intelligent convergence TM Naval Air Systems Command A Distributed, Intelligent Network of Unmanned Systems Case Study
Naval Air Systems Command The U.S. Navy's Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) provides engineering, development, testing, and evaluation of airborne weapons systems. In addition to its work with manned aircraft, NAVAIR works to enhance the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities of unmanned systems. To bolster these capabilities, NAVAIR selected Augusta Systems, Inc., to provide technologies to enable distributed, intelligent processing of sensor and other data on-board the vehicles, increasing their effectiveness as data-gathering tools. Joint Network-Centric Operations Most small to mid-sized unmanned systems act as eyes in the sky, relaying raw imagery back to military personnel on the ground. This data is then processed, analyzed, and shared up and down the chain of command. However, this process is time intensive and costly. The unmanned aircraft may collect the data, but military personnel are required to do much of the work to transform that data into useful information and, ultimately, into intelligence that can be acted upon. Also, while multiple aircraft may be sent out on a mission, often these vehicles are not linked to share information and communicate with each other. Each individual aircraft sends its raw data back to the ground, where the burden is again placed on military personnel. Beyond inefficiency, this process also impacts the troops in the field. Since the data is processed and analyzed in a central location away from the vehicles and the troops, there often remains a lack of real-time information at the company, platoon, squad, or fire-team levels. These shortcomings hinder the military s ability to achieve joint network-centric operations, a key goal. Under network-centric operations, military assets in dispersed geographic locations are not isolated, but are linked to provide real-time information across the network. This ability to collect and share relevant, distributed information immediately provides a clear advantage to military missions. While unmanned systems have become a major data-gathering tool, they have not reached their full potential, said John Moody, vice president of systems engineering at Augusta Systems. Significant investments have been made in airframes and advanced sensors for unmanned systems. The next step is more robust technologies that link unmanned systems into network-centric operations by enabling the vehicles to process, share and communicate critical data. The vehicles must perform the data processing and communications normally handled by personnel in the field or at a centralized location to truly become a key component of joint, network-centric operations. With this important goal in mind, NAVAIR selected Augusta Systems to provide the edge-ofnetwork infrastructure technologies that would enable on-board data processing and analysis, allowing unmanned systems to operate as a distributed, intelligent network.
A Robust Infrastructure A robust infrastructure was the key to satisfy NAVAIR s goals, said Patrick Esposito II, president and chief operating officer of Augusta Systems. Before the data can be integrated into the network-centric environment, it must be processed and communicated in a suitable format. Unmanned vehicles can t simply spew raw data anymore. Sensor data processing and analysis must occur in the vehicle. The vehicles must become distributed, intelligent systems and multiple vehicles must be linked as a distributed, intelligent network. An important consideration was the significant investment already made by the military in small to mid-sized unmanned systems. These legacy systems would require conversion to become as effective as possible. Augusta Systems, therefore, worked to integrate its technologies into existing unmanned vehicles. The company s technologies, which were utilized in this endeavor, are EdgeFrontier Developer Edition and EdgeFrontier Appliance. EdgeFrontier Developer Edition delivers EdgeFrontier capabilities within a suite of components for the Microsoft Visual Studio integrated development environment, enabling engineers and developers with advanced requirements to create intelligent convergence solutions. EdgeFrontier Appliance is a network appliance preinstalled with the EdgeFrontier, providing a complete software and hardware platform for intelligent convergence solutions requiring remote network access and distributed processing capabilities. Utilizing these Augusta Systems technologies and additional commercial off-theshelf technologies, including mesh networking cards, a payload computer was developed. This payload computer, which can be used with small to mid-sized unmanned aircraft systems and unmanned ground vehicles, served as the key element to enable the unmanned vehicles to act as distributed, intelligent systems within a network-centric environment. The technologies were demonstrated in a series of NAVAIR tests at a National Aeronautics and Space Administration facility on Wallops Island, Va. The A u g u s t a S y s t e m s t e c h n o l o g i e s e n a b l e d multiple Aerosonde Mk III unmanned aircraft from AAI C o r p. a n d u n m a n n e d ground vehicles to process imagery sensor data onboard and transmit data back to personnel in the field. The diagram to the right depicts the technology demonstration.
