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Army Research Laboratory

Army Research Laboratory. An Automated UAV Weather Tactical Decision Aid. John Raby David Knapp Edward Measure Robert Brown US Army Research Laboratory Computational and Information Sciences Directorate White Sands Missile Range, NM DSN 258-2004, Commercial 505-678-2004

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Army Research Laboratory

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  1. Army Research Laboratory An Automated UAV Weather Tactical Decision Aid John Raby David Knapp Edward Measure Robert Brown US Army Research Laboratory Computational and Information Sciences Directorate White Sands Missile Range, NM DSN 258-2004, Commercial 505-678-2004 jraby@arl.army.mil Presented to BACIMO Conference 12-14 October 2005 Monterey, CA

  2. Outline • Introduction • Today’s Shortfalls in UAV Weather Support • Current/Future Requirements • How we propose meeting them • Development/testing/delivery of new technologies • Current project work and deliverables • Future proposed development and deliverables • Summary/Endorsements/Contacts

  3. From UAS Roadmap, 2005-2030Office of the Secretary of DefenseAug05 • Goals for unmanned aviation: • #7: Improve adverse-weather UA capabilities to provide higher mission availability and mission effectiveness rates • Predator’s low mission success rate during initial deployment (Balkans, late 1990s): • Primary Causal Factor = WEATHER! • RECOMMENDATIONS: • Incorporate and/or develop all-weather practices into future UA designs • Improving UA reliability is the single most immediate and long-reaching need to insure their success • Consider: Cost of weather forecast, weather data integration into mission planning/execution, and route optimization fixes vs. cost of aircraft engineering fixes.

  4. Operator Tasking INTEL Analysis Sensor Payload Selection Sensor Collection Weather Support to the UAV Mission Forecast & Effects Decision Aids Platform Protection Mission Planning & Execution En Route Weather Updates UAV Weather Tactical Decision Aid (TDA) To provide UAV mission support personnel the enroute weather capabilities needed… …to achieve mission success!!

  5. Today’s UAV Weather Support Shortfalls Mission Planning • DD Form 175-1 is standard weather • briefing medium • Text only • Generalized locations of hazards • Requires pilot/operator to “visualize” • enroute and target area weather from • text on form. NOT NECESSARILY TAILORED TO UAV-UNIQUE AND SPECIFIC WEATHER REQUIREMENTS! • Upcoming technology solves some • text-only briefing problems: • Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS), • Joint Flight Weather Briefer (JFWB), and • Joint Environmental Toolkit (JET)… • Adds some graphics • Adds some data automation • Improves the weather database used for • flight weather briefings, thus improves • weather forecasts

  6. CURRENT TECHNOLOGY: Army Integrated Meteorological System (IMETS) and Integrated Weather Effects Decision Aid (IWEDA) UAV Products 1-D depiction of impacts over time 2-D depiction of forecast surface winds at a fixed time 2-D distribution of impacts at a fixed time Forecast & Effects Decision Aids

  7. CURRENT TECHNOLOGY: Air Force Weather Agency’s Web Page Capability Enroute Weather Depictions Example of forecast flight path cross-section based on forecast model data. Depicts horizontal/vertical distribution of clouds, turbulence and winds.

  8. CURRENT TECHNOLOGY: AF Operational Weather Squadron Web Page Capability Regional/Theater Weather Depictions

  9. Future Combat System (FCS) ORD: UAV Weather Requirements FUTURE REQUIREMENTS VIS & CLOUDS FROM UAV TO TARGET; 6KM RANGE 2000’ AGL Sensor Payload & Platform Protection VIS & CLOUDS FROM UAV TO TARGET; 3KM RANGE 1000’ AGL On-Demand Nowcasts of Flt Level: Clouds Precipitation Icing Turbulence Winds (Direction/Speed) & Crosswinds PLUS: Launch/Target/Recovery Area Met VIS & CLOUDS FROM UAV TO TARGET; 500M RANGE 500’ AGL Possible Presentation Formats: Fly-Through (3-D Depiction) Cross-section (Flight Path Weather Tool) Point-in-time 3-D Visualization (look in all directions from specific flight path point, look from UAV to target, etc.) Animation visualization (cockpit 3-D and/or top-down 2-D perspective) TARGET

