Transcript 10/21/05 ACGSC PADS Mission Planner Briefing

The Precision Airdrop System (PADS)
Airborne Mission Planner:
A System Now Enabling Precision High Altitude Airdrop
Presented at the Aerospace Control and Guidance Systems
Committee Meeting
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
by Phil Hattis
Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, MA
October 21, 2005
21 Oct 2005: Slide 1
Outline
• PADS objectives and architecture
• Current Precision Airdrop Planning System (PAPS) capabilities
• PADS features used by PAPS
• Demonstrated performance
• Deployment status and next development steps
• Summary
21 Oct 2005: Slide 2
PADS Objectives and Architecture
System Objectives
Overarching Goals
• Enable precision cargo delivery from high altitude
– Combat re-supply
– Humanitarian relief
• Reduce surface weapon threats to carrier aircraft
– Enable delivery aircraft to remain near their upper
altitude limit for airdrop
Specific PADS Goals
• Provide a common platform for ground-based and
in-flight airdrop Mission Planning (MP)
– Enable application to ballistic and guided airdrop
systems
– Support both cargo and personnel drops
• Include advanced wind modeling
• Make the planning system easy to use and its
outputs easy to understand
21 Oct 2005: Slide 3
PADS Objectives and Architecture
Some Mandated PADS Features
• Compatibility with C-130 and C-17 carrier aircraft
• Computed Air Release Point (CARP)
determination on board carrier aircraft
• Generation of expected delivery footprints (for
nominal airdrops and major failure scenarios)
• PADS “snap-on/snap-off” capability on the
carrier aircraft
• Means to receive wind and mission updates
while in transit to the Drop Zone (DZ)
• Wireless updates of guided airdrop system
mission plans while in transit to the DZ
• The look and feel of the Portable Flight Planning
System (PFPS)
• Easy to understand MP outputs, including data
displays over maps or images
21 Oct 2005: Slide 4
PADS Objectives and Architecture
PADS Software Components
A laptop personal computer (PC) with the following features
• The “WindPADS” atmosphere modeling tool provided by Planning
Systems, Inc. (PSI)
• A PAPS that accounts for:
–
–
–
–
Payload weight, aircraft load station, decelerator type
Altitude, heading, and airspeed at release
Roll-out and decelerator opening models (for ballistic parachutes)
6 degree of freedom (6 DOF) cargo/decelerator descent models
• A tool to predict the expected payload delivery footprints
• Means to acquire real-time aircraft state data
• An easy-to-use PFPS-like Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• A image/map overly display using FalconView including:
– Desired CARP, and feasible release envelopes for guided airdrops
– Expected landing footprints (for ballistic parachutes) and expected
impact footprints for failed airdrop systems
21 Oct 2005: Slide 5
PADS Objectives and Architecture
PSI-Supplied PADS Block 2 Flight Hardware Components
Key Components
(clockwise from upper-left)
• Panasonic CF-29 data
processor with 802.11g
wireless interface
• 4-channel UHF radio
transmitter
• Cables and connectors
to aircraft interface
• GPS hand-launched
dropsonde (expendable)
Total weight with portable
case: 75 pounds
This page extracted from AIAA paper CP-2005-7070, “On-Board Atmospheric Modeling System to Support
Precision Airdrop,” by R. Wright, R. Benney, and J. McHugh, presented at the Infotech@Aerospace
Conference, Arlington, Virginia, September 26-29, 2005
21 Oct 2005: Slide 6
PADS Objectives and Architecture
PADS System Features and Interfaces
Air Force Weather Agency
Atmospheric Forecast
Model - High-Resolution
Nested Grid Surrounding
Drop Zone(s)
5-KM Grid Domain within
15-KM Grid Domain
Laptop Computer
Mesoscale
4D Field
Via 802.11G
Wireless
3D Field - Wind, Density,
