Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D

Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D

WHAT - Reasoning
 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to become mainstay for reconnaissance,
surveillance, and intelligence gathering for law enforcement and DOD
 UAS ideal for civilian applications, such as weather sensing, traffic
observation, medical applications, package delivery …
 Currently, different UAVs for different mission types, one for each mission
Why not design one modular UAV that can perform multiple mission types?
 System with interchangeable parts (wings, sensors, motors, tails) for wide
variety of missions by same base-UAV design
 Reduces operating costs for customers with different types of missions, such
as DOD, law enforcement agencies, first responders …
 Proposed systems range in wingspan from four to eight feet, as there is large
variety of missions for UAVs of these sizes
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
WHAT - Goals
Design a family of Modular UAVs (M-UAVs)
• based on single concept
• in various sizes
• with interchangeable parts and sensors
• for different missions
One concept platform, three aircraft families:
• large: 8 ft, 11 ft, and 15 ft wingspans
• medium: 4 ft, 6 ft, and 8 ft wingspans
• small: 1 ft, 2 ft, 4 ft wingspans
Exchangeable wings, tails, propulsion systems,
payload bays, sensor packages
Focus on most applicable size, the medium UAV
Based, in large part, on 2009 Team OU entry in
AIAA DBF Competition
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
WHAT - Modularity
Single M-UAVs ‘Made to Order’
• Required modules determined at time
of order
• Shipped fully assembled and ready to
fly (RTF)

Subsets of M-UAV Families can be Supplied

• All modules required for a given set of missions included
• Color coded lists and parts detail what is needed for what mission
Complete System can be Supplied
• All modules of a M-UAV Family for all possible missions will be included
• Color coded lists and parts detail what is needed for what mission
Electronics and Payloads Customized to Application
• Autopilot, GPS, gyros, sensors, cameras, lights …
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
WHAT - Preliminary Specifications
From initial conceptual design, UAVs of the proposed size will have these
performance characteristics:
● Minimum Velocity ~ 25 mph
● Maximum Velocity ~ 110 mph
● Maximum Range ~ 400 miles
● Maximum Weight ~ 75 pounds
This allows for determination of initial specifications and for selection of
suitable missions for proposed modular system.
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
MARKET - Some Select Missions
Naval Radar Confusion
 UAV outfitted with sensor package broadcasting radar signature of vessel
 System approaches enemy fleet from predetermined direction to cause
confusion
 UAV needs to be small enough for hand or bungee launch, have sufficient
range to reach enemy vessel
 8 ft wingspan configuration of M-UAS optimal for this mission
Covert Reconnaissance/Surveillance
 Small, hand launched UAV gathers reconnaissance on potential target
without compromising positions of soldiers on the ground
 Equipping UAV with video and thermal cameras allows soldiers to gather
data from relatively safe position
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
MARKET - Some Select Missions
Covert Reconnaissance/Surveillance, Continued
 4 ft wingspan configuration of M-UAS sufficiently small for hand launch to
carry out reconnaissance
 Additionally, M-UAS can be carried by soldier on the ground and can be
assembled in the field
High Speed Police Pursuit
 Employing M-UAS instead of
helicopters can lower budget of law
enforcement agencies, as helicopters
more expensive to operate
 8 foot wingspan configuration can
provide enough speed and range
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
MARKET - Some Select Missions
Remote Area Package Delivery
 Delivering packages to remote areas
expensive and time consuming
 Using UAV to deliver packages could be a
cheaper and quicker alternative
 Can also be used for medical and other emergency deliveries
(First Responders)
 M-UAS will have predetermined maximum range with 8 foot wingspan
and can be scaled down for decreased range requirement

Weather Applications – Remote Sensing

• Sensors for all applications, cameras, autopilot, telemetry
• Future collaboration with CubeSat Pico Satellites?
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
MARKET - Additional Applications
DoD, Border Patrol, Law Enforcement, DEA, Fire Watch and Response,
Site Monitoring, Agricultural Crop Monitoring, First Responders
• Sensors for chemical and biological agents, cameras, weapons, listening
devices, delivery pods for medical aid, food, communications devices …
• Artillery Spotting (AS), landmine detection, customs and excise,
conservational efforts, Information Systems (IS) …

R/C Hobbyists
• High quality model aircraft from beginner to expert

Technology Test Platforms

• Testing of electronics, sensors, autopilots, range control devices …
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
PAST - Status
• Potential competitors and possible missions
researched

• New and existing mission profiles established

and codified
• UAV design curves developed
• Conceptual design - Thomas Harrison (M.S. AE)
• Finite element and CFD analyses run
• Stability analysis performed
• Packaging issues addressed
• Performance analysis completed
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
PAST - Status
• Connectors for modules developed and analyzed -
Wade Forthman (M.S. ME), Jesse Nozari (UG AE)

