U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

An Overview of the USGSUnmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Project

Michael E. Hutt(303) 202-4296mehutt@usgs.gov

Land Remote Sensing Program FY 2005-2009: Directed an Emerging Technology Investigation on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Information gaps exist over remote and often dangerous areas, such as the polar regions, the expansive lands managed by DOI, volcanic islands, and other remote reaches of the Earth.

Manned aircraft flights are often not feasible in these areas due to flight durations (long or short), hazardous weather conditions, aircraft availability and associated operations cost.

Satellite based observations are hindered by course resolutions, fixed sensor capabilities and orbital coverage cycles.

What is the problem? (OBSERVATION GAPS)

NOAA Slide

Since FY 2007 military UAS operations, in theater, have surpassed manned mission hours

In FY 2009, the Air Force purchased more unmanned systems than manned systems

DoD is training more UAS operators than pilots President’s budget request for 2009-2013 DoD- UAS is

approximately $20 Billion , total US investments over the same time period is estimated at $25 - $30 Billion

DoD including all of the military branches, NOAA, NASA, DHS, and the FAA have established UAS Program Offices

60 Universities in the U.S. now offer UAS programs Over 150 vendors of UAS technology existed in 2009 Wide variety of platforms, sensors, costs Documented accident rates of UAS systems are minimal Substantial momentum exists (industry, academia, government)

to develop civil applications of UAS technology Rapidly evolving technology, what do we call it- UAV, UAS, RPA

UAS Technology Review Findings:

Potential Benefits of an UAS Safety of operator (pilot) & field staff Large area coverage (compared to ground observations) Long dwell times over areas of interest Readily available technology Ability to operate in hostile environments (smoke, ash,

active volcano, etc.) Variety of platforms and sensors (mix and match) Relatively low costs to operate (sUAS) Archive of images for future use Puts technology in the hands of the scientists New observations = new science = more informed decisions

70K

60K Global HawkGlobal Hawk

U-2U-2

Predator APredator A

50K

40K

30K

20K

10K

Alt

itu

de

1020

30

Endurance

Shadow, Raven. MAV Shadow, Raven. MAV

HALEHALE

MediumMedium

TacticalTactical

Predator BPredator B

UAS Altitude/Classification

DoD Slide

Sensor Packages: Full Motion Video (natural color)*** Thermal- Infrared*** Radars (SAR)** Chemical/ Gas** LiDAR Hyperspectral- multispectral Photogrammetric Cameras

Ensure the Safety of the National Air Space (NAS) Sense and Avoid Spectrum- frequency management Operator- Pilot Certification Aircraft Air Worthiness Certification

Scientific Research/ Incident Response: Integration with other capabilities Authoritative analysis of data Archive responsibilities Analysis tools- full motion video

Cost of UAS missions: Compare/ contrast with manned missions Value- demonstrate scientific value

Outreach- Training: Management Awareness “ist” Awareness

UAS Challenges:

FAA/AMD Oversight:Can a civilian company operate an UAS as part of a business?Currently, civilian companies may not operate a UAS as part of a business without obtaining a Special Airworthiness Certificate - Experimental Category (SAC-EC). However, this SAC-EC is very limited in scope of operational use. FAA Order 8130.34.

Who can receive a Certificate of Authorization (COA) to fly a UAS in the NAS?Only public agencies operating an unmanned aircraft.

