Application of a Network Design for a High-fidelity UCAV Simulation Workstation
The application of Uninhabited Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) is a new and promising multi-role and multi-mission system concept currently under development and evaluation by the armed forces. Similar to current generation of weapon systems, simulation of the UCAV mission profile will
undoubtedly be an essential part of the system development process. Further, the rapid pace of their development and the evolution of various UCAV applications stress the need for expeditious optimization of air-to-air and surface attack tactical options in realistic combat scenarios
using high-fidelity yet low-cost simulators.
Similar to the development of other advanced weapon systems, design and development of UCAV systems must encompass evaluation and optimization on many aspects of the vehicles' operating parameters. Due to the absence of a human pilot onboard during typical UCAV operations, the
control systems must possess added autonomous capabilities over conventional piloted aircraft. Regardless of the type of UCAVs, major issues, such as flight control algorithms, sensor integration, navigation and communication modes, flight formation coordination, weapon tactics, target
identification and threat detection and engagement, require thorough evaluation and optimization.
The application of a reconfigurable, PC-based commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) simulation environment, D-Six, as the basis for the development of a networked UCAV simulation platform was evaluated as part of a Navy Phase I SBIR. The system leveraged the many embedded development and
analysis features in D-Six, significantly reducing the time and cost required for research, testing, evolution and demonstration of a viable multi-vehicle simulation platform. Under the Phase I effort, a robust networking application was developed and successfully demonstrated in a
number of multiple vehicle and simulation object environments representative of UCAV simulation applications.
The key challenge in networked simulation is maintaining real time performance with large quantities of data being shared over the local area network. Because of the diverse model elements, ranging from flight systems, models of autonomous controllers, weapons and threats, the
proposed networking capability must be highly flexible to provide the communication of a variety of object information to the appropriate clients. This need dictates a user configurable network packet that can be easily reconfigured as new elements are added to the network environment.
The network must be able to maintain real time performance supporting distributed simulation of many 6DOF vehicle stations and complex elements (such as sensors and communications) in the virtual combat environment. The software must support the simultaneous operation of multiple
instances of other simulations operating on a multiple platforms, linked in common operation. If required, this will permit the operation of airframe, sensor and weapons models in separate, but synchronous simulations, all of which can be linked to other D-Six stations in a network
environment. This feature is very important in the integration of a low cost simulation of complex multi-element scenarios such as the suppression of enemy air defenses, which will require multiple airframe, sensor, weapon and target models all operational and communicating with the
simulation station.
For the purposes of the evaluation in the SBIR, the hardware setup was used to provide the simulation platform needed for each UCAV model used. While autonomous vehicle controls in
the UCAV flight control system provided the mission guidance, terminal or override control could be established from individual operators if necessary using the joystick as shown. An out-the-window graphic representation from each UCAV was also available to the operator through a
monitor and a head mounted display, representing a slewable onboard camera view that the operator could access during the mission.
The validation of the network simulation environment was conducted by assembling several simulation objects to perform a mission using several of Bihrle's UCAV models. The purpose of this task was to demonstrate the feasibility of networked simulation using COTS software and hardware
components and exposed strengths and weaknesses of the D-Six network implementation developed in this Phase-I effort.
For the simulated mission, three identical UCAV flight models were hosted on separate PC's linked together via LAN and a Network Server. They contain engineering-fidelity aerodynamics, mass property, engine, and flight control system models running at 80 frames per second. The
simulated air-to-ground mission was to conduct a low-level three-ship formation flight (below 500 ft AGL) maintaining a Northerly direction (heading 360) over a mountainous terrain to attack an airfield. The over-flight of the target was intended to simulate an air-to-ground
weapon-delivery profile. Once past the target airfield, the formation was to make a high-G turn toward East (heading 090) proceeding to a high-speed egress from the hostile territory.
The three-ship flight initiated at 5,000 ft, AGL at Mach 0.9. The execution of the terrain-following ingress over the mountainous landscape can be seen from the trailing vehicle's perspective with the two lead UCAVs in sight. With the other vehicles' flight information shared
through the D-Six network, the tracking information projected on the HUD assisted the operator in maintaining visual contact with the other two vehicles. As the three-vehicle formation approaches the target area, the trailing UCAV joined up to maintain close formation, and the airfield was clearly visible. Following the over-flight of the pre-designated target to simulate a weapon release, the formation executed a high-G evasive right turn towards the East, followed by a return to base.
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