Transcript The Altair Unmanned Aircraft System UAS By Hayley Stommel

The Altair Unmanned
Aircraft System
UAS
By Hayley Stommel
What is the Altair Unmanned
Aircraft System?
New fire technology
Robot Plane
Variant of the Predator drone built by
San Diego-based General Atomics
Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and NASA
Detects fire with infrared imaging sensors
(NASA)
High altitude aircraft controlled by
personnel on ground. Generally used for
scientific/commercial research missions
Unmanned Aircraft
Consists of…
Control Syste m
Data Link and Other Support Systems
enables data transferring
Remote Sensing Functions
ele ctromagnetic spectrum sensors(bio&chem)
2 Data Terminal Equipments
DTEs
inte rconnecting data circuit
controlled by link protocol
Purposes for UAS
Firefighting
Police Disturbances (crime scenes,
etc)
Reconnaissance Support in natural
disasters ie: hurricanes, mudslides
Surveillance (in war zones)
Why I chose UAS technology
Sun Valley Fire
San Diego Fire
Autonomy will play a crucial role in
future operational objectives
Castle Rock Fire, Sun Valley,
Idaho
What is Autonomy?
Recent emerging field
Ability to make decisions without
human intervention
Goal: tech machines to be “smart”
and act more like humans
How UAS Works
Collects Data
Processes it into
images
Sends images via
satellite to fire
command centers
History of the UAS
Initially used for military and
national defense.
Similar to Predator B
Over the years technology has been
a major contribution to the
unmanned aircraft work in progress
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- 1918 First flight by a powered unmanned aircraft (Curtiss Sperry Aerial
Torpedo)
- 1923 First radio controlled flight (RAE 1921 Target)
- 1933 First UAV used in the target drone role (Fairey Queen)
- 1943 First use of a PGM in combat (Fritz)
- 1944 First use of a cruise missile in combat (Fieseler Fi 103 "V-1")
- 1946 First UAV used in the science research role (Northrop QP-61)
- 1959 First UAV used in the reconnaissance role (Northrop SD-1 Observer)
- 1960 First untethered flight by an unmanned helicopter (Gyrodyne QH-50)
- 1962 First UAV used in the strike role (Gyrodyne QH-50)
- 1998 First trans-Atlantic crossing by an unmanned aircraft (Insitu Aerosonde)
- 2001 First trans-Pacific crossing by an unmanned aircraft (Northrop Grumman
Global Hawk)
UAS Demonstration
http://www.youtub
e.com/view_play_l
ist?p=E21E2176B
395D17D
How is UAS better than other
methods such as GPS
Human pilots vs. UAS pilot
Physiological limitations
Maximum flight hours 30+
3000lb fuel capacity
Fly above 52,000ft
Operate at night
Above Smoke
More Benefits to Autonomy
field
High Reliability
Control system
Helps prepare
maps to assist in
planning efforts
Undetected at
high altitudes
In fires: is able to
fly above path of
air tankers and
helicopters
fighting fire below
Interesting Facts
In UK, BAE Systems announced
UAS to be used for police/coastal
work as soon as 2012
National Oceanic Atmospheric
Administration began using
“Aerosonde” UAS as “Hurricane
Hunter”
Downside to UAS
No pilot on board
Does not meet FAA requirements
Costly
Alternative Uses for UAS
Predicting weather
Go into hurricanes (above) for
quick information
Track air pollution
Sources
http://www./mc-us.com/
http://www.newton.deb.anl.
gov/askasci/gen01097.htm