Cooperative Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Control System Architecture

Author

Theodore T. Diamond
Adam L. Rutherford
Jonathan B. Taylor

Date of Award

3-11-2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Systems Engineering

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

David R. Jacques, PhD

Abstract

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) is a high-demand Department of Defense mission performed by unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) at the tactical and theater levels. Coordinating UASs through cooperative control offers the advantages of persistence, distributed and adaptable sensor coverage, and reduced revisit time on points of interest. The purpose of this thesis is to apply systems engineering principles to the problem of developing a flexible, common control system for cooperative UAS surveillance at the tactical level. The AFIT team developed a concept of operations (CONOPS) encompassing various users and surveillance tasks. The team then used the scenarios in the CONOPS to build a conceptual architecture. Concurrently, the team constructed a developmental test system that closely resembled the architecture and successfully conducted flight tests of multiple aircraft. The team then used this architecture and the prototype system to identify significant technical risks and future research areas to be explored prior to the development of an operational system.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GSE-ENV-09-M07

DTIC Accession Number

ADA495577

Comments

co-authored thesis

Recommended Citation

Diamond, Theodore T.; Rutherford, Adam L.; and Taylor, Jonathan B., "Cooperative Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Control System Architecture" (2009). Theses and Dissertations. 2517.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/2517