• Testing protocols developed -

Carly Young (AE Senior, Independent Study)
• Structural testing
• Wind tunnel testing
• Flight testing
• Investigating UAV trajectory y
optimization -
Aseem Nevrekar (Ph.D. AE)
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
EXAMPLES – Developed/Built
Meteorology SMARTSonde UAS – Modular Instrumentation
Ashley Bower, Loren Lloyd, Bradley Cook, Heather Murphy
(Senior AE Capstone Design Team)
Anton Schultz (AE Senior, Independent Study)
Problem:
•Information needed on make-up of earth’s boundary layer
•Useful in weather prediction and numerical model creation
Solution:
•Design a small unmanned aerial vehicle suitable for long-
endurance boundary layer sampling (50 mi equivalent)
•Controlled by GPS based autopilot (Paparazzi)
•UAV to accommodate a variety of sensors:
• Pressure, temperature, humidity, particle, ozone
• IR for autopilot in nose
• Differential pressure in wing tips and on top of tail
• Pitot tube in boom
• Fisheye cameras for vegetation and cloud observation
• Telemetry system/onboard data storage on USB drive
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
EXAMPLES - Developed
Fire Reconnaissance and Damage Assessment M-UAS – Modular Configuration
Chris Erickson (M.S. in AE)
Problem:
• 5 million acres burnt by 75,000 wild fires per year - 516 fire fighter deaths in past 29 years
• Need efficient tool to manage wild fires
Solution:
• Design hand- or bungee-launched UAS with two wing modules
• Utilize thermal updrafts created by wildfire to extend flight time
• Modular UAS can operate in two aspects of wildfire management:
• Wildfire reconnaissance to allow for development of efficient fire fighting strategies
• Aid in post-fire damage assessment
• Utilizes KF airfoils to lower gust sensitivity
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
MARKET OPPORTUNITY – Projections
Projections:
Global UAV/UAS Market projected to grow from $6,762 million in 2014 with a CAGR
of 7.73% to $10,573 million by 2020

• AUVSI: in first 3 years of integration, 70,000 jobs in US with economic impact of

$13.6 billion
• Will grow through 2025 with 100,000 new jobs and economic impact of $82
billion
• Oklahoma Market from 2015 – 2025 expected to gain $637 million, with a tax
revenue of $5.61 million, and 805 jobs

Hold-up:

FAA Regulations for UAS Integration into the National Air Space Pending,
Expected for Small UAS in 2015
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
HOW – Product Development Plan

Preliminary Design 1/2 Detail Design 3

Analysis Analysis

Prototype 1 UAV Prototype 3 UAVs Parts & Assemble All UAVs

Video
Capability

Weather Assemble UAS 4

UAS

UAS Requirements 10 UASs UAS

Subsystems/Software
Test
Proced.

Test 3 Test All

Report Report Report

Avionics/Ground Station Avionics/Ground Station Avionics/Ground Station Field

Preliminary Development Development & Testing Validation / UAS Integration

Hire FAA Consultant for LLC 2 year Hire Marketer/Sales Person 2 year Hire Technician / Contract Tech Writer
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
HOW – Flow Chart

Investors OU
Cash Flow
IAS Bank Information Flow
OSU/UML
LLC
Product Flow

Developers

Customers
Manufacturers

Suppliers
 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
WHO - Participants
OU School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Alfred Striz (Design) - Zahed Siddique (Design) - Cengiz Altan (Manufacturing)
Additional Faculty and Students in the
• School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
• School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
OSU/UML
To provide UAV testing as trusted partner

IAS LLC – Innovative AeroSolutions LLC

Management Team: Alfred Striz - Zahed Siddique - Cengiz Altan
To be incorporated in Oklahoma

Small Oklahoma Businesses in Manufacturing and Fabrication

 Modular UAV (M-UAV) R&D
HOW MUCH – Investment
Investment:
Investment of $3 M over 3 years: $1.1 M FY1, $1.2 M FY2, $0.7 M FY3 to
fund Design, Development, Fabrication, Marketing, and Sales
• Expenses
• IAS LLC
• Academia (Design, Development, Testing)
• Small Business (Fabrication)
• Sales projected to grow from 2 in FY2 ($40,000) to 154 in FY6 ($4.2 M)
• ROI starts in FY6

Joint Venture:
• IAS LLC and Academia provide Design and Development
• Industry Partners cover Startup Cost and Fabrication Cost
• Profits shared between IAS LLC and Industry Partners
 Please, direct all questions to
Alfred G. Striz
Professor, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
University of Oklahoma

Education
• PhD Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue, 1981
• MS Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue, 1976
• BS Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue, 1976

Research Areas
• UAV/UAS analysis, design, integration, and optimization
• Modular UAS, including airframe
• Trajectory optimization

Funding Agencies
• Past support by NASA, AFRL, AFOSR, NSF,
Work: 405-325-1730
national and local industries
Cell: 405-250-1873
Email: striz@ou.edu