As part of a rapid development of new technology, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio teamed with DZYNE Technologies, Inc. to convert an “ordinary” manned aircraft to a robotically controlled unmanned aircraft, demonstrating their approach during an initial two-hour flight. The experimental flight, performed at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, was part of the Robotic Pilot Unmanned Conversion Program ROBOpilot. The basic idea of the technology is to quickly convert an aircraft from manned to unmanned control without losing any of the aircraft’s capabilities and features, and without compromising safety.
“This flight test is a testament to AFRL’s ability to rapidly innovate technology from concept to application in a safe build up approach while still maintaining low cost and short timelines,” said Major General William Cooley, AFRL Commander. Dr. Alok Das, senior scientist with AFRL’s Center for Rapid Innovation, noted that it is not just a one-time conversion: “Imagine being able to rapidly and affordably convert a general aviation aircraft, like a Cessna or Piper, into an unmanned aerial vehicle, having it fly a mission autonomously, and then returning it back to its original manned configuration. All of this is achieved without making permanent modifications to the aircraft.”
The noninvasive approach to the conversion operates dashboard controls on the manner of a human pilot, and uses cameras and sensors—such as GPS and inertial-measurement-unit sensors—for situational awareness. Computer analysis processes the collected data to help control the aircraft automatically. “ROBOpilot offers the benefits of unmanned operations without the complexity and upfront cost associated with the development of new unmanned vehicles,” Das said.
AFRL developed the system using a Direct to Phase II small business innovation research (SBIR) contract with DZYNE of Irvine, Calif., designing and constructing the system in just one year. The initial concept was recently demonstrated in a RedBird FMX simulator, a full motion aviation training device. ROBOpilot successfully completed simulated autonomous takeoffs, mission navigation, and landings under various operating conditions.
