Research: Request for Proposal - RFP

Mission type

The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) will bead used by the firefighting command post for surveillance, reconnaissance and search and rescue operations in wildfire outbreaks.  The timeframe for developing the product from baseline requirements will be one year.

 Baseline requirements

Payload

1.      Shall be capable of color daytime video operation up to 500 ft. AGL.

2.      Shall be capable of infrared (IR) video operation up to 500 ft. AGL.

3.      Shall be interoperable with C2 and data-link.

4.      Shall use power provided by air vehicle element.

Command & Control (C2)

1.      Shall be capable of manual and autonomous operation.

2.      Shall provide redundant flight control to prevent flyaway.

3.      Shall visually depict telemetry of air vehicle element.

4.      Shall visually depict payload sensor views.

Data-link (communications)

1.      Shall be capable of communication range exceeding two miles visual line of sight (VLOS).

2.      Shall provide redundant communication capability (backup) for C2.

3.      Shall use power provided by air vehicle element.

Derived requirements

Payload

1.      Shall include a self-stabilized HD camera with zoom suitable for a range of 500 ft. AGL.

2.      Shall include a multi scale IR heat detection camera suitable for a range of 500 ft. AGL.

3.      Shall include a communication module with a dual channel for C2 and datalink.

4.      Shall include a battery capable of supporting the additional electric requirements of the payload as a third priority beside the electric motor and the communication.

Command & Control (C2)

1.      The Auto Flight Control shall have a dual mode of autonomy and remote control.

2.      The Auto Flight Control shall contain a dual channel where the second channel will autonomously perform an RTB navigation and landing.

3.      The control station shall be a touch screen military grade PED that integrates a display of housekeeping parameters upon request.

4.      The control station screen will display imagery from the HD video camera and a multi scale image of IR imagery colored according to heat intensity.

Data-link (communications)

1.      A directional gain-seeking antenna shall provide Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communication with low attenuation for a range of two miles minimum.

2.      An omnidirectional antenna provides a backup channel for C2.

3.      The battery shall be capable of withstanding the communication electrical demand as a second priority beside the electric motor and the payload.

Test requirements

Payload

1.      HD video and IR camera test for self-stabilization in turbulent thermal conditions and image enhancement for various temperatures and smoke obstructions.  

2.      Communication module allows dual channel operations without mutual interference.

3.      Battery capacity loading to assure proper power supply along different load and temperature regimes.

Command & Control (C2)

1.      The AFC will be connected to a simulation program and the autonomous ability will be tested in a range of sensor inputs, and the relay of RC inputs to servos will be simulated (Austin, 2010).

2.      The AFC backup channel will be tested for situations of primary channel electric failure or lack of integrity. Upon activation of the backup channel, a simulation of homing function will also be tested to demonstrate an autonomous RTB navigation and landing.

3.      Display of housekeeping data and health and usage monitoring system HUMS will be checked for integrity and latency. The CS software will be checked for automatic call up of unhealthy parameters, and automatic identification of operational state of the UAS (Austin, 2010).

4.      Raw images will be tested against filtered images to demonstrate the correct processing of digital HD video and IR images.

Data-link (communications)

1.      Test of the directional gain-seeking antenna shall demonstrate correct tracking of the aircraft at different antenna height configurations and assure Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communication with acceptable attenuation for a minimum range of two miles.

2.      Assure that the omnidirectional antenna starts transmission upon latency of primary C2 channel within a two mile range.

3.      The battery capacity and electric load controller shall be ground tested for reliability at different charge states and electrical loads.

Development process

The development concept for realizing the top-down product will be utilize a Rapid Application Development (RAD) approach.  This will assure a high quality system against the cost restrictions, and take advantage of iterative processes for the similar system components, especially that all components are COTS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2008).

  Design rationale

The design will be based on a fixed wing aircraft powered by a forward electric propeller.  The airframe will be composite light weight material.  The wing span will assure adequate left at low speed and low motor demand to assure adequate endurance and reduce battery size. The UAS will be hand launched and will be capable of withstanding landing impact utilizing skids.  The UAS will be detachable to allow transport in a light weigh box together with the antenna and CS.

References

Austin, R. (2010). Unmanned aircraft systems: UAVS design, development, and deployment. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K: Wiley.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2008). Selecting a development approach. Washington, DC: Department of health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Retrieved from http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/CMS-Information-Technology/XLC/Downloads/SelectingDevelopmentApproach.pdf