Summary Report IGM Aerostat-IC USCG Arctic Shield 2014

Transcription

1 Summary Report IGM Aerostat-IC USCG Arctic Shield /3/2014 Inland-Gulf Maritime LLC Chris Wiggins Tel: PROPRIETARY INFORMATION The information and ideas contained herein are proprietary to Inland-Gulf Maritime LLC and shall not be duplicated or disclosed outside the receiving organization or the receiving organization's potential customer without prior written approval from Inland-Gulf Maritime LLC, nor used by the receiving organization or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, for any purpose other than evaluation of the ideas and work contained herein. 1

2 ABSTRACT Inland-Gulf Maritime, LLC participated in the USCG Arctic Shield 2014 by deploying and testing the Aerostat-IC aerial surveillance system, which provided live geo-tagged imagery to Arctic ERMA on board USCGC Healy during the oil in ice exercise. During the exercise IGM was able to test the Aerostat-IC system operation in extreme weather conditions and learned a great deal about operating in high, gusty winds and in an extreme cold weather environment. The extent to which mechanical and thermal wind currents affect the launch and retrieval of the aerostat confirmed that the launch and retrieval set-up are a key element for a successful operation. The lessons learned point toward having a dedicated area on the vessel where mechanical wind disturbances are minimized. The IGM Aerostat-IC, which was sponsored by the Oil Spill Recovery Institute, was tethered from the Healy's helicopter deck and was nominally flown at 500 feet above sea level. The Aerostat-IC was equipped with very high-resolution optical and infrared cameras. The data was delivered through a wireless link embedded in the airborne payload and electrical power was delivered through the tether eliminating the need for batteries, thus extending the uninterrupted time aloft. The Aerostat-IC was able to operate in extreme, icing weather conditions. Although the mobility is limited to the navigational ability of the vessel from which it operates, the capability of the payload and the effective range is only limited by the available payload technology deployed. Both the Aerostat- IC and the Aerovironment Puma were able to simultaneously conduct flight operations and gather data for the oil spill exercises. There is potential for synergy between the two systems for oil spill related work. Areas to further explore include using Aerostats as continuous 24-hour/day surveillance system and the pumas for close up identification of long range objects unidentifiable from the Aerostat, while using the Aerostat high bandwidth data relays to extend the effective range of UAS operations and to form ad-hoc network communication nodes. The next phase of this operation should include incorporating both the UAS and Aerostat data feeds (and possibly other remote sensing technologies) into ERMA to create a Common Operating Picture. ACKNOWLEDGMENT We extend our gratitude to the following organizations for inviting Inland Gulf Maritime (IGM) to participate in this exercise and for supporting and providing for our crew. Prince William Sound Science Center/ Oil Spill Recovery Institute United States Coast Guard Research and Development Center NOAA Crew of the USCGC Healy 2

3 Table of Contents ABSTRACT... 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENT... 2 INTRODUCTION... 4 BODY OF REPORT... 6 SELECTION & INTEGRATION OF WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY FOR VIDEO TRANSMISSION... 8 NETWORKING... 8 SECURITY... 9 NATIVE VOICE CAPABILITY... 9 LESSONS LEARNED CONCLUSION RECOMMENDED FUTURE ACTIONS

4 INTRODUCTION During the year 2012, Inland-Gulf Maritime, LLC set out to develop an aerostat based aerial platform which could carry surveillance payloads/sensors of up to 40 pounds to an altitude of 500, the outcome was the Aerostat-IC platform. The AEROSTAT-IC 1800 system is a self-contained, compact aerostat platform and payload/sensor deployment unit which incorporates all the necessary components required to safely inflate, deploy and operate the lighter-than-air surveillance platform. It is designed to minimize hazards of deployment and the amount of time and resources required for the deployment and operation of the aerostat platform. This lighter-than-air platform is able to carry a diverse number of sensors or payloads of up to 40 lbs. ranging from cameras, communication relays, and atmospheric testing sensors among others to an altitude of up to 500 feet and stay aloft for several days weather permitting. The system utilizes a Launch and Retrieval System (LRS) which is comprised of small electrical winches located throughout the unit and controlled by a hand held controller. The LRS is used to take the place of additional operators during the launch and recovery phases by handling the 3 launch and recovery lines attached to the aerostat. The system also utilizes a main tether line which anchors the aerostat to the main base at all times and brings electrical power to the camera and down-link units thus eliminating the need for heavy batteries. The aerostat is a semi-sphere balloon with a volume of 1400 cu.ft. and an outer shell which protects it from the elements. Six helium bottles of 300 cu.ft. each is housed within the unit and provide for inflation and servicing. IGM tested the unit in tropical weather conditions in the Gulf of Mexico and also sub-freezing temperatures in Michigan but had yet to test its capabilities in extreme weather conditions common in the Arctic. The USCG Oil-in-Ice exercise in Michigan presented IGM with the opportunity to test the system in extreme weather environment. IGM tested newly developed video communications and camera control technology and demonstrate its capabilities to assist in coordinating oil spill response operations. 4

