autonomous systems design for combat uav operations

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Autonomous Systems Design For CombatAutonomous Systems Design For CombatUAV OperationsUAV Operations

Dr Phill Smith

Blue Bear Systems Research30A, Market SquareSandyBedfordshire, SG19 1LAUnited Kingdom

Email: phill@bluebearsystems.com

Tel: +44-(0)1767-699486

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Combat UAV Autonomy DriversCombat UAV Autonomy Drivers

• Future combat UAVs are in general expected to beused in particularly dangerous situations.

• Typical examples:– Suppression of Enemy Air Defences – SEAD– Battle Damage Assessment (BDA)

– Air-to-air combat

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But……But……

• It is mandatory that military commanders retain at leastthe same level of operational effectiveness as withcurrent manned systems

• There exists a tacit assumption that what we need is….

“Platform Autonomy”

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Combat UAV AutonomyCombat UAV Autonomy

• For highly autonomous vehicles there are numerousissues in:– Situational awareness– Rules Of Engagement– Accountability

– Flight certification

• These points will need to be resolved if Combat UAVsare to be employed successfully, but are morephilosophical than technological

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Autonomy Will Also Provide Payoff Where:Autonomy Will Also Provide Payoff Where:

• Emission control requirements are in effect• Jamming/system failure/line of sight communications

result in loss of datalink

• An operator is required to command/supervise multipleUAVs

• Operator workload is high

• The operator may have other tasks to perform– e.g. as the pilot of another aircraft

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Soar/Simulink Interface:Soar/Simulink Interface:

• Self-configuring viaSoar rules

• Use of the Real-TimeWorkshop

• Applicable to anyengineering application

• Allows immediateapplication orienteddesign to begin

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Representative ExampleRepresentative Example

• Searching a network of roads for a vehicle ofinterest….

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Searching a Road NetworkSearching a Road Network

a

b

c

f

d

e

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T=0 secT=0 sec

Target sightedTarget sighted10 minutes ago10 minutes ago

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T=30 secT=30 sec

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T=60 secT=60 sec

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T=90secT=90sec

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T=120 secT=120 sec

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T=150 secT=150 sec

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T=180 secT=180 sec

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T=210 secT=210 sec

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T=240 secT=240 sec

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Real-World DataReal-World Data

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Initial AnalysisInitial Analysis

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Multi-Agent SystemsMulti-Agent Systems

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Upcoming Preliminary Flight TestUpcoming Preliminary Flight Test

• To be carried out over the next 2 months

• Aim:– To function Soar in a representative engineering environment

– To demonstrate some basic functionality

• Platform:– A tactical class UAV

– 2m wingspan

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ConclusionsConclusions

• Autonomy will be required in future UAV systems

• A generally accepted definition of level of autonomy is required

• Typical benefits to be accrued from practical AI techniques will be:– Problem solving– Planning– Anticipation– Hypothesis forming– Learning

• The Soar AI language:– Provides a rich suite of tools for researching functional requirements of advanced

autonomous systems– Lends itself to the practical demonstration of advanced concepts

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• Questions?