Engineers Begin Next Phase of Unmanned Aircraft Technologies Trials in Flying Testbed
December 13, 2016 | BAE SystemsEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
As part of collaborative efforts across the UK to assess how autonomous air vehicles could be integrated in UK airspace, scientists and engineers at BAE Systems have begun another tranche of ground-breaking unmanned aircraft technology trials using a Jetstream 31 as a ‘flying testbed’ which flies itself whilst having pilots on board who could take control at any time. The trials are being conducted from the Company’s military aircraft engineering and manufacturing facility in Warton, Lancashire, UK.
The latest trials are self-funded by BAE Systems at a cost of around £400,000 and build on the findings of the ASTRAEA (Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation and Assessment) Research and Development programme which ran from 2008-2013.
In a series of 17 flights, BAE Systems’ engineers aim to prove the capability, maturity and safe operation of autonomous air technologies controlled by a satellite-communications based link. This has the advantage of being globally available already and therefore enabling operations without the need for new infrastructure.
Also being tested are further developments of sensing technologies including aircraft and cloud avoidance using only camera input rather than radar. The results of the trials will inform the direction of the Company’s future unmanned aircraft programme and the suitability of testing unmanned aircraft in the UK. In the near future these unmanned aircraft technologies may also be brought to market for use in commercial and military aircraft as aids to the existing crew.
The series of test flights involve a team of two engineers on-board whom together with air traffic control experts at NATS, continually assess the performance of the systems on the testbed. Flights last 1.5 hours and are flying through non-congested airspace on a route from Warton to Inverness, Scotland covering around 300 miles and normally flying at 15000 feet. A pilot and co-pilot are in control for take-off and landing – but once airborne and in controlled airspace the Jetstream flies itself. On the ground a flight test observer and a unmanned air vehicle commander - who is a fully licensed pilot for these trials – are monitoring the flights via satellite communications.
The testbed contains an aircraft identification antennae which detects other aircraft’s transponder signals as well as a cockpit mounted camera acting as an ‘electronic eye’. This links to the aircraft’s computer systems and enables the Jetstream to ‘see’ potential hazards even if no signals are being emitted. The “electronic eye” of the Jetstream can also recognize different cloud types and, if needed, plot a course that allows evasive action from challenging weather conditions.
Maureen Mccue, BAE Systems’ Head of Research and Technology for the military aircraft and information business said: “Our priority as always is to demonstrate the safe and effective operation of autonomous systems and together with NATS we are working towards the possibility of flying our own unmanned systems in a highly controlled environment in the UK. The trials are an exciting time and will give us technology options that could be applied to our own manned and unmanned aircraft as well potentially enabling us to take some new unmanned aircraft technologies to market.”
Alastair Muir, Director, Prestwick, NATS, said: “NATS is always striving to find new and advanced ways to fully support the development and safe use of the ever growing market of unmanned aerial vehicles by all users, hobbyist to professional, within the UK airspace through, for example, our training courses. As such we are very pleased to have supported our BAE Systems colleagues in this trial using aircraft operations of this scale and are currently working with the rest of the industry to agree how this exciting technology can be fully realised and integrated safely with conventional aviation.”
BAE Systems has developed an extensive portfolio of unmanned air capabilities over the past two decades. The company is currently working on a joint Future Combat Air System programme with Dassault of France in as part of an anticipated £1.5 billion programme that is expected to lead to the production of operational demonstrators. With the UK’s Ministry of Defence, and other engineering organisations, BAE Systems has also designed and manufactured Taranis - an unmanned combat aircraft demonstrator – currently the UK’s most technologically advanced aircraft.
Suggested Items
Australian Flow Batteries and The SCHMID Group Announce Groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding
04/17/2024 | SCHMID GroupAustralian Flow Batteries Pty Ltd (AFB), a leader in innovative energy solutions and economical, safe, and reliable power storage, and SCHMID Energy Systems GmbH a company of the German SCHMID Group, a global technology leader with a rich history in delivering innovative solutions across multiple industries including Electronics, Renewables, and Energy Storage sectors, are thrilled to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Ansys Joins BAE Systems’ Mission Advantage Program to Advance Digital Engineering Across US Department of Defense
04/16/2024 | ANSYSAnsys announced it is working with BAE Systems, Inc., to accelerate the adoption of digital engineering and MBSE across the Department of Defense (DoD).
Microchip Technology Acquires Neuronix AI Labs
04/16/2024 | Microchip Technology Inc.Innovative technology enhances AI-enabled intelligent edge solutions and increases neural networking capabilities.
Incap Estonia Teamed Up With Solaride to Fuel Youth Excitement for The World of Engineering
04/11/2024 | IncapIncap Estonia partnered with Solaride to ignite enthusiasm among young people for the world of engineering and sustainable technology. Together, they organised an inspiring day for students from grades 7 through 12 in Saaremaa. Held at Incap’s Kuressaare factory, this event brought together over 130 young minds eager to explore the innovative world of technology and learn more about advanced electronics manufacturing.
Plastronics and the New IPC Guidelines for In-mold Electronics (IME)
04/11/2024 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007In the ever-evolving world of electronics, the roads for the integration of electronics assemblies into 3D structures continue to grow into a set of technologies used to produce 3D plastronics parts and revolutionize mainly the automotive industry. IPC has been developing standards for this set of technologies, led by Francisco Fourcade, IPC electronics technology standards manager.