Pressure for Drop Time
PADS-Derived
Upload Data
Navigator or
Navigation
System
Assimilation
Processor
Secure
Interface
PIP
Airdrop
DynamicsS
imulation
Computed Air
Release Point
(CARP)
Com
Satellite
Combat Track II
Radio
Receiver
INTERNET/SIPRNET
Guided/SmartA
irdrop Systems
Wind Data Sources
• Satellite-Derived
• TACMET Radiosonde
• Theater Pilot Reports
Dropsonde
Processor
Radio
Receiver
Aircraft 1553
Data Bus
Aircraft
Top
Antenna
GPS
Dropsonde
Aircraft
Bottom
Antenna
21 Oct 2005: Slide 7
Current PAPS Capabilities
Ballistic Parachute Support
• MP support for an expandable set of systems, currently
including:
– G-12 and 26 ft ring-slot hemispherical canopy airdrop systems
» Enables delivery of payloads in the 2,000 lb class (+/- 25%)
» Includes treatment of stick releases (multiple load drops on a single pass)
• Targets the stick’s CARP for any one designated load in a stick
• Determines expected delivery footprints for each load in a stick
– Footprint determination for the Tri-wall Aerial Delivery System
(TRIADS)
» Enables airdrop of Meals Ready to Eat (MREs)
• MP parachute trajectory determination accounts for:
–
–
–
–
Aircraft release and roll-out dynamics
Canopy opening and deceleration
Descent response to 3D wind and density fields
Statistical variation in all the above effects
• TRIADS trajectory determination accounts for:
– Carrier box release and deceleration dynamics
– Dispersed MRE statistical response to 3D wind and density fields
21 Oct 2005: Slide 8
Current PAPS Capabilities
Airdrop Trajectory Factors Treated by PAPS
CanopyOpening
CARP
Green Light
Roll-Out
DESCENT TRAJECTORY
Fall Trajectory Model
+ 3D Atmospheric
Wind/Density Field
Ballistic System
or
Guided System
(Corrects to Predicted
Descent Trajectory)
Complex 3D
Atmospheric Flow
over/through
Mountainous Terrain
STAND-OFF
Depending on Altitude & Wind Field
21 Oct 2005: Slide 9
Current PAPS Capabilities
Guided Airdrop Support
• Supports an expandable set of cargo airdrop systems, with L/D
values ranging from 0.5 to over 4, currently including:
– Sherpa, Screamer, and the Affordable Guided Airdrop System
(AGAS) in the 2,000 lb payload class
– Screamer and Dragonfly in the 10,000 lb payload class
• Seeing initial application to personnel airdrops
– MJN-1, MC-4/5 and variants, as well as a generic canopy capability
• Derives feasible release zones and preferred CARPS, including
for sticks with varied landing targets
• MP trajectory determination accounts for:
– System-specific L/D and velocity vs. payload mass characteristics
– Descent response to 3D wind and density fields
• Dispersion footprints generated for the following scenarios:
– Failed canopies
– Failed guidance and/or control after successful canopy deployment
21 Oct 2005: Slide 10
Current PAPS Capabilities
Feasible Release Cone Determination: Single Load
Feasible Release Code
Without Wind Correction
Release Cone Correction
Due to Wind Effects
21 Oct 2005: Slide 11
Current PAPS Capabilities
Feasible Release Cone Determination: Stick Loads
• Illustrated for two loads without wind effects
• MP can handle multiple load sticks
• Wind and density effects on all cones assessed before identifying
feasible release envelope
21 Oct 2005: Slide 12
PADS Features Used by PAPS
Interface Functionality
• Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)
– Modeled after PFPS Combat Airdrop Planning Software (CAPS) GUIs
– Accommodates user inputs of payload data before flight
» Carrier aircraft type; payload mass; cargo bay location; airdrop system type; DZ
target; planned release altitude and airspeed; expected weather data source file; etc.
» Provides resulting CARP and engineering data displays
• FalconView Overlay Displays
– Provides visual user cues regarding:
»
CARP locations; landing footprints; feasible release zones; etc.
