DESIGN OF AN ADVANCED GROUND STATION FOR SIMULTANEOUS CONTROL OF MULTIPLE UAVS IN A COORDINATED MISