Ship-based UAV Recovery System (SURS)

Launch and Recovery of Manned and Unmanned Vehicles from Marine Platforms 2010 Symposium

March 8-9, 2010

March 8-9, 2010 2

Problem Statement

• Navy wants to base Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) off of ships for a variety of missions

• Needs method to recover UAV’s onto ships

• Compatible with future ship operations – high tempo, highly autonomous, low manpower required

Baseline Technology: Net-based recovery.Manpower-intensive, Risks damage to UAV.Not scalable to high-tempo operations

March 8-9, 2010 3

Ship-based UAV Recovery System (SURS)

• Tailhook-based recovery• Compatible with fully

autonomous operation• Addresses large aircraft, to

350 lb GTOW

March 8-9, 2010 4

Ship-based UAV Recovery System (SURS)

• Fixed-wing UAV’s• 100-350 lb

– Examples: Shadow, Pioneer• Tailhook-based recovery• Small-deck Navy ships, e.g. LCS-

class• Compatible with fully autonomous

operation• Recovers across width of deck• Occurs while ship underway• Sea states targeted to SS 5• Minimal ship design impact• Modular and stowable

March 8-9, 2010 5

Phase II Base Project

Milestone TRLDate

Completed

System top-level design complete 2 7/07

Detail design and fabrication complete 3 7/08

Key subsystems tested:

Arrestor, recovery cart, braking system4 9/08

Mock recovery tests with integrated system completed 5 10/08

Ground-based recovery tests with aircraft completed

6 2/09

March 8-9, 2010 6

• Radio controlled aircraft (163 lb; 42 kts ground speed)

• Two recovery attempts back-to-back

– Both recoveries successful

– No visible damage to aircraft or cart

Proprietary

Status: 1/18/09 Recovery Tests

March 8-9, 2010 7

(recovery video)

March 8-9, 2010 8

• Good agreement between simulation and actual

• Arrest force gradually rises (400 to 520 lbs approx)

• Max decel ~ 3.3 g’s

• Demonstrated recovery consistent with a arrest deceleration slightly in excess of 3 g’s.

• Pioneer at 68 knots can be arrested in 40 ft at 5 g’s decel

Proprietary

Modeling and Analysis

March 8-9, 2010 9

Milestones – Option Phase

SBIR Option Phase

POP 6/9/09 – 6/8/10

Hardware upgrade

• Reliability, safety improvements

• Hardware for rapid reset (target 10 min manual)

Ground tests I

• RC aircraft

• 350 lb @ 68 knots

Ground tests II

• Viking 100 UAV

• 150 lb

• autonomous recovery

At-sea tests II

• Viking 100 UAV

•150 lb

• autonomous recovery

March 8-9, 2010 10

Types of Partners Sought

• Partners:– NAVSEA/NAVAIR program

managers – Ship systems designers,

integrators– Manufacturers– UAV / autonomous guidance

vendors• License technology• Help fund remaining development

• Benefits for industry partners:– Helping to address compelling need of

US Navy– Strong near-term volume potential

(100’s of units or >)– Long-term role onboard Navy ships

March 8-9, 2010 11

U-BASE

• Navy Phase I STTR• Ground-up system for automated launch, recovery and refuel of Tier

II UAV’s

1

2

3 4

5

March 8-9, 2010 12

About Infoscitex

• Founded in 2000• Premier provider of advanced solutions to the

Defense & Aerospace, Life Sciences, and Energy & Environment markets

• Government and commercial applications• Scientists/engineers completed > 600 R&D

programs in advanced materials & systems engineering.

• Headquartered in Waltham, MA– Offices in:

• Albany, NY• Rochester, NY• Dayton, OH• Washington, D.C.

• 105 full-time employees• > $18 million in 2008 revenue

March 8-9, 2010 13

Information

Navy technical monitor:

Mr. Alan SchwartzNaval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division(301) 227-4316 (voice)alan.schwartz@navy.mil

Infoscitex contact:

Mr. Will Hafer303 Bear Hill RoadWaltham, MA 2451www.infoscitex.com

781.890.1338 x240whafer@infoscitex.com