Calspan Status Update

AG&C Committee, March 1-3, 2006

Lake Tahoe, NV

E. Ohmit

Calspan Status Update

• Lear AAR Tanker testing in Buffalo & TTNT Flight testing

• Learjet AFTPS Project (with servo-throttle)• Learjet Sense & Avoid Project• TIFS Boeing Project• TWT – Free to Roll Rig

Learjet Automated Aerial Refuleing (AAR)

• AAR Sponsored by AFRL

• Other Major Participating Organizations:

– DARPA, NAVAIR, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Rockwell Collins, Titan

• Utilizing Learjet as “surrogate” UAV

• Objectives:

Clear Learjet to operate up to and including Contact position with KC-135

• No actual hook-up

Evaluate acceptability of sensors

• PGPS & Optical, Datalink (TTNT)

– Evaluate control laws for automated refueling

Complete

Complete

Learjet AAR

• Initial Test Flights (complete)– Sep 2004– With Niagara Falls ANG KC-135– Cleared LJ to operate with KC-135– Gathered data for PGPS & EO

sensors– 8 flights, 12.2 Flt-Hrs

Learjet AAR

• Second Flight Test (complete):

– Datalink tests – Sep 2005

– Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT)

– DARPA funded – Rockwell Collins developed

– At NAWCWD China Lake, CA

– Gathered Datalink (TTNT) data

• Simulated Aerial Refueling

• Simulated Carrier Approach

– Flew with NAVAIR E-2C (Surrogate Tanker)

– 5 other aircraft took part:

• F-15, F-18, B-707(Paul Revere), T-39, R-C Sabreliner

– 3 ground stations

– 7 Flights, 9.7 Flt-Hrs, Plus many days of integration and ground tests

Learjet AAR

• Third Flight Test:

– Autonomous Station-Keeping – Aug 2006.

– Re-install PGPS/INS/TTNT.

– AAR control Laws in Boeing-supplied Flight Control Computer (FCC).

– FCC interfaces with Learjet VSS through sensors & commands to elevator, aileron, rudder, throttle.

– Safety Pilot will fly into various refueling positions then engage simulation; AAR Control Laws will Station-keep during typical Tanker maneuvering.

– Fly at Niagara Falls with 107th ANG KC-135

– ~20 Flights, 35 Flt-Hrs

• Fourth Flight Test:

– Trajectory Control – Aug 2007

– As above, but Autonomously move from:

• Observation Pre-Contact Contact Breakaway positions.

Learjet AAR - Related Efforts

• Servo-Throttle Capability in Learjet– Servo-Throttle installed to achieve 4th DOF.

– Electrical servos attached to throttle cables at fuel control lever in each engine.

– Installed & Checked out in September 2005.

– Utilized in AF Test Pilot School Project with AFIT AAR Control Laws.

• Oct 2005, 7 Flights

• Installed simple Datalink & GPS

• Verified Servo-throttle operations

• Autonomously controlled LJ behind a C-12 (King Air)

• Trajectory and station-keeping with refueling maneuvers

- Held position within 2 ft

Learjet – Future AFTPS Efforts

• Flight Controls Project– Performed during every class– Students design and fly simple FCS– Stabilizes an unstable configuration

• Test Management Projects being planned for 2007:– AAR-related EO System data gathering– Boundary/PIO evaluations

Learjet Sense & Avoid

• UAV Sense & Avoid in National Air Space.

• Autonomously Detect and Avoid intruder aircraft in terminal environment.

• Equivalent Level-of-Safety as piloted operations.

• Based on Global Hawk operations.

Cooperative• TCAS or Mode-C• Detectable• Coordinated

Collision Avoidance

Non-Cooperative• Detect with Cameras

Learjet Sense & Avoid

• AFRL-Sponsored

• Northrop Grumman (NGC) – prime contractor

• Defense Research Associate (DRA) - Camera system, detector, tracker

• Calspan – Installations and Flight Test in Learjet

– Simulate Global Hawk dynamics

• Cooperative Intruder Aircraft (TCAS-II or Mode-C Transponder)

• Non-Cooperative Aircraft (No transponders, Use Optical Cameras)

– DRA supplies 3-Camera system - Detects & Tracks Intruder

– NGC software determines trajectories and avoidance maneuvers

• Intrusion Scenarios:

– Head-on, overtaking, cross-track

• Intruder Aircraft:

– King Air & KC-135

• Fly 4th Quarter 2006 at Niagara Falls

TIFS Boeing

• Proprietary Advanced Control System Flight Tests– June - Dec 2005

• 11 Flights, 18 Hrs

– Future efforts planned in 2006

Learjet # 3 Development

• 3rd Generation Variable Stability Learjet– Model 25D designed primarily for Upset Recovery

Training (URT)• User-friendly Variable Stability System (VSS).

Free To Roll (FTR) Support System

• FTR Inaugurated Oct 2005

– Abrupt Wing Stall Studies

– Roll damping derivatives

•Multi-mode testing– Pitch sweeps– Yaw sweeps

•Quick to switch from FTR to S&C test mode