5 Most recently, IGM, partnered with OSRI to test and evaluate the IGM A-IC system aboard the USCGC Healy in August of The challenges presented by operating in the arctic provided validation for the ruggedness of the A-IC and also pointed out issues to be fine-tuned regarding climate conditions with the payload. It also highlighted the need to have the correct payload for mission objectives. The technology testing also provided the opportunity to show how we can integrate multiple communication streams into our system and provide them as a point of reference data with the Arctic ERMA. Exercise Name: Arctic Shield Technology & Testing 2014 Aerostat Exercise Date: August 8, 2014 August 24, 2014 Sponsors: USCG Research and Development Center and Oil Spill Recovery Institute (OSRI) Type of Exercise: Technology demonstration in arctic environment Funding Source: Oil Spill Recovery Institute (OSRI) Participating Organizations: USCG RDC, USCG Healy, NOAA, Oil Spill Recovery Institute (OSRI), Inland-Gulf Maritime (IGM) A-IC Deployment 5

6 BODY OF REPORT The following objectives were set by IGM during the preparation period before the USCG Arctic Shield Technology and Testing 2014 Identify, modify and enhance the existing Aerostat-IC system platform with additional upgrades to operate in extreme weather conditions Incorporate/integrate wave relay telemetry nodes to improve data communications and transmission Integrate point of reference data with the Arctic ERMA. IGM was on the USCG Healy for three weeks, August 8 24, During these three weeks IGM had the opportunity to launch the A-IC numerous times in support of a variety of missions. IGM A-IC loaded aboard the Healy The focus of this mission was to support Arctic Shield 2014 through demonstrating the utility of Aerostat technology to enhance USCG oil spill response capability and to integrate that data into ERMA (Environmental Response Management Application). Oil spill response in the arctic region is hampered by many factors; the most obvious is ice and the visibility of oil in and around ice. Aerostat technology was able to assist in visually assessing conditions on the surface and tracking the movement of the oil. The data collected was transferred to ERMA and showed to contribute to the development of existing mapping and future projected trajectory development. This data can be used to display current situation and for deployment of assets. 6

7 A-IC deployed In the early part of the exercise, IGM did extensive testing on the data communications capabilities with the USCG RDC and NOAA ERMA team. This operation included deploying the aerostat platform, testing target acquisition and geo-tagging integration with ERMA. The A-IC was launched several times during the exercise and at the destination testing area. Due to high winds and icing conditions, all aerial tracking tests were initially delayed since the effects of icing on balloon flight were yet to be tested. The normal threshold for safe operations is up to 40 MPH relative wind speed. However, to allow for the potential risks associated with icing and reduced lift, we agreed to lower that limit to 25 MPH. The weather was marginal on several days and the A-IC was deployed successfully. During low visibility and icing conditions the camera lens would fog up and it required retrieving the payload and clearing the lens. This condition also affected the tracking capabilities of the payload. While icing conditions affected the flight for the Puma, we found that during those periods where the air moisture was very high, the A-IC withstood these conditions well as balloon icing did not occur. The Aerostat-IC was deployed to 500 ft. altitude to find oil tracking buoys located 1 ½ to 2 miles away. Visibility conditions were clear and wind was light. The buoys were approximately 16 in diameter and could not be located from that distance with the payload that was deployed (TASE200). This task gave us the opportunity to identify that the TASE 200 sensor may not be the most suitable option when searching for small objects at that distance. If this is a capability of interest, there are other available sensors that will meet this requirement and can be readily integrated and deployed on the Aerostat-IC platform. Oranges, dye and a thermal Oscar were deployed to test the Aerostat-IC system s tracking 7

