Pioneering Sensing Research on UAS Platforms
UDRI’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Embedded Systems researchers focus on providing automation technologies, sensor control, system integration, and exploitation capabilities across a wide range of UAS platforms. We also provide an embedded platform for performing complex sensing algorithm testing.
Capabilities
- Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sensor testing support; control and integration of sensors, datalinks, and other common subsystems; control automation)
- Sensor evaluation specific to customer requirements
- Software design and integration
- Field and flight test support
The ability to isolate and test a system of systems on a UAS platform is critical in providing a flexible testing environment. We have expertise in exploitation capabilities in many sensor domains, including Electro-Optic (EO), Wide Area Motion Imagery (WAMI) and Infrared (IR).
One of our current efforts involves development of software, hardware, and an in-house System Integration Lab (SIL) for a program that has developed a small UAS that can be launched from a host aircraft via a missile tube while in flight. A related effort will integrate this design into a pod-based architecture for eventual demonstration from an MQ-9 Reaper aircraft.
Another project now underway involves our supporting the continual development of new image processing algorithms on small, low-power embedded processors, and providing continual flight integration and test support.