Intelligence

BAE SYSTEMS Anser technology featured at air show

22 Mar 2001

A collaborative program between BAE Systems and the University of Sydney is developing revolutionary technology to facilitate unmanned defence and network centric warfare.

The Autonomous Navigation and Sensing Experimental Research (ANSER) program, draws on more than 10 years of research and accesses revolutionary technologies developed by BAE Systems and Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte of the University of Sydney’s Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR), formerly of Oxford University.

Speaking at a press conference at the Australian International Air Show today, Brad Yelland, Project Manager, ANSER, BAE Systems Australia said: “The ANSER UAV system provides a real world test bed for the development and demonstration of the ANSER technologies.”

The ANSER system comprises four autonomous Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) and a ground station. The ANSER UAV airframe, Brumby Mk III, is based on a small, remotely piloted aircraft developed by students at the University of Sydney.

“The ANSER team have made significant modifications to the aircraft including the addition of an autonomous flight control system, to enable the Brumby Mk III to carry the systems required to demonstrate the ANSER technologies,” said Mr Yelland.

Each Brumby MkIII is capable of carrying two mission sensors and two flight sensors, integrated in a decentralized architecture.

In addition, the ANSER ground station incorporates flight control consoles for each of the UAVs, enabling the operator to switch individual UAVs between autonomous and remote pilot modes.

“The UAVs can be networked to form a decentralized, autonomous system of four UAVs capable of cooperative map building and picture compilation,” said Mr Yelland.

“The air-to-air communication system enables the sharing of sensor and map information between UAVs and an air-to-ground communication system provides mission information to the ground station for mission control and display.”

The two main technologies being developed and demonstrated by the ANSER system are:
Decentralized Data Fusion and Systems Architecture; and
Simultaneous Localization and Map Building (SLAM).

The Simultaneous Localization and Map Building (SLAM) technology enables land or air platforms to build a map of the terrain whilst simultaneously using that map to navigate by.

“This significantly enhances the capability for true autonomous navigation through unknown territory,” said Mr Yelland.

“In addition, the Decentralized Data Fusion and Systems Architecture technology provides the system with the flexibility, scalability and robustness required for a System of Systems approach.”

BAE Systems Australia has been partnering with the University of Sydney on the ANSER program for more than two years.

“We are please to be working together and our partnership with the University of Sydney has brought a new dimension to the technologies on this program,” said Mr Yelland.

“BAE Systems is now working with the Department of Defence and the Defence Science Technology Organisation to realise the future applications of ANSER technology.

Brumby MkII is on display outside the BAE Systems stand, Australian International Air Show, Avalon, Victoria.

Issued by Corporate Affairs, BAE Systems Australia.