An Overview of the USGS Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Project

1. An Overview of the USGSUnmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)Project Michael E. Hutt (303) 202-4296 mehutt@usgs.gov

2. Land Remote Sensing Program FY 2005-2009: Directed an Emerging Technology Investigation on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

3. What is the problem? (OBSERVATION GAPS) Information gaps exist over remote and often dangerous areas, such as the polar regions, the expansive lands managed by DOI, volcanic islands, and other remote reaches of the Earth. Manned aircraft flights are often not feasible in these areas due to flight durations (long or short), hazardous weather conditions, aircraft availability and associated operations cost. Satellite based observations are hindered by course resolutions, fixed sensor capabilities and orbital coverage cycles. NOAA Slide

4. UAS Technology Review Findings: • Since FY 2007 military UAS operations, in theater, have surpassed manned mission hours • In FY 2009, the Air Force purchased more unmanned systems than manned systems • DoD is training more UAS operators than pilots • President’s budget request for 2009-2013 DoD- UAS is approximately $20 Billion , total US investments over the same time period is estimated at $25 - $30 Billion • DoD including all of the military branches, NOAA, NASA, DHS, and the FAA have established UAS Program Offices • 60 Universities in the U.S. now offer UAS programs • Over 150 vendors of UAS technology existed in 2009 • Wide variety of platforms, sensors, costs • Documented accident rates of UAS systems are minimal • Substantial momentum exists (industry, academia, government) to develop civil applications of UAS technology • Rapidly evolving technology, what do we call it- UAV, UAS, RPA

5. Potential Benefits of an UAS • Safety of operator (pilot) & field staff • Large area coverage (compared to ground observations) • Long dwell times over areas of interest • Readily available technology • Ability to operate in hostile environments (smoke, ash, active volcano, etc.) • Variety of platforms and sensors (mix and match) • Relatively low costs to operate (sUAS) • Archive of images for future use • Puts technology in the hands of the scientists • New observations = new science = more informed decisions

6. UAS Altitude/Classification 70K HALE U-2 Global Hawk 60K 50K 40K Altitude Predator B Medium 30K 20K Endurance Predator A 10K Shadow, Raven. MAV Tactical 10 20 30 DoD Slide

7. Sensor Packages: • Full Motion Video (natural color)*** • Thermal- Infrared*** • Radars (SAR)** • Chemical/ Gas** • LiDAR • Hyperspectral- multispectral • Photogrammetric Cameras

8. UAS Challenges: Ensure the Safety of the National Air Space (NAS) • Sense and Avoid • Spectrum- frequency management • Operator- Pilot Certification • Aircraft Air Worthiness Certification • Scientific Research/ Incident Response: • Integration with other capabilities • Authoritative analysis of data • Archive responsibilities • Analysis tools- full motion video Cost of UAS missions: • Compare/ contrast with manned missions • Value- demonstrate scientific value Outreach- Training: • Management Awareness • “ist” Awareness

9. FAA/AMD Oversight: Can a civilian company operate an UAS as part of a business?Currently, civilian companies may not operate a UAS as part of a business without obtaining a Special Airworthiness Certificate - Experimental Category (SAC-EC). However, this SAC-EC is very limited in scope of operational use. FAA Order 8130.34. Who can receive a Certificate of Authorization (COA) to fly a UAS in the NAS?Only public agencies operating an unmanned aircraft. What is a “Public Agency?Any agency that operates a public aircraft (14 CFR Part 1.1). If you receive funding from the federal government at some level, you are probably a “Public Agency.” A public agency can never operate under the guidelines of Advisory Circular 91-57 (Model Aircraft Operating What is the current process for USGS? Submit COA to FAA through AMD POC (Harry Kieling)- expect 60-90 day turn around What can we do to improve the process? Endorse DoD/FAA/NASA Executive Committee Recommendations

10. Where We Are:

11. Day Payload (3 Each) IR Payload (2 Each) Raven System Description Provides USGS and our partners with an enterprise level , low cost, low risk UAS capability to “cut our teeth” operator training and certification Develop user applications and standard operation procedures Establish air worthiness inspection criteria GAP Analysis- sensors, platforms Description Aircraft (3 Each) Insert System Picture Here GCS Components Field Repair Kit Characteristics Benefits/Capabilities Provides enhanced situational awareness by providing expanded reconnaissance and surveillance coverage. • Rapidly deployed • Decentralized planning and execution • Cost effective • Easily transportable • Hand-launched • GPS • Semi-autonomous operations and in-flight retasking • Commanded auto-loiter at sensor point of interest • Executes lost link recovery procedures Raven Operational Mission Sets • Remote reconnaissance and surveillance • Damage assessment • Resource inventory Support Contractor: AeroVironment

12. Department of the Interior UAS Training Class • 14 Trained Operators • USGS, NPS, BLM, FS, AMD • Over 70 Training Requests • Spring Session June 7-18 • DOIRSWG – AMD Partnership • Expect Increased Interest Level • Operator Certification • Operator Currency Requirements • Aircraft Safety Inspection Criteria • Certificate of Authorization Process • Sensor Capabilities and Analysis

13. Where are we going::

14. U.S. Geological Survey UAS Roadmap Develop a report that will transition from a vision document to a concept of operations for UAS use by USGS and our DOI partners • Determine and document potential civil missions for UAS technology based on user defined needs. • Determine and document the technologies necessary to support those missions. • Discuss the present and future state of UAS capabilities and related technologies • Serve as the foundation for USGS UAS related budget proposals • Provide the foundation for a comprehensive civil UAS roadmap.

15. Key Partnerships/ Collaboration: • International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Commission 1, UAS Working Group • International Society of Remote Sensing for the Environment (ISRSE) • The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International(AUVSI) • National Science Foundation (NSF), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Homeland Security, (DHS), AUVSI- UAS working group • American Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) • USNORTHCOM UAS Working Group • Interagency Coordinating Committee for Airborne Geoscience Research and Applications (ICCAGRA) UAS working group • NOAA, NASA, FAA, DoD, Army UAS Program Offices • National Guard Bureau (U.S. Army UAS War fighters Round Table) • Department of the Interior Remote Sensing Working Group (DOIRWG) • DOI Aviation Management Directorate • USNORTHCOM-FAA UAS Summit • DoD-FAA-NASA UAS Executive Committee (UAS ExCOM) • Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST), Interagency Working Group on Facilities and Infrastructure (IWG-FI), Task Force on Unmanned Systems • Tactical Fire Remote Sensing Advisory Committee (TFRSAC) • New Mexico State University, University of Colorado, Air Force Academy, University of Idaho, Utah State University, University of Alaska- Fairbanks, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Florida

16. Summary: Much like Global Positioning System and Internet Technology have changed the way we do business- Unmanned Aircraft Systems show the promise of transforming how the Department of the Interior and the United States Geological Survey perform our missions in the near future: • bridging the gap between field observations and satellite image processing • monitoring landscape change and natural resources use – forest health • analyzing dynamic earth processes- volcanic activity, seismic rupture zones • supporting climate change investigations- carbon exchange, sea ice • supporting DOI law enforcement activities • aiding search and rescue teams • wildlife inventories • generating mapping, charting, and geodesy products • developing an archive of observations • preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters http://rmgsc.cr.usgs.gov/UAS/

17. Raven -