Development of an Autonomous Tactical Reconnaissance Platform
The goal of this research project is to develop and field an inexpensive, man-portable remote sensing platform using commercial off the shelf components.
Acknowledgments:
This project is sponsored by the Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (N00014-01-1-1049 and N00014-02-1-0754). We gratefully acknowledge the California Polytechnic State University Research Dean’s office for their support of this effort.
What have we accomplished so far?
We have invented and prototyped a standard parafoil device capable of autonomously flying a pre-determined flight path. See pictures of our work so far.
Current Project
We are introducing new technologies to provide major improvements in capability, portability and ruggedness to the original platform that was developed in 2002. The improved device will be simple to operate and will not require a radio-control pilot.
The Autonomous Tactical Reconnaissance Platform (ATRP) will be launched, deployed and fly a user selectable program of autonomous flight maneuvers. Depending on mission requirements, the ATRP will be used to obtain real-time infrared (IR)/visual reconnaissance (day or night) data, enhanced communications in rugged terrain or deliver a payload of supplies to personnel in the field.
We are also working on a markedly non-standard autonomous parafoil to significantly improve the current flight envelope. This technique for at least doubling the parafoil flight performance, pioneered by a recent Cal Poly graduate, involves dynamically changing the parafoil span to achieve optimum performance. Other significant achievements will include demonstrating real-time remote sensing telemetry, a demonstration of an alternative launch mechanism (i.e. compressed air, tethered release, mortar), and dramatic improvements in both weight and electronic performance.
The Team:
Dianne DeTurris, Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, Cal Poly- Sema E. Alptekin, Ph.D., Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Cal Poly
- Jon Ervin, Apogee Research Group
- Trevor Foster, Graduate Student, Aerospace Engineering, Cal Poly
- Dan Macy, Undergraduate Student, Aerospace Engineering, Cal Poly
- André von Muhlen, Graduate Student, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
- Tim Reed, Undergraduate Student, Electrical Engineering
Documents:
Publications:
- "Optimization of the Fuzzy Logic Controller for an Autonomous UAV”, Jon C. Ervin, Sema Alptekin, and Dianne J. DeTurris, Proceedings of the Joint 4th European Society of Fuzzy Logic and Technology (EUSFLAT) Conference, pp: 227-232, 7-9 September, 2005 - Barcelona, Spain.
- "Development of a Flying Eye: A Project-Based Learning Experience”, Sema Alptekin, Dianne DeTurris, Dan Macy, and Jon Ervin, is scheduled to appear in Vol. 24, No. 3, 2005, of the Journal of Manufacturing Systems.
- “Development of an Autonomous Tactical Reconnaissance Platform”, Dianne J. DeTurris, Jon C. Ervin, and Sema Alptekin, submitted for publication in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Journal of Aerospace Computing, Information, and Communication, Dec. 2004.
- "Development of an Autonomous Tactical Reconnaissance Platform" Dianne J. DeTurris, Jon C. Ervin, and Sema E. Alptekin, presented at the 17th AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conference May 20-22, 2003, Monterey, California