What is a “Public Agency?Any agency that operates a public aircraft (14 CFR Part 1.1). If you receive funding from the federal government at some level, you are probably a “Public Agency.” A public agency can never operate under the guidelines of Advisory Circular 91-57 (Model Aircraft Operating

What is the current process for USGS?Submit COA to FAA through AMD POC (Harry Kieling)- expect 60-90 day turn around

What can we do to improve the process?Endorse DoD/FAA/NASA Executive Committee Recommendations

Where We Are:

Benefits/Capabilities

Wing Span 4.5 ft

Air Vehicle Weight 4 lbs

Range 10+ km (LOS)

Airspeed 27-60 mph

Altitude >300 AGL

Endurance 90 min Lithium

Payload

- Improved Day Camera – wider field of view, increased resolution, 3X Zoom, Ethernet, National Television Standard Compliant (NTSC)

- External Interfaces

- IR with Laser Illuminator –25 ft spot marking capability

GCS/RVT - Combined Weight – 14 lbs

Raven System Description Raven System Description

Insert System Picture Here

Description

Characteristics

Day Payload(3 Each)

IR Payload(2 Each)

Provides enhanced situational awareness by providing expanded reconnaissance and surveillance coverage.

Hand-launched GPS Semi-autonomous operations and in-flight retasking Commanded auto-loiter at sensor point of interest Executes lost link recovery procedures

• Rapidly deployed• Decentralized planning and execution• Cost effective• Easily transportable

GCS ComponentsAircraft (3 Each)

Field Repair Kit

Provides USGS and our partners with an enterprise level , low cost, low risk UAS capability to “cut our teeth” operator training and certification Develop user applications and standard operation procedures Establish air worthiness inspection criteria GAP Analysis- sensors, platforms

Raven Operational Mission Sets• Remote reconnaissance and surveillance• Damage assessment• Resource inventory Support

Contractor: AeroVironment

Department of the Interior UAS Training Class

• Operator Certification• Operator Currency Requirements• Aircraft Safety Inspection Criteria• Certificate of Authorization Process• Sensor Capabilities and Analysis

• 14 Trained Operators• USGS, NPS, BLM, FS, AMD• Over 70 Training Requests• Spring Session June 7-18• DOIRSWG – AMD Partnership• Expect Increased Interest Level

Where are we going::

Develop a report that will transition from a vision document to a concept of operations for UAS use by USGS and our DOI partners

Determine and document potential civil missions

for UAS technology based on user defined needs.

Determine and document the technologies necessary to support those missions.

Discuss the present and future state of UAS capabilities and related technologies

Serve as the foundation for USGS UAS related budget proposals

Provide the foundation for a comprehensive civil UAS roadmap.

U.S. Geological Survey UAS Roadmap

Key Partnerships/ Collaboration: International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Commission 1,

UAS Working Group International Society of Remote Sensing for the Environment (ISRSE) The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) National Science Foundation (NSF), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department

of Homeland Security, (DHS), AUVSI- UAS working group American Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) USNORTHCOM UAS Working Group Interagency Coordinating Committee for Airborne Geoscience Research and

Applications (ICCAGRA) UAS working group NOAA, NASA, FAA, DoD, Army UAS Program Offices National Guard Bureau (U.S. Army UAS War fighters Round Table) Department of the Interior Remote Sensing Working Group (DOIRWG) DOI Aviation Management Directorate USNORTHCOM-FAA UAS Summit DoD-FAA-NASA UAS Executive Committee (UAS ExCOM) Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST), Interagency Working

Group on Facilities and Infrastructure (IWG-FI), Task Force on Unmanned Systems Tactical Fire Remote Sensing Advisory Committee (TFRSAC) New Mexico State University, University of Colorado, Air Force Academy, University of

Idaho, Utah State University, University of Alaska- Fairbanks, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Florida

Summary:Much like Global Positioning System and Internet Technology have changed the way we do business- Unmanned Aircraft Systems show the promise of transforming how the Department of the Interior and the United States Geological Survey perform our missions in the near future: bridging the gap between field observations and satellite image processing monitoring landscape change and natural resources use – forest health analyzing dynamic earth processes- volcanic activity, seismic rupture zones supporting climate change investigations- carbon exchange, sea ice supporting DOI law enforcement activities aiding search and rescue teams wildlife inventories generating mapping, charting, and geodesy products developing an archive of observations preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters

http://rmgsc.cr.usgs.gov/UAS/

Raven -