8 capabilities. The A-IC was able to track the thermal Oscar, oranges and dye without any problems and transmitted the data to ERMA during both EO and IR operational modes. A-IC deployed A-IC Payload SELECTION & INTEGRATION OF WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY FOR VIDEO TRANSMISSION IGM also researched new wireless technology and utilized the Wave Relay GEN 4 Integration Unit. The wave relay manet data link was designed as a small, lightweight embedded module ideal for integration with unmanned/unattended systems, portable ground controllers, and other integrated systems. The Wave Relay is a Mobile Ad Hoc Networking System (MANET) designed to maintain connectivity on the move. It is a scalable, peer-to-peer network, which provides data, video, and voice even in the most challenging applications. With user throughput of 41 Mbps UDP and 31.1 Mbps TCP, Wave Relay provides a dynamic, reliable, and secure wireless networking solution beyond mesh. Below are the system s specifications: NETWORKING Seamless layer 2 network connectivity. Industry leading Wave Relay MANET routing a/b/g AP compatible with MANET. Integrated serial-to-ethernet capability. Cursor-on Target. Wave Relay over IP (WRoIP) Dynamic Link Exchange Protocol (DLEP) Certified. IPV4 and IPV6 compatible. Integrated DHCP server. Advanced multicast algorithm. 8

9 SECURITY Integrated hardware cryptographic accelerator. FIPS (Up to level 2). Utilizes all Suite B algorithms. Anti-tamper mechanisms. AES-CTR-256 with SHA-512 HMAC. Over the air re-keying. NATIVE VOICE CAPABILITY Support up to 16 channels of Push-to-talk. (PTT) Voice. G.711 Codec for Radio-over-IP (RoIP) interoperability Images from A-IC on laptop Telemetry Nodes 9

10 LESSONS LEARNED The A-IC proved to be a rugged system that after secured to the flight deck can be exposed to weather while in transit. Payloads need to meet mission specific requirements (not a one size fits all solution). Need clearly defined requirements for camera capabilities, a sensor designed to provide wide field of view is generally not the best suited for long range, location and identification of small objects. (i.e. capability to find a 16 buoy at 1 ½ - 2 miles). There may be situations where the smaller A-IC 1500 system, which is easily transportable, may be required to improve the flexibility of using smaller vessels or standard pickup truck platforms for mobility and tracking purposes. In considering using the smaller system, there is a need to maintain payload capacity and the ability to maintain continuous power to the payload due to austere environment, batteries are not recommended. The ability of the A-IC to accommodate a variety of payloads and balloon styles allows for a wider range of operating conditions and flexibility to support multiple missions. Although high wind speed and icing were the main concerns in utilizing the Aerostat capabilities in arctic conditions, it was determined that icing was not a significant limiting risk. CONCLUSION After testing the Aerostat-IC system in artic weather conditions, it is determined that aerostat operations can be successfully performed in the arctic region. Some challenges still exist, consideration should be given to test different types and models of balloons to determine which one performs better in carrying the payload in different weather conditions. The Aerostat-IC system performed well during the exercise with the ability to accommodate different types of payloads, wireless networking technology and balloons being key features. Data from the A-IC can be integrated into ERMA and provide the decision makers with actionable information in real time to support oil spill response. The sensor deployed during this exercise proved again to be a successful tool in aerial tracking in support of oil spill response. The Aerostat-IC proved to be adaptable to new technology and interchangeable payloads 10

11 Because battery performance is adversely effected in the arctic environment, it proved essential to have electrical power being supplied to the payload. The A-IC provides power through the tether line insuring continuous operations of the sensor. RECOMMENDED FUTURE ACTIONS Demonstrate the capability of the A-IC 1500 that can be deployed on smaller response vessels with the ability to be located directly at scene of the oil spill. Demonstrate the capability to deliver video input and communications to command and support vessels for integration into ERMA and network connectivity with multiple user platforms. Demonstrate flexibility to accommodate multiple payloads to effectively meet mission specifics. Demonstrate secure long range data communication capabilities. Demonstrate diverse payload options and alternate balloon configurations on current and smaller sized A-IC systems. Aerostat-IC