Autonomous Vehicle Technology

28 April, 2017

Dr. Rajneesh SinghChief (A)-Vehicle Applied Research DivisionArmy Research LaboratoryAberdeen Proving Ground, MD-21005

NMTC Disruptive Technology Summit

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The Nation’s Premier Laboratory

for Land Forces.

Vision

U.S. Army Research Laboratory

Materials Research

Sciences for Maneuver

Sciences for Lethality & Protection

Computational Sciences

Human Sciences

Information Sciences

Extramural Basic Research

Analysis & Assessment

MissionDISCOVER, INNOVATE, and TRANSITION Science and Technology to ensure dominant strategic land power

Create flexibility andagility to make

workforce changes to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies and national security

requirements

Onsite collaboration with academia and industry through layered security process; ARL as

anchor within community

Enable greater sharing of specialized

facilities between agencies, private

sector partners, and experiment with new

models for modernizing labs

Implement strategies and policies that

support exploitation of science and transition to small business and

entrepreneurs

Transformation PrinciplesFlow, Agility, Quality, Efficiency & Effectiveness

ATTRACT AND RETAIN BEST & BRIGHTEST

ENHANCED USE LEASE

SHARED MODERNFACILITIES

INNOVATION PRACTICES

Open Campus Initiative

Piloting a New Laboratory Business Model

Next Open Campus Open House event scheduled at APG on 18-19 Oct, 2017

Focus on S&T aspects of Vertical Take Off & Lift (VTOL) autonomous vehicles

Presentation Scope

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Jugaad

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Innovative fix or a work-around using limited resources

Jugaad works but incurs significant penalties

Ox-FordStud-bikerMo-cart

( Colloquial Hindi word )

Extremely high-level performance

Formula-1

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Innovation complements resources

1. Rotor/Propeller2. Platform3. Flight Controller4. Motor5. Battery

Jugaad Quadcopter

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From: http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Quadcopter-3/

A working quadcopter can be assembled in hours using COTS parts for less than $100

Designs likely to display multiple undesirable characteristics

1. Performance (Payload, Range/Endurance, Speed )2. Flight Stability & Control3. Handling Qualities, Maneuverability4. Noise5. Safety, reliability

Key challenges

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Why is the problem hard?

Air Vehicle

Mission System Enablers

Hover & VTOL Flight Transition Cruise Flight

Fundamental conflict in design requirements for hover and cruise flight

10 10

Why is the problem hard?

Disk Loading =Vehicle Weight

Rotor Disk Area

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10

8

6

4

2

00 10 100 1000

Disk Loading (lb/ft^2)

Hov

er E

ffici

ency

(lb/

HP)

BlackhawkHover Efficiency =

Power Reqd to hover

Vehicle Weight

Disruptive Technology Opportunities

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1. Vehicle Platform2. Distributed Electric Propulsion3. Energy Sources4. Propulsion Architecture5. Flight Control & Autonomy

1 - Platform

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Ehang 184 (Ehang Inc, China)Hoverbike (Malloy Aeronautics, UK) Aero-X (Aerofex, USA)

A3 by Airbus Group(USA)Lillium Jet (Germany) E-volo GmBH (Germany)

• Curse of dimensionality• 3-D printing for small-scale VTOLs• Advanced material and manufacturing processes to reduce weight

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2 - Distributed Electric Propulsion

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Ref: Fast-Forwarding to a Future of On-Demand Urban Air Transportation, UBER

• Exploit full potential of DEP• Leverage aerodynamic interactions• Mission-specific adaptive control

Fuel Cell

3- Energy Sources

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Battery

Energy conversion Device

• Efficient catalysts• Electrolyte membranes• Hydrogen production & storage

• Optimal packaging • Weight overhead for battery casing• ‘Beyond Li-ion’ technology• Scaling of lab results• Li Superoxide closed system battery

Ref : http://105popsci.web.unc.edu/batteries-of-the-future/

Energy storage Device

Electrical Systems

4 - Propulsion Architecture

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Hybrid Systems

Electric motor using the power generated or stored

Combination of electrical, thermal or other systems

• Advanced electric motor/controller• Thermal management• Motor-controller integration• Coupled motor/prop transient response

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5 - Autonomy

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• Sensor and processing• Flight dynamics and control algorithms• Low-cost, low-installation penalty collision

avoidance

Robust flight in gusty environmentSensing and perception

http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1329193

Wright Flyer, 1903

• Lift: wings, airfoils• Thrust: propeller• Propulsion: liquid fuel with

piston engine• Flight Control: flaps,

linkages, human, knowledge

Final Thoughts

Sikorsky VS-300, 1939

• Lift: rotor pitch collective• Thrust: rotor cyclic pitch• Propulsion: liquid fuel with

piston engine• Flight Control: main and tail

rotor, human, knowledge

Autonomous Vehicles, 2010s

• Lift: multi-rotors• Thrust: vehicle pitch and roll• Propulsion: electric or

electric hybrid• Flight Control: sensors,

variable speed motors, flight control logic

Disruptive Technologies are the keys to go from Jugaad to F1 performance at this dawn of new era of aviation

Questions ?

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