navair x47b briefing apr 2014

Presented by: CAPT B. V. Duarte, USN Program Manager, PMA268

8 April 2014

NAVAIR Public Release 2014-284 Distribution Statement A- Approved for public Release; distribution is unlimited.


Accomplishments:

Demonstrated “Digital” Carrier Control Area (CCA) Operations

Demonstrated Precision Navigation Capability

Carrier Launches

Arrested Landings including Approach, Wave-Off and Bolter

Integrated Mission Control Segment (MCS) into Carrier

Developed Unmanned Carrier Aircraft Interface with Carrier

Autonomous Aerial Refueling Surrogate Testing

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Objectives: • Reduce risk for unmanned air

system integration on aircraft carrier

• Mature critical aircraft carrier suitability technologies

• Provide risk reduction to support potential Navy follow-on acquisition program


Key Program Events

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NAVAIR Public Release 2014-284 Distribution Statement A- Approved for public Release; distribution is unlimited. 4


Design Tailless, cranked-kite, unmanned, autonomous Structure Carrier Certified Wingspan ~ 62 ft Take-off gross weight (demo) ~ 44,000 lbs Engine PW F100-PW-220U Twin Internal Weapons Bays 4,500 lbs payload (design load) Aerial refueling provisions USN / USAF style

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CVN Environment

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Carrier Air Traffic Control Center

Landing Signal Officer Station

Mission Operator Station


X-47B CVN Demonstration

NAS Patuxent River Primary Shore Site

NASA Wallops Island Alternate/Divert Site

Transit National Airspace with chase aircraft from Patuxent River Restricted Airspace to offshore warning area under FAA Certificate of Authorization (COA)

Transfer of aircraft command and control from shore to shipboard mission operator

Transit offshore to CVN

Conduct ship-relative navigation, holding, and approaches within carrier control zone

Perform CVN flight operations - Autonomous approach and landing - LSO initiated “Waveoff” and “Cut” - Flight in carrier landing pattern - Shipboard arrested landings - Flight deck taxi - Shipboard hot refueling - Catapult hookup and launch

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10 JULY 2013, Onboard USS GEORGE HW BUSH off the Atlantic Coast


Video

Click here to view video Click here to view video


Demonstrated Technologies will inform Future Carrier Aviation Programs

Lessons Learned

CONOPS - Autonomous departure / approach - Contingency Planning (Bolter, Wave off, Divert, …) - Autonomous out of wire requirements - Air Vehicle hand off and positive control

Digitized CVN Messaging / Communications - Created Airborne IP Network - Landing Signal Officer display - Wave off and “Cleared to Land” signals - Digital message format - Shipboard information distribution - Safety interfaces and displays

Precision Landing Navigation - Algorithms - Modified hardware - UAV navigation latency requirements

Deck Handling - Demonstrated handheld device - Developed Flight Deck CONOPS / Use Cases - Alternatives – Wands, gesture recognition

…2010 2014…

Digital ATC

PGPS (F/A-18 Surrogate)

Deck Device (Handheld)

CCA Ops (Autonomous)

Autonomous Aerial Refueling


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• Conduct additional carrier based launch and recovery operations (Summer 2014) o Cooperative Manned & Unmanned Operations o CVN Integration Testing

− Night CVN Operations − Voice Relay − Additional Envelope Expansion

o Continued CV Suitability Testing − Jet Blast Deflector Acoustic Testing − Precision Approach Flying Qualities


Successful testing with manned UAV surrogates reduces risks, builds confidence for future autonomous aerial refueling

demonstrations

Autonomous formation flight and refueling demonstration with Lear surrogate aircraft

• Technologies to be Flight Tested: − X-47B Precision Relative GPS (PGPS) algorithms

− X-47B AAR vision system

− Electro-Optic Grid Reference System (EOGRS) updated Drogue Positioning System (DPS) and updated Receiver Positioning System (RPS)

− Blended navigation solution development using multiple positioning technologies

• Additional Navy AAR Technology Work: – Relative GPS/INS Innovations for Autonomous UAS

– Terminal Guidance for Autonomous Aerial Refueling

– Controllable Drogue Refueling

Omega Air K707 Tanker


• X-47B program continues to refine the concept of operations (CONOPS) to demonstrate the integration of unmanned carrier-based aircraft within the current carrier environment and reduce technical risk.

• The team will focus on perfecting flight deck operations (e.g., wing fold times and night deck handling) and collecting flight test data in off-nominal operations (e.g., off-axis winds, more stressing and dynamic landing conditions).

• Execution of test events will mature air traffic control and ground support standard operating procedures to allow co-use of range airspace by unmanned and manned aircraft.

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Questions?

navair x47b briefing apr 2014

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