4586 For The Rest of Us:
The Development of a STANAG-4586 Control
Station Software Suite for Smaller UAVs
Mike Meakin
UVS Canada- Nov 2009
1
Outline
•
•
•
•
•
Who are we?
The Need
The Approach
The Solution
Conclusion & Demo
2
Company History
• InnUVative Systems Inc.- established in 2007- is a
Canadian registered engineering and software
development company
– Specifically targeted at the unmanned vehicles industry
• Specializing in ground station software development for
small & micro UAVs and UGVs/ USVs
– Using well recognized engineering practices within an
established and controlled development environment
• Follow fundamental project management principles as
recognized by the Project Management Institute
3
Company History (cont’d)
• Member of STANAG-4586 Working Group
• Developed STANAG-4586 Vehicle Specific Module (VSM) for the
Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS) protocol
– allows control of a JAUS compliant vehicle from a STANAG-4586
compliant UAV Control Station
• Currently developing VSM for X-Plane simulation of Heron UAV
– for use by Canadian UAV Research Test Bed at Defence R&D Canada labOttawa
• Drawing on our extensive experience across a multitude of
platforms, payloads and autoland systems, developed and delivered
an Introductory UAV course for PMs, engineers and military
officers
– Course presented October 2009 in Singapore; next course May 2010,
Singapore
• Teamed with Aeryon Labs, integrating their Scout MAV to provide
STANAG-4586 compliance
4
The Need...
• Many of the larger systems (tactical and above)
have multiple options for the implementation of
STANAG 4586 in support of interoperability
• Smaller UAV systems as well as UGVs and
USVs are far less well serviced
– Most current solutions are very expensive compared
to system costs of smaller UVs
– Interfaces often screen-intensive, not able to be
supported by smaller systems
– Interfaces are far more complex requiring training
investments that are prohibitive for smaller systems
5
The Need... (cont’d)
• Interoperability is equally as important for small
and surface systems as for larger ones
– Coordinated utilization of data (e.g. LOI 2 receipt of
MALE imagery on a SUAV control station allows
much greater SA)
– Combined UV ops: SUAV/ MAV with UGV or USV
• In many ways, smaller system problem space is
more difficult than larger system
– More likely to operate multiple vehicles from single
station
– Solution is scalable up to larger but reverse often not
true
6
Examples of Combined Ops
IED Disposal Support
We need the ICX
FIDO payload.
• Use of a single,
integrated control solution
allows the UGV system to
present an organic solution
for any of the existing
STANAG compliant
UAVs
• IED robots have multiple payloads
from which to select
• Use of a micro air vehicle (MAV) to
quickly and safely examine the
suspected IED would allow the
operator to readily identify the best
payload to be fitted to the robot
prior to it being deployed
to the IED location.
•The MAV could also be
used as a “second set of
eyes” allowing another
vantage point during IED
disposal
7
Examples of Combined Ops (cont’d)
Organic Convoy IED Protection
• Currently, UAVs are used to
recon convoy routes in advance
for IEDs
•These recons are typically
done daily; there is always a
time lag between the recon
and the convoy during which
IEDs can be- and are- laid
• Integration of MAVs and at least one IED disposal
robot into each convoy would allow an organic, real time
IED detection and neutralization capability into every
convoy
•MAVs could be flown as “outriders” as convoy is
on the move to check the road ahead and each side
• Convoys could then practice “blow as you go” IED disposal, 8
increasing safety significantly
Examples of Combined Ops (cont’d)
Combined UGV/ UAV Combat Operations
•Giving the soldier the ability to see what
threats are around the corner has been
extremely important
•The next step is to relieve the soldier of
having to be first around the corner to
address the threat
• Some systems have already anticipated
the push to arm UGVs
•Integration of
armed UGVseither via JAUS or
native protocolinto STANAG
4586 allows the combined
operations goal identified in the
UAS Roadmap from OSD
9
Integration of UGV & UAV Operations
• This operational concept of using UGVs in
concert with UAVs is a goal specifically
outlined in the UAS Roadmap
• Providing a STANAG 4586 interface for a UGV
systems allows easier and lower risk integration
of the UGVs into multiple existing UAV
systems
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The Solution
To address these needs, InnUVative Systems
developed the 4CE Control Station, an
inherently STANAG 4586 control station that
addresses the needs of smaller UAVs and
UGVs/ USVs
Allowing Command, Control,
Communications, Coordination and Execution
(4CE), the 4CE Control Station© offers an
affordable, STANAG-4586 compliant solution
for all systems!
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4CE Seen is Forewarned...
Supporting standard civilian and military map
formats- including DTED- the 4CE Control
Station© provides an intuitive situational
awareness display and control interface that
minimizes training and allows operators to control
multiple vehicles directly from the map.
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The system icons
themselves become
the primary control
interface
• Use of graphical click,
drag, etc. for direct
immediate control of
vehicle and payload
• Right click to access
vehicle’s and payload’s
dialogs
• Prevents confusion
regarding which
dialog controls which
system
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Simplified Interfaces
This4586
Becomes
thisa
Usingcomplicated
simplified interfaces
to hide the
underlying
connection
simplified
complexitylogic…
of the system, the
operatoruser
is able to
quickly and easily place theinterface
vehiclesfor
and payloads
connecting
where he needs them to accomplish
his mission.
14
Advanced Status Panel
The Status Panel not only informs the operator
when situations arise requiring their attention, it
also supplies them with a fully interactive
checklist wizard that guides them through the
corrective action necessary for specific problems.
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Affordability…
With an initial license cost less than many specialized
commercial software packages and a pricing curve that
further reduces it to commercial values as quantities
increase, InnUVative Systems specifically supports the
smaller UV systems.
4CE Control Station License Cost
$8,000
$7,000
Cost per License
$6,000
$5,000
$4,000
$3,000
$2,000
$1,000
$0
5
10
25
50
100
150
200 250 400 750 1000 1500 2500 5000 10000
Number of Licenses
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In a competitive world
The distinguishing difference is
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