch system is created and demonstrated through operational experimentation: one capable of high launch rates, integration with existing control systems, and additional sensors-based capabilities that have heretofore never been seen.
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Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.