14.00-17.00 Enhancing Small Unmanned Air Vehicle Capabilities

This workshop will present three candidate enhancements for Small Unmanned Air Vehicles (SUAV), and their technological issues and challenges:

• SUAV to SUAV autonomous in-flight refuelling
• Morphing or shape changing vehicle airframes
• Onboard command and control autonomy

The practical and reliable ability of 50 kg or less SUAV to autonomously refuel each other in-flight offers the potential for game-changing improvements in persistent, unmanned strike and reconnaissance systems. Morphing can help realise the long sought after goal of an air vehicle with a true multi-mission capable airframe. New approaches for onboard vehicle autonomy offer improved effectiveness of human-machine interaction for demanding missions and environments. The workshop will highlight work conducted by Texas A&M University and others to provide an overview of the current state of the art and the technical challenges to be overcome.

Topics addressed:

• Key sensor and controller technologies
• High fidelity modelling and simulation of air vehicle flowfields
• Effects of atmospheric turbulence on autonomous refuelling performance
• Intelligent control and actuation for shape changing air vehicles
• Mission requirements relating to levels of vehicle autonomy

Led by:

John Valasek,
Professor and Director,
Vehicle Systems & Control Laboratory, Aerospace Engineering Department, Texas A&M University