  10. Technical Challenge REQUIREMENT/GOAL: Accurate, timely, and useful forecasts for 4-D UAV mission profiles presented in appropriate visualization formats. • Integrate spatial and temporal forecast databases with UAV mission profiles to depict weather impacts along flight path. • Calculate/recommend optimal flight path based on user considerations, priorities, forecast conditions, and operational thresholds… “Genetic Routing” • Uses • Mission routing (preflight and enroute) • Target decision strategy • Flight weather briefings • Mission rehearsal (‘modeling’ the UAV mission weather) • Future integration into JMPS and Joint Flight Weather Briefer (JFWB) • Users • UAV Pilots/Operators • Mission Planners & Strategic/Tactical Decision Makers • Payload specialist • Weather briefers (integration into the Joint Environmental Toolkit)

  11. US Army Corps of Engineers® Engineer Research and Development Center Meeting the Technical Challenge:UAV Weather TDA Technical Objectives: • Develop UAV-tailored weather TDA capability providing high-resolution route-specific forecasts of operational hazards and impacts on UAV missions • Flight Route optimization – fly around/over/under hazards • Traditional Common Operating Picture Overlays • 3-D and 4-D Visualizations • Capabilities for the mission planners, pre-flight personnel, weather briefers, and launch control, enroute, and landing personnel (PDA use is one option) EO and Acoustics- How far can we see and be seen? hear and be heard? Warfighter Payoffs: • Improved UAV Survivability and Mission Success Rates • Optimal UAV flight routing and target acquisition in all • weather conditions Schedule and Funding Technical Approach: Tasks FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 • Develop experimental UAV live-flight environments • Implement, test, and validate use of local raw and modeled weather data and visualizations to support UAV operators with predictions of mission-tailored forecast parameters. • Integrate spatial/temporal forecast databases with UAV mission profiles to depict weather impacts along flight path. • Provide preflight and enroute operations support with real-time updates to the enroute UAV weather hazards forecasts. Develop Mission Support Weather Display System and Stand-alone UAV rules-driven IWEDA- flight route impacts Integrate Acoustic Detection TDA and Army Air Maneuver Routing low-level target approach visualizations. C-JMTK compatibility and integration into IMETS, DCGS-A, and JET systems Develop/Implement flight route optimization capability to include automated and HMI flight plan info FUNDING $50K $200K TBD C-JMTK = Commercial-Joint Mapping Tool Kit. DCGS-A = Distributed Common Ground System-Army

  12. GENERAL SUPPORT CONCEPT • AFWA Model of Consistency • Theater Model (MM5,WRF,COAMPS,etc) • GFS (backup) HMI-Driven, User-Requested Products/Capabilities: - Text Products - UAV TDA Graphic Products - 2-D Plan View Maps - 2-D Cross-section (Flight Path Weather Tool) - 3-D/4-D Visualizations - Fly-Through Weather - Point-in-Space Pivot View From Post-Processed Parameters: - Rules-Based Flight Decision Aids ICG, TB, TSTM, Clouds, VIS, Winds, Crosswinds, Inversion Top, etc. - Physics-Based Flight Decision Aids Clear-VIS Line-Of-Sight, Acoustic Battlefield Forecast Aid, TAWS & related E-O TDAs, etc. - Optimal Flight Path – Genetic Routing Nowcast 0-3hr Database. Automated refresh of forecast 4-D cube in TDA for enroute updates. LOCAL SENSORS Surface Data Sensors Upper-Air Sensors UAV MET Sensors

  13. The Initial Concept • Combine 4-D UAV path with 4-D weather forecast cube. Calculate weather adverse impacts on flight path. • Visualize impacts along UAV path using red, amber, green and fly-through weather icons showing weather limitations based on each UAV’s critical weather thresholds. • Use optimization scheme (Genetic Routing) for determination of “best” course given user constraints and forecast weather.

  14. 4-D Weather Impacts Grid 4-D Weather Impacts Grid 4-D Weather Forecast Grid Aircraft-Specific Weather Impacts Threshold Rules Planned Flt Path Aircraft- and Route-Specific Products + = = + New Flt Path Options; Avoiding Enroute Hazards

  15. UAV Weather TDA 4-D visualization for mission profile. UAV Point-of-View during return leg Moderate Icing Flight Level 9000 – 11000 ft Light Turbulence Flight Level 7000 to 11000 ft Cloud Layer Tops 12000 ft Bases 7000 ft UAV Point-of-View of target area. Departure Point Target Area Obscured Cloud Layer Tops 4000 ft Bases 500 ft Target Area

