Development of a Multipurpose Tactical Surveillance System using UAV's

This work describes the development of a multipurpose aerial platform using UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) for tactical surveillance of maritime vessels. By means of a portable control station on the vessel, UAV can be remotely operated. The aircraft is a gas prop medium sized high wing UAV, pusher configuration, wingspan of 4.5 meters, 98 kg MTOW (Maximum Takeoff Weight), flight autonomy of 8 hours (typical) and cruise speed of 100 km/h. The UAV design uses a modular concept, in terms of payload and airframe. The airborne system is composed of a cryptographic and telemetry system, specific electronic boards in charge of all needed system integration functions between the sensors, to provide the aircraft stabilization, control and navigation through waypoint in any atmospheric condition. On board cameras (high resolution, Infrared and thermal, in some conditions using a pan-tilt system to scan in deferent's points of view) can capture video images and determine the respective geographic location of the monitored area in real-time. This control station is equipped with a dedicated computer, video and data links to collect information from the UAV, joysticks and touch screen panel to control the aircraft and all of the payload system, the HMD (Head-Mounted Display) system and special devices which provide real time acquisition of image and telemetry data coming from the aircraft. Due to its modular architecture, other software and sensors can be added to adapt the UAV system to a particular mission. For example, the UAV system can be completely configured to use equipment which allows the identification of vessels through the Automatic Identification System (A IS) and can be used a tactical communication relay. As an additional feature, a dedicated Heads-Up-Display with aural warning features is created and shown through the virtual reality glasses that allow for a complete pilot immersion into the navigation system and the mission operator system into the payload control. A Synthetic Vision Navigation System (software under development) including a 3D path route and a map with the position vessel representation (from the AIS system) are created as a second navigation reference. This reference can be used to aid the pilot in navigation and the vessel's identification on the map. All interfaces between pilot and control station equipment are user friendly and are shown on the mission screen or on the HMD. The development of this UAV system is of multidisciplinary character, this work describes the development of the UAV system, including the aircraft and control station, the assembling of the onboard hardware, the integration between the maritime station with the patrol vessel, and the integration of their subsystems, in this case the AIS. A System works overview with a simulated fictitious tactical scenario is also presented.