The objective of this research is to develop an innovative, low cost, intelligent data link control system - "ICARUS" for untethered, semiautonomous UAV operations. ICARUS will allow the UAV to conduct its mission beyond LOS, re-establish conuunications as mission needs require, and provide an enhanced mission operational capability. ICARUS will utilize real-time AI technology for developing mission, route, path, and communications plans. In addition, ICARUS will use extensive domain knowledge as part of its mission, path, and communications planning activities. In particular, ICARUS uses knowledge of the correct communications equipment, links, and battlefield environment to predict communications link performance. This project will lead to the development of a tool that can be used for the design and characterization of UAV systerus. Thus the Army can use this tool to see how various communications capabilities affect the overall operational capabilities of both remote controlled and semi-autonomous UAV systems. This project will lead to the development of models of the UAV, its payload (sensors), and control system. These will provide an ideal tool for the Army's use in evaluating various options in next-generation UAV specification development. UAVs are important to all of the military services. There is a significant requirement to be able to develop serojautonomous vehicles that can operate untethered from their communications links. The proposed technology supports this kind of operation. In addition, UAVs can be used in a wide variety of commercial applications such as traffic surveillance and reporting, forest fire surveillance and fire fighting, area security, etc.
