Small UAV A French MoD perspective and planning
portable transportable
System volume
infrastructure
French ISTAR segmentation
HALE Fighter Aircrafts
Satellites
MALE
Tactical Technology limit : mobility
Helicopters (MTI)
Small UAV
Contact Combat
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
Technology limit : data links (Satcom)
Land forces Action area
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
Range Theatre area September 2005
Strategic interest area Diapositive N°2 / 20
Small UAV Classification
Micro UAV
Mini UAV
Size : < 70 cm Weight : < 5 kg Range : 1000 m to 3000 m Autonomy : 15 min to 45 min
Very short range UAV
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
Size : < 15 cm Weight : < 50 g Range : ≈ 100 m
Size : portable by 2 soldiers Weight : system < 40 kg, AC < 10 kg Range : 10-15 km typical Autonomy : ≈ 1h30
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°3 / 20
Operational role
Military role
Homeland security
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
Close combat support − Soldier, commando, vehicle − Open or Urban environment Detection Surveillance Target designation Radio Relay Optionally weaponized Police operation Suspect tracking Demonstration surveillance
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°4 / 20
Operational Needs
Deployment and use
Logistics
Maintained to a minimum not to take much of the soldier attention
Discretion Tolerance to various type of operational conditions
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
Reduced to minimum for very tactical use
Operator workload
Fast and easy Ruggedness Low training required
Wind, strong gust, rain, dust, extended temperature range
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°5 / 20
Small UAV : real challenges
Safety
Autonomy
Miniaturisation Camera : enhance stability and quality Data link : light and robust in urban area
Aerologic
Autonomous navigation in urban environment and indoor
Technologies
For homeland security and peace keeping action
Tolerance to wind gust and turbulent environment
Stealthiness
Acoustic noise reduction : fan profile, fairing,…
Many technical challenges must be solved in Small UAV with low cost objective ! MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°6 / 20
Small UAV plans 2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
DRAC II (VTOL) ? DRAC HOVEREYE MAVDEM
SUAV DEMOZUB Univ. contest
Mini UAV Challenge
Urban Mini UAV
Micro UAV
MAV07
MAV4G-I
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
AniMEMS
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°7 / 20
DRAC : Main characteristics
Very short range system Contract signed Dec. 2004 (25 first systems) Delivery : 2007 Day and night missions : Detection / localization study the service ability of path (bridge,…) Battle assessment
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
Range = 10 km Autonomy = 1h30 MTOW = 7,5 kg
Speed : 60-90 km/h Operational altitude : up to 1 000 m Time to deploy = 15 minutes Interchangeable day / night payload
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°8 / 20
Hovereye VTOL MAV demonstrator able of stationary flight in turbulent conditions
Data Link optimized for dense urban area
Aerodynamics and flight control enhanced => better « wind gust » resistance
Lightweight and ergonomic GCS
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°9 / 20
Hovereye characteristics • • • • •
Weight : 4 kg Diameter : 40 cm Speed : 0 à 10 m/s Gust Collision avoidance system (radar) • Fully stabilized, High level navigation command • Programmable route : GPS way points • On board EO camera HOVEREYE 3rd generation
Flights performed in 2005 and 2007, Army evaluation mid-2007 MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°10 / 20
MAVDEM
Within the frame of EDA, FR/NW/SP/IT VTOL MAV demonstrator able of rapid translation (20 m/s) Design chosen step by step between numerous concepts Demonstrator to be tested in 2008
www.mavdem.org MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°11 / 20
SUAV – Small UAV payload & avionics
Study and develop payload and avionics for small UAV : Automatic take off and landing, Autonomous navigation based on payload imagery : obstacle avoidance, following infrastructure,… Enhance environment sensing : 3D, panoramic view, mosaics,…
Test generic payload and avionic
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
Fixed Wing and VTOL UAV
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°12 / 20
Mini UAV contests
European Micro Air Vehicle Conference and Flight Competition – EMAV
University Mini UAV contest 2002-2005
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
7th edition, DGA funding, Funded by DGA, organised by ONERA 17 teams – 5 international teams A real success − 27 patents − Several small companies funded by students − Many contacts with defence industry A new generation of students aware of UAV system approach and operational use.
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°13 / 20
Mini UAV challenge – 2007/2009
DGA has decided to continue this initiative
Second edition will be launched very soon
2 years, open to schools and universities form every country Financial support to selected teams including ones that have a partnership with French schools or universities
An increased technical support of teams
To encourage academic researches in the field of MAV To introduce innovation into the field of MAV systems
Many intermediate reviews of progress Mid-way platform stability evaluation ONERA technical support – experts and facilities
DGA is involved in environment protection
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
A special price will be granted to the best ecological conception DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°14 / 20
Mini UAV operational demonstrator
Objective : preparation of a future Mini-UAV operational system (2015)
Based on the results and experience acquired with Hovereye, MAVDEM, SUAV, UAV contests, DRAC Capability approach
Based on Army specification
Planned duration :
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
Precise operational requirements and demonstrate feasibility
3 years, starting in 2009
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°15 / 20
Micro UAV Fully autonomous Fully stealthy Indoor Investigation low cost
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°16 / 20
MAV4G-I Demonstrator (2003-2006) Flapping wing propulsive system demonstrator based on MEMS technology ( Dragonfly bio-inspired nano-robotic) MAV4G 1st generation functional demonstrator (MAV4G-I) 36 month innovative and exploratory research project (September 2003) wingspan : 6 cm, weight 120mg artificial muscles network (electrostatic actuators) 180.000 muscles / wing
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°17 / 20
Masse totale/ Overall mass: Réseau de muscles / Muscle array: Batterie lithium / Lithium battery: Puissance mécanique / Output mechanical power:
~ 20 mg ~ 2 mg ~ 100 mg ~ 10 milliWatts 200 000 muscles artificiels
Crédit Philippe PSAILA – LA RECHERCHE – Février 2006
200,000 artificial muscles
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
2005 Diapositive N°18 / 20 SCIENCE September & DEFENSE AWARD 2005
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
Ongoing studies bio-inspired navigation : REI Mouche (fly) (To = 01/2006) Micro-battery MEMs: REI µBionique (To = fin 2007) PEA AniMEMs : MAV4G 2nd generation nanoUAV (2008-2012) 2nd generation propulsive system Flight model Fusion of Power – Propulsive system – Driver Sensors/Navigation/Autonomous decision demonstrator New advanced telecommunication technologies
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°19 / 20
Conclusion
DGA is very active in Mini/Micro UAV field
DGA whish to trigger and accompany technological breakthrough in small UAV segment DGA has also an active role in homeland security
MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE
Investment in R&T studies Support of academic research − Innovative and exploratory research project − Funding and organisation of Mini/Micro-UAV contests Preparation of future programs
Ambition : Bring technical and operational solution
DGA/DET/CEP/ASC/DRONES
September 2005
Diapositive N°20 / 20