  16. “Optimized” Flight Path

  17. UAV Weather TDA: UAV and ISR mission route planning Forecasts and Observations IWEDA Rules Engine Route conditions with time Other Effects and analyst’s guidance that constrain the route COA adaptive impact filters The goal is to support UAV operators and intel analysts with limited or no weather expertise and little time to integrate weather into COA and IPB tasks. Software agents must be flexible to adapt to the mission’s systems, personnel and operations as required Genetic Algorithm based routes Risk weights Weather hazards and limits provide input IWEDA rules, physics based sensor performance, target acquisition, etc. provide other risk-based constraints Meteograms provide weather along a given route Other user constraints such as “no-go” areas can be added as well Genetic algorithms find best routes based on smallest risk

  18. Cannot hear incoming UAV Transition region Can hear incoming UAV Example of Physics-Based Flight Decision Aid Sunny Day Overcast, Wind from North Overcast, Wind from South Clear Night • Acoustic TDA output showing areas where aircraft can be heard by a ground observer at specified location, under varying meteorological conditions. • Use for best altitude and heading to approach target area.

  19. TDA Development and Implementation Plans • Initial TDA Support Concept (Near-term FY05/06 deliverables): • Mission Support Weather Display System • Stand-alone UAV rules-driven IWEDA • Acoustic Detection TDA tailored to UAV ops • Army Air Maneuver Routing low-level target approach visualizations • Commercial Joint Mapping Tool Kit (C-JMTK) compatible displays & visualizations • Future work (funding TBD): • Real-time weather obs assimilation from all sources (incl. on-board weather sensors) • Local 3-hr Nowcasts updating weather database and “correcting” local forecast grids in real time • Customized, tailored, and automated flight route optimization for weather hazards avoidance while insuring mission success. • TDA available at all echelons with access to theater/local weather data “cube”

  20. TAMDAR TAMDAR TAMDAR TAMDAR The TAMDAR On-Board Weather Sensor System Aircraft datalink capabilities Detects and determines: • Ice presence • Median and peak turbulence • Static pressure and pressure altitude • Air temperature (Mach corrected) • Relative humidity • Indicated and true airspeed • Winds aloft • Built-in GPS • Future: Upgrades for detecting atmospheric chem/bio/radiation presence The AirDat/Iridium network provides an autonomous global communication channel to/from each aircraft. TAMDAR does not interfere or compete with existing flight-critical communication systems.

  21. Integrate within Software Systems for Operational Support Potential Future Collaborations • Weather Sensors for UAV platforms -- and getting that data to local weather database and to AFWA • AirDat: possible use of TAMDAR sensor on TAAC UAV, data receipt/integration into Nowcast weather database, other topics?? • Various possible Army & DHS collaborators • Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD), Ft. Eustis, VA • Army UAV program offices and centers of expertise • Playas, NM, DHS facility • Army Cold Regions Research & Engineering Lab (CRREL) • Applications of UAV Weather TDA to Army, Air Force, and joint support: • JMPS • JET • JAAWIN • IMETS • 46 TG (Holloman AFB) • White Sands Missile Range (FCS UAV test facility) • Joint DoD UAV Test Center, Indian Springs, NV Integrate within Test Systems for Experimental/Exercise Support

  22. Initial capability in coming months. Additional capabilities through FY07/08, funding permitting. Tailored UAV weather support from planning to launch to landing/recovery -- Technology applicable across aviation spectrum Available for customer delivery by end FY06 with incremental upgrades thereafter Strongly endorsed by Army and Air Force UAS Agencies Risks Technical: LOW (tailor/integrate current technologies into one package) LOW-MED (Genetic routing for optimal flight path capability) Funding: LOW for initial capability; MED beyond FY06 Rapid evolutionary technology jump-ahead, adding value to current and planned flight weather planning and execution capabilities – Improving the probability of mission success! SUMMARY UAV Weather TDA

  23. Pam Clark Army Research Laboratory Battlefield Environment Division ATTN: AMSRD-ARL-CI-E Adelphi, MD 20783-1197 e-mail: pclark@arl.army.mil phone: (301) 394-2500 Dave Knapp Army Research Laboratory Battlefield Environment Division ATTN: AMSRD-ARL-CI-E White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002-5501 e-mail: dknapp@arl.army.mil phone: (505) 678-4574 CONTACTS

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