Transcript Slide 1

Presented to:
Date:
OPTIMIZING DATA LINK PERFORMANCE
FOR UNMANNED SYSTEM PAYLOADS
C4 Robot Platforms & Sensors Exposition & Conference
“The Payload – Cameras, Sensors & Weapons”
Mike Kulinski
Enerdyne Technologies, Inc.
[email protected]
619.438.6002
PROPRIETARY —Do not distribute
Observations on UAS
• “You never have enough ISR”
– Small tactical unmanned systems are cost effective ISR solutions
– Full Motion Video is a means to quickly improve high value target
tracking and locating capabilities
– A reliable, high-performance data link is a critical system element for
operational success
• “Unmanned assets are truly systems”
– Platform
– Communications
• Data Link
• Ground Systems
– People
• GPS is a key enabler of UAS technology
– Operators control the platform, not fly it
• Unmanned System Challenge
– Keep the cost down while being net centric
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Tactical UAS is a Versatile Cost Effective
Platform for ISR Missions
• Supports a variety of sensors
– EO/IR
– SAR
– CBRNE
• UAS design effort has been focused on the
air frame and control
• The data link has now become a critical
factor for mission success
Page 3
Small Tactical UAS Data Link Design Issues
• Platform limit on size, weight and power
• Ground systems need to be minimal and logistics
support simple
• Importance of bandwidth efficiency is growing
• Data Link needs to be robust (modulation and FEC)
to counter interference and jamming
• Data Link needs to have high performance
– Minimize PA power consumption
– Simplify ground antenna
• Digital Video transmission requires efficient
compression
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Low bit rate
Low latency
Resistant to errors
Low computational complexity
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EOD Robot Datalink Design Issues
• Range
– LOS 1200 m
– NLOS 600 m
• Unmanaged RF environment
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Jamming (intentional and unintentional)
Multipath fading (frequency & time)
Rapid changes in signal level
Frequency agility and adaptive behavior are mandatory
• Ability to carry both C2 and video information simultaneously
• Flexible
– Multi-sensor payloads
– Save payload data in real time with multiple users
– IP protocol is paramount
• Cost and operationally effective
– Size
– Weight
– Power
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Datalink Solutions for Robot EOD Mission
• Multipath
– Waveform design
• Antenna space diversity
• Forward error correction and interleaving
• Interference and Jamming
– Spread spectrum techniques
– OFDM
• Replicate data on multiple carriers
• Video Processing
– Use H264 for high frame rate, full-motion video in good
channels
– Switch to MJPEG with reduced frame rate for heavily
degraded channels
– Still image capture and transfer for high-resolution images
Page 6
EnerLinks
• Comprehensive Software Defined Data Link
Platform
• Versatility and Performance to Meet Current
& Future Program & Mission Requirements
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