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2 The Uninhabited Air Vehicle as a System
Pages 20-36

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From page 20...
... This practice has placed the design of UAVs beyond the DOD procurement process for weapon systems and enabled developers to apply available advanced technologies aggressively (CBO, 1998~. The ACID approach to technology development includes the following steps: · creating a point design for a system that satisfies mission requirements · defining the differences between currently available technology and the point design · establishing a development program to address the differences This approach has been effective in the near term but has provided only limited opportunities for fundamental technology development and has favored adaptations of available technologies.
From page 21...
... First, the development of advanced technology is separated from the development of the UAV system so that basic research and technology development can be undertaken in a more realistic time frame. Second, the recommended approach allows revolutionary advances to be pursued for implementation in future systems.
From page 22...
... Of these missions, the SAB selected nine that would address USAF needs and requirements; would be operationally useful for joint military forces; would be technically feasible in a defined time
From page 23...
... . complementary New mission Current tier systems and ~ Robust command platforms, mission weapons control, and systems, and communications weapons ~ New UAV command and control systems ~ Out-of-box platforms Use of unmanned mission systems, tactical aircraft and weapons Counter weapons of mass destruction Combat search and rescue During the initiation of nuclear warfare and afterwards per Single Integrated Operational Plan Cargo transport FIGURE 2-2 Missions and time frames for operational demonstration recommended by the USAFSAB.
From page 24...
... . Configuration Conventional, manned aircraft configurations are dominated by the need to accommodate human operators.
From page 25...
... Vehicle size was assumed to range from conventional midsized to very small (e.g., micro air vehicles [MAVs] less than six inches in their largest dimension)
From page 26...
... . Finally, life-cycle costs were considered to range from competitive costs, for vehicles with productivity and support requirements similar to those of inhabited aircraft, to extremely low costs, for which design and operational issues have been optimized for extremely low acquisition and support costs.
From page 27...
... The representative system shown in Figure 2-4 includes individual sensors, data conditioners, processors, and interfaces that do not exceed the bandwidths available in current hardware. Development programs for future systems are under way, such as the USAF Pave Pace program for a totally integrated avionics architecture that will use a modular, digital approach to integrate CNI and sensor functions (Carmichael et
From page 28...
... The Pave Pace program started in 1994, and laboratory demonstrations were conducted in 1998 and 1999. The development is being managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory, and virtually all major airframe companies and electronics/avionics houses are participating in the program.
From page 29...
... The MILSTAR medium data rate channels could be used for relaying essential communications in a wartime environment or delivering volatile, high-priority surveillance data to the ground. MILSTAR would be a factor to be considered in the mission-planning phase of a wartime operation; the procedures for implementation would be an operational issue.
From page 30...
... . The study recommended component and systems development for modeling and simulation of military information networks, integrating commercial components into network architectures, upgrading network security, reducing co-site interference, fielding software radio technology, adapting smart antennas, developing transmission techniques that can adapt to a wide range of operating conditions, improving current filter technology for use in military software radios and high-density platforms, and enhancing the flexibility of software radios.
From page 31...
... Potential advantages of automation are greater operator safety, fewer human errors, more precise control, the capability to perform functions beyond the environmental or physical limitations of human operators, the capability to perform functions that humans do not want to do, and greater human comfort (Gabriel, 1992~. The disadvantages of highly automated systems include boredom and a resulting loss of vigilance and situational awareness; interruptions or lags in communication links; more complex training because of the increase in operational modes, both normal and abnormal; higher costs for defining, coding, and checking automated functions; reduced ability to deal with unanticipated situations; and fewer cues available to the operator assigned to intervene.
From page 32...
... , communication with other operators, and coordination with other vehicles The degree of independence of the automated system from human intervention is a vital design decision that will be influenced by many factors for a specific vehicle. The following operational considerations must be considered in determining the degree of automation:
From page 33...
... the development of enhanced display technologies to improve the human operator' s ability to make effective decisions
From page 34...
... Modular vehicle designs could significantly reduce both design and manufacturing costs. One concept for a modular design would use a common centerbody module for a range of vehicle configurations (Lang, 1998~.
From page 35...
... product realization requires low-volume production at a reasonable cost. Future UAVs could be developed and manufactured more rapidly and at lower cost if cycle times and nonrecurring costs can be significantly reduced through new approaches to product design, manufacturing processing, and the consideration of cost as an independent variable (CAIV)


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