Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Missions, Payloads, and Links Course

Course Description:

This course provides a practical introduction to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs), their missions, payloads, and data links. The main thrust of the course is to understand the traceability of mission-related performance requirements from the target, through the payloads and data links, to the operational user. The course begins a brief overview of the history of UAV development and current UAV types, including how various types of UAVs can be launched and recovered. A major portion of the course is devoted to Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) payloads including EO/IR IRLS, LIDAR/LADAR, MSI, HSI, SAR, and EW payloads. The second major portion of the course is devoted to understanding the various communications and data links that modern UAVs employ, and covers the technical and operational characteristics of the Common Data Link, SATCOM, C2 and UHF data links, and link susceptibility to jamming. The course culminates with and end-to-end performance analysis taking target requirements through the atmosphere, payloads, links, and finally to the operational user. Attendees will learn to calculate link throughput performance and the data rates associated with each type of payload in typical missions. Attendees will learn to make the important calculations for each step of the process. Each section includes realistic in-class examples and problems to enhance the learning experience.

Who should attend: The course is targeted for technical specialists, engineers, managers, and operational professionals with the responsibility for the selection, design, integration, test, and operation of UAVs, UAV links, and UAV payloads for any military or civil application. The course is applicable to anyone needing a fundamental, yet complete, end-to-end understanding of UAVs and UASs.

Course materials provided: Two hard cover text books are provided: (1) Introduction to UAV Systems by Fahlstrom and Gleason and (2) Practical Communication Theory by Dave Adamy. Attendees receive a course notebook with hard copies of all slides, visual aids, problem work-sheets, and reference material. Attendees also receive two practical wall charts: (1) an electromagnetic spectrum wall chart and (2) a weather effects on EO/IR/MMW sensors wall chart. In addition, all attendees will receive an antenna/propagation slide rule and a scientific calculator.

Prerequisites: Only a general technical background and basic algebra are required.

Detailed Course/Subject Schedule

- Introduction

Course Overview
Class Rules of Engagement
Description of Course Materials

- History of UAVs/UASs

Early Pioneers
Pre-Vietnam Era, WWI & II
Post-Vietnam Era - 1990
1990 - Present
Formerly Classified UAV Programs
Future UAV/UAS Needs

- Air Vehicle Classes

Very Low Cost, Very Close range
Close range
Short Range
Mid Range
Endurance

- New Air Vehicle Definitions

Micro
Mini
Tactical
Endurance/Strategic
Alternative Definitions

Low Observable (LO) UAVs
Armed Combat UAVs (UCAVs)
Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAVs

- Launch and Recovery Elements

Conventional Remotely Piloted Launch and Recovery
Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Launch & Recovery
Other Fixed Wing Launchers

Rail launcher
Pneumatic Launches
Hydraulic-Pneumatic Launcher
RATO Launcher
Ignition Systems
Other Launch Equipment

Recovery Systems

Vertical Net System
Parachute System
Mid Air Retrieval
ShipBoard Recovery

- The Electromagnetic Spectrum and the Atmosphere

Properties of Electromagnetic (EM) Radiation and EM Waves
Optical Frequency Radiation & Sources
Atmospheric and Weather Effects on EO/IR Radiation

- EO/IR Payloads

Television imaging systems
Infrared imaging systems
Image intensified imaging systems (light amplification)
Laser ranging, designation, and spotting
Target acquisition and target resolution requirements

- Infrared Line Scanner (IRLS) Payloads

Push broom scanning
Wisk broom scanning

- Applications & Example Problems

- LIDAR/LADAR Payloads

LIDAR/LADAR Concepts
LIDAR/LADAR Applications

- Multispectral and Hyperspectral Payloads

Multispectral/Hyperspectral Concepts
Multispectral/Hyperspectral Applications

- Radar payloads and missions

Moving target indicator
Synthetic aperture radar

- Electronic reconnaissance payloads and missions

Antennas and Receivers
Processing & data formatting
Emitter location

- Digital Communication theory

Radio propagation models
Digital signal processing
Error detection & correction codes
Data compression

- Link requirements

Types of Links
Typical link specifications
Vulverability of links to jamming

- CDL & Satcom links

- End to end link performance analysis

In class problems with various payloads

Speaker and Presenter Information

John L. Minor is an internationally recognized expert on advanced sensor systems, payloads, and manned/unmanned military aircraft and systems. He has 35 years experience with systems engineering, technical program management, test and evaluation, and education and training. During his career, John served on the technical staff of the Air Force Flight Test Center, the USAF Test Pilot School, and the Lockheed Skunk Works�. He began his career as a sensor system specialist working on the SR-71/U-2 aircraft for the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. Since, he has worked on several classified and unclassified UAV/UAS Programs, and was the Payloads Manager for the BQM-145 and the RQ-3 TIER III Minus (Darkstar). As the USAF Test Pilot School�s Technical Director from 2004-2008, John led development/instruction of advanced courses in sensors, weapons, and UAV systems theory, operations, and flight test for the next generation of Test Pilots, Electronic Warfare Officers, and Flight Test Engineers. In 2004 he led development of the first-ever UAV/UAS Flight Test Course for the Air Force Flight Test Center. He has taught numerous short courses for Society of Flight Test Engineers, the Association of Old Crows (AOC), and has lectured to the Royal Aeronautical Engineering Society (RAeS) and technical universities throughout Europe. John holds BSEE & MSEE degrees from the University of New Mexico/Air Force Institute of Technology. Dave Adamy is an internationally recognized expert in electronic warfare and UAV links & payloads. He has 45 years experience as a systems engineer and program technical director, developing EW & Reconnaissance systems from DC to Light, deployed on platforms from submarines to space, with specifications from QRC to high reliability. For the last 25 years, he has run his own company, performing studies for the US Government and defense contractors, including two major Link/Payload trade-off analysis studies for the UAV JPO. He is a frequent guest lecturer at the Naval Postgraduate School on UAV related subjects, and has presented dozens of courses in the US and Europe on Electronic Warfare, UAVs and related subjects. He has published over 180 professional articles on Electronic Warfare, receiver system design and closely related subjects, including the popular EW101 column in the Journal of Electronic Defense. He holds an MSEE (Communication theory) and has eleven books in print.

Relevant Government Agencies

Air Force, Army, Navy & Marine Corps, Intelligence Agencies, DOD & Military, Office of the President (includes OMB), Dept of Energy, Dept of Homeland Security, Dept of Justice, Dept of State, Dept of Veterans Affairs, NASA, State Government, CIA, Coast Guard, Census Bureau