• 1553 Bus Interface
– Provides aircraft navigation data and at-altitude wind estimate
– Enables monitoring designated bus data
• Combat Track II CTII Interface
– Provides secure UHF-link access to flight plan and wind updates during transit
to the DZ
• File Upload Capability
– Provides an in-transit wireless interface for upload of updated descent
mission plans for guided airdrop systems
21 Oct 2005: Slide 13
PADS Features Used by PAPS
Some PADS GUIs Used by PAPS
Top-Level PADS GUI Page
Provides Tabbed Data Summaries
and Access to all MP functionality
CARP
Solution
Data
Cargo Bay
Coordinates
CARP
Solution
Status
Indicator
Payload
Locations
In Cargo
Bay
Load & Chute GUI Enables User Input
of Payload Data and Displays Resulting
Payload Layout in the Cargo Bay
21 Oct 2005: Slide 14
PADS Features Used by PAPS
Example PAPS FalconView Image and Map Overlay Displays
Guidance
Failure
Footprints
Planned
Impact
Points
Run In
CARP
Nominal Descent
Dispersion
Footprints
CARP
Failed Canopy
Dispersion Footprints
Ballistic Parachute Nominal
and Failure Footprint Displays
Individual
Release
Envelopes
Guided Airdrop System Release
Envelopes and Failure Footprints
21 Oct 2005: Slide 15
Demonstrated Performance
Ballistic Parachute Operational Utility Evaluation (OUE) Results
C-130 Results
Carrier Aircraft
Mission Computer
Expected Results
Using Pre-Flight
Wind Data
C-130: 595 m
C:17: 1036 m
C-17 Results
Carrier Aircraft
Mission Computer
Expected Results
Using PADS-Derived
Wind Data
C-130: 492 m
C-17: 486 m
PADS MP Directed
Airdrop Results
C-130: 260 m
C-17: 308 m
• OUEs involved dozens of 4-payload stick drops using 26 ft ring-slot parachutes
accomplished over 2 weeks
• Missions were executed by regular Air Force flight crews given 1 day of PADS training
• Drops were a mix of releases from 18,000 and 25,000 ft
• Accuracy scoring was based on the designated CARP payload in each stick
21 Oct 2005: Slide 16
Demonstrated Performance
Guided Airdrop System Demonstration Status
• Numerous guided airdrop system flight tests have been
accomplished using PADS-generated mission update files
uploaded in transit to the DZ
– Sherpa, AGAS and Screamer 2,000-lb class systems
– Dragonfly 10,000-lb class systems
• All the 2,000-lb class systems have achieved mean accuracies
better than 100 m to their targets, including stick releases with
scattered targets
• Despite the still early developmental status of its guidance and
control system, the Dragonfly has achieved mean accuracies of
about 200 m using PADS generated mission files
21 Oct 2005: Slide 17
Deployment Status and Next Development Steps
• PADS is now in initial field use
– Some military free fall operations now apply PADS to assure
personnel jumps from carrier aircraft are within reach of the DZ
– 2,000 pound-class guided airdrop systems are currently being
fielded with PADS MP support capability enabled
• PADS-enabled precision ballistic parachute and guided airdrop
system delivery capabilities to be used to limit the need for
hazardous ground convoys in many scenarios
• Initial PADS MP support capabilities for 10,000 and 30,000 pound
class guided and ballistic parachute airdrop systems will be
available for field use by the end of the calendar year
• An open architecture Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C)
software package for steerable parafoil applications to be hosted
on PADS laptops is under development
– Will be available for upload to compatible guided airdrop systems
– Designed to provide GN&C for a wide variety of parafoil airdrop
systems
21 Oct 2005: Slide 18
Summary
• A Precision Airdrop System (PADS) in-flight Mission Planner
(MP) has completed initial development and is now being used in
the field
– Applies high fidelity wind estimates based on data gathered from
forecast, in situ measurements, and securely transmitted data
– Supports ballistic parachute and guided system airdrops of cargo
and personnel
– Has interfaces compatible with the Portable Flight Planning System
to assure ease of use by carrier aircraft crew in the field
• Operation Utility Evaluation from C-130 and C-17 aircraft was
completed for ballistic parachute airdrops
– Major accuracy improvement was demonstrated in comparison to
prior high altitude airdrop methods
• The fielded PADS MP supports a variety of 2,000 pound class
airdrop systems
– Provides mission plan upload capability for guided airdrop systems
• An extension of the PADS MP to 10,000 and 30,000 pound class
airdrops systems is currently in work
21 Oct 2005: Slide 19