REAL ADVANTAGE IN THE BATTLESPACE
08 Sep 2009 | Ref. 166/2009
London, United Kingdom: Engineers at BAE Systems have developed and demonstrated a new mission control system that enables commanders to integrate next generation autonomous systems into manned operations on the frontline.
The ability of unmanned autonomous systems to undertake dangerous reconnaissance duties without exposing soldiers to harm has long been recognised to have enormous potential for battlefield commanders. However, the challenge to date has been how to ensure that tasks performed by unmanned platforms don’t interfere with manned operations.
Evolving out of its unmanned air capabilities, a new suite of technologies from BAE Systems, will enable commanders to plan and re-plan missions for both air and ground based unmanned systems in real time as the situation develops. It gives the commander the ability to allocate and hand-over control of payloads or platforms to fellow commanders, while maintaining mission and situational awareness at all times. This ensures that autonomous assets are put to best possible use across every phase of an operation and uses both human and autonomous resources to maximum effect.
Andy Wright, Programme Director at BAE Systems, said: “To develop an effective solution, we had to look beyond the relationship between an individual soldier and an unmanned system and consider the challenge from a systems approach looking at how the overall operation fits together. We’ve brought together engineers from across our global business to combine mature and developing technologies in order to create this truly integrated system that will bring significant benefits to frontline operations.”
As various threats are identified during a mission, control of the various unmanned assets is passed between the battlefield commander, the convoy commander and the manned reconnaissance vehicles. Real time imagery showing threats is streamed back to the battlefield and convoy commanders, allowing them to alter the route of the convoy and redeploy the unmanned vehicles to make sure it is safe.
The new mission control system has been developed by BAE Systems’ engineers from the UK, US and Australia and has been successfully demonstrated in both synthetic and real-world trials. During the trials, it was used to command a convoy, using a mixture of assets, including unmanned aircraft systems, manned reconnaissance vehicles and an unmanned ground vehicle, to survey and plan its route.
The ease of mission handover and the ability for dynamic replanning as new threats or mission goals emerge in a fast moving mission situation ensure the unmanned platforms are fully integrated into the overall battlespace, removing concerns about mission deconfliction.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defence, security and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded US $34.4 billion (£18.5 billion) in 2008.
For further information please contact:
Jo Fry, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0)1252 384708 Mob: +44 (0)7793 420318
Jo.fry@baesystems.com
Kristina Crowe, Biss Lancaster
Tel: +44 (0) 207 257 9821 Mob: +44 (0)7841 279 859
Kristina.crowe@bisslancaster.com
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