Traditionally, Command and Control (C2) of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) has been accomplished by an Operator using a Remote Control Station (RCS) interfaced to a direct, two-way RF communications link. These direct C2 links suffer from range limitations, multipath and terrain interference. These problems force RCS assets to be on high ground, near the operational area, and require unmanned platform staging (launch and recovery) to be within line-of-sight (LOS) of the RCS. A wide-area/over-the-horizon C2 Data Link has been needed for some time to physically de-couple the UAVs from their RCSs. Fortunately, commercial systems that may solve the limitations of direct C2 links are now deployed. Based upon constellations of Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) satellites, these new voice/data telecommunication systems hold promise to provide reliable, worldwide remote control of UAVs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Equipping UAVs and their control assets with satellite transceivers will allow simultaneous OTH, wide-area control of multiple platforms. Building and analyzing such a C2 data link and pursuing further miniaturization of the airborne satellite transceivers forms the basis of this proposal.
Benefits: The proposed program will integrate CDI's technology with the IRIDIUM satellites to create an efficient worldwide Over The Horizon Command & Control system for unmanned vehicles. The hardware and software assets developed under this program will handle Tactical and Target Aerial Vehicles as well as unmanned surface vehicles (on terrain and ocean surface. Commercial operators could use the assets to manage unattended sensors and devices worldwide.
Keywords: Data Link, LEO, Command & Control, Unmanned Vehicles, Satellites, SWARM
