www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.1

SyntheSys St. Hilda’s Business Centre The Ropery Whitby North Yorkshire YO22 4ET tel: +44 (0)1947 821464 fax: +44 (0)1947 603301 email: training@synthesys.co.uk web: www.synthesys.co.uk

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.2

Understanding UAS before integrating a Data Link

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.3

• Introduction

• Five Levels of Interoperability (IO)

• UAV Control System (UCS) Functional Architecture

• Data Link Interface (DLI)

• Vehicle Specific Module (VSM)

Scope

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.4

• Unmanned Vehicles (UV) in support of both National and Coalition operations looks to set to continue to grow

• Operations in Libya were supported by French, Italian and US UAV

• US military and its allies have carried out almost 1,200 drone strikes since 2008 in Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq

Introduction

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.5

• UV Research and Development (R&D) will continue to benefit from increased spending by governments

• Global payload market for Military UAVs is currently valued at $4bn and is forecast to grow to $6bn over the next 10 years

• Civilian market expected to grow to $10bn by 2023

Introduction

1

1 Strategic Defence Intelligence - The Global UAV Payload Market 2012-2022

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.6

• Presentation focusses on STANAG 4586 Ed 3

• Aim is to promote IO between all UAV systems past, present and future

• Aspiration is full IO within NATO Joint/Combined ops

• However it does not promote/endorse any operator proficiency levels

Introduction – STANAG 4586

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.7

• Stove pipe systems with unique data links, comms and message formats

Introduction – STANAG 4586

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.8

Introduction – Five Elements of UAS

UAV System UAV Air Component

UAV Surface Component

Air Vehicle Element Propulsion

Unit Avionics

Unit

Payload Element

Mission Payload

Payload Recorder Vehicle Data

Terminal

Control Data Terminal

UAV Control System Element

Launch/Recovery Element

DL Element

External C4I Systems

Operator

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.9

• Adhering to the standard is the realisation of a specific Level Of Interoperability (LOI)

• CONOPS supports which LOI a UAS will achieve

• Ed 2 LOIs have been modified/extended to support this

• Ed 3 LOIs are independent of one another

Five Levels of IO

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.10

• Level 1

• Indirect receipt and/or transmission of sensor product and associated metadata

• Level 2

• Direct receipt of sensor product data and associated metadata from the UAV

• Level 3

• Control and monitoring of the UAV payload unless specified as monitor only

Five Levels of IO

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.11

• LOI 2 monitor is conditional:

• Type of payload and the number of payloads

• Type of payload data format used by the UAS

• LOI 3 monitor only or control and monitor is conditional:

• Type of payload and the number of payloads

• Type of payload data format used by the UAV

Five Levels of IO

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.12

• Level 4

• Control and monitoring of the UAV, unless specified as monitor only, less launch and recovery

• LOI 4 monitor only or control and monitor is not affected by the payloads on board the UAV

• Level 5

• Control and monitoring of UAV and launch and recovery unless specified as monitor only

• Level 3/4/5 assume control and monitor unless stated

Five Levels of IO

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.13

• To improve IO further standardise

• UAS elements

• UAV Control System (UCS) and external C4I systems

• To achieve LOI 2 and above the VDT and CDT must be IO

• STANAG 7085 - Interoperable Data Links For Imaging Systems

Five Levels of IO

Vehicle Data

Terminal

Control Data

Terminal

DL Element STANAG 7085

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.14

• STANAGs that support improved IO of UAS:

• STANAG 7023 - Air Reconnaissance Primary Imagery Data Standard

• STANAG 7024 - Imagery Air Reconnaissance Tape Recorder

Standards

Five Levels of IO

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.15

UAV Functional Architecture

Launch/Recovery Element

Operator

External C4I Systems

External C4I Systems

Core UCS

HC

I

CCISM C2

Interface

VSM

DLI

UCS Element

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.16

• Provides user interface that enables a UAV operator to conduct all phases of a UAV mission

• Support the requirements of the DLI, CCI, and HCI

• Provide high resolution user interface

Core UCS

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.17

• Dependent upon the LOI and payload:

• Capable to receive, process, and disseminate data from the UAV and payload

• Perform mission planning; monitor and control the payload

• Monitor and control the UAV

• Monitor and control the data links

• Open software architecture to support additional future UAVs and payload capabilities

Core UCS

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.18

• Enable the CUCS to generate and understand specific messages for control and status

• Specifies the mechanism for the processing and display of vehicle specific messages

Data Link Interface (DLI)

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.19

• When a C4I system requires analogue data – video

• VSM shall provide a dedicated physical interface for displays or for external feeds through a CCISM

• If the VSM resides on the AV, STANAG 7085 defines the interface

DLI Interface

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.20

• Critical concern is the total latency between AV and the operator controls and displays

• DLI specifies neither fixed nor maximum latency in exchanges between the VSM and the CUCS

• Several approaches are possible in constituting a UCS-compliant system iaw

• STANAG 4586, Ann B, App B1, Page 62

System Latency

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.21

• Annex B App B1 specifies the detailed requirements for interfacing the CUCS to a VSM

• CUCS shall generate and understand common air vehicle and payload messages using the DLI

• Supports IO by specifying a standard set of messages and data formats

Data Link Interface (DLI)

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.22

• UCS provider and C4I user should jointly identify the CCISM functionality if required

• Specifies the data requirements that should be adopted for communication between the UCS Core and all C4I end users

C2 Interface (CCI)

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.23

• Operator display and input requirements that the CUCS shall support

• Does not impose design requirements but identifies the capabilities that the CUCS shall provide

HCI Requirements

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.24

• VSM is not a box/piece of eqpt it is a function

• Supports proprietary communication protocols, interface timing, and data formats

• Translating data from the representation used by the CUCS (DLI defined messages) to vehicle specific representations and vice versa

Vehicle Specific Module (VSM)

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.25

• Acting as a repository and server for vehicle-specific data

• Packing and unpacking data link data to optimise transmission bandwidth when necessary

• Managing UAV real-time data and interfaces required to control and monitor data link(s) operation

VSM Functions

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.26

• Example 1 - AV and CDT support all of the VSM functionality

• Remote display and real-time processing provided by the CUCS

AV Implementations of VSM

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• Example 2 - AV and CDT do not support any of the VSM functions and require a VSM to provide this

AV Implementations of VSM

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.28

• Example 3 - VSM functionality, with possible exception of remote display and real-time processing is allocated to the AV

AV Implementations of VSM

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.29

• Example 4 - VSM functionality is split between the air vehicle and the ground elements of the UAS

AV Implementations of VSM

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.30

Role of VSM

VSM Real-Time processing

Operator

Core UCS NonReal-Time

Processing

HC

I

DLI

LOS BLOS

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.31

Link 16?

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.32

Summary

Aim is to promote IO between all UAV systems

Objective is to define five LOI for the user to comply with

Level 1 LOI – Indirect reception/transmission of sensor/metadata

Level 2 LOI – Direct reception/transmission of sensor/metadata

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.33

Summary

Level 3 LOI – Control & monitoring of UAV payload

Level 4 LOI – Level 3 less launch/recovery

Level 5 LOI – Level 3 plus launch/recovery

DLI supports the CUCS in generating/understanding messages

CCI is the link between CUCS and external C4I systems

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.34

www.synthesys.co.uk Ref: 99905xxxxx010 Slide No.35

Mr Paul Czajkowski paul_czajkowski@synthesys.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 1947 821464 Mob: +44 (0)7507866253 www.synthesys.co.uk