Of particular importance was the payload computer s ability, through the power of EdgeFrontier products, to convert and integrate non-ip sensor data into the IP network. These products provide distributed intelligence within the IP network by performing data filtering and data fusion on-board the vehicles, at the level of the sensor system. The processed, intelligent information was made available to on-site and remote users via geospatial displays with additional capability for information dissemination on a global basis. By placing these processing and communications technologies on board, the vehicles can now act as part of a distributed, intelligent network, said Moody. These technologies enhance the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities of unmanned systems and allow them to function as part of network-centric operations. This robust infrastructure is also important because it is the basis for the integration of advanced applications and intelligent functions onto the vehicles. These include the ability to detect change in the field or automatically recognize objects, and the capability for collaborative control, which allows a group of unmanned aircraft to act as an autonomous, mobile network. In fact, during the demonstration, collaborative control code also was placed on-board the payload computer, allowing the network of air and ground vehicles to demonstrate intelligent, swarming capabilities. Our technologies, combined with on-board collaborative control algorithms and other technologies, have dramatically increased the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of these unmanned vehicles, Esposito said. Through EdgeFrontier products, we've essentially provided the vehicles with the brains to act with intelligence. The vehicles no longer act alone, as independent, remote controlled cameras, but as intelligent computing systems in a collaborative, networked environment.
Benefits Through robust infrastructure technologies that enable distributed, intelligent processing, Augusta Systems successfully transformed unmanned systems from raw data-gathering tools into distributed, intelligent systems. The enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities provided by these technologies enable the use of unmanned systems in network-centric operations. Specific benefits that result for military, government, and other organizations that utilize robust network infrastructures featuring distributed, intelligent processing capabilities include: Enabling integration and utilization of diverse device, system, and network data, events, and control functions Enabling convergence of data within enterprise IT infrastructures and IP networks to enhance analysis and response Maximizing existing client technology assets and leveraging future investments by enabling the building and management of open, scalable solutions Increasing value of data through system and network-driven access, processing, and correlations Reducing the total cost of ownership of devices, systems, and networks Increasing return on investment for devices, systems, and networks The use of robust infrastructure technologies that enable distributed, intelligent processing showcases the opportunities available for organizations to unlock the power of their devices, systems, and networks. NAVAIR s use of Augusta Systems EdgeFrontier products demonstrates the power and flexibility of the technologies and the advantages that these products can bring to organizations in need of intelligent convergence solutions.
Contacts intelligent convergence TM For more information, please contact: Patrick Esposito II President & Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 304.599.3200 x118 Email: patrickesposito@augustasystems.com Jack Williams Manager, Sales & Business Development Telephone: 304.599.3200 x121 Email: jwilliams@augustasystems.com Research Ridge 3592 Collins Ferry Road, Suite 200 Morgantown, WV 26505 Telephone: 304.599.3200 Fax: 304.599.3480 www.augustasystems.com About Augusta Systems Augusta Systems, Inc. powers the intelligent convergence of devices, systems, and networks. Our award-winning EdgeFrontier products provide configurable technology platforms for building and managing complex monitoring, control, and automation solutions, including applications for safety and security, energy and utility management, asset tracking, building management, and other business functions. Our products support integration and normalization of data, events, and control functions from diverse devices, systems, and networks, regardless of manufacturer or communications protocol. In addition, EdgeFrontier products provide structures for event processing and configuration of event or policy-based actions through a policy engine. Leveraging these capabilities, EdgeFrontier products enable rapid creation of open, interoperable solutions featuring distributed processing, control, and automation throughout the network infrastructure. With the power of EdgeFrontier products, enterprises can unlock new features, decrease solution development costs, improve operational efficiencies, and increase the return on investment for new and legacy devices, systems, and networks. For more information please visit www.augustasystems.com. No part of this document may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including, but not limited to, information storage and retrieval devices and systems, without prior written permission from Augusta Systems, Inc. This document or information it contains may not be used, reproduced or disclosed without authorization in writing by Augusta Systems, Inc. Augusta Systems, EdgeFrontier, EdgeFrontier Appliance, EdgeFrontier Developer Edition, ThreatViewer, GridMonitor, Augusta Systems intelligent convergence, intelligent networks from edge to core, plug into the network, and other brand names, logos, images and slogans are trademarks of Augusta Systems, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. 2009 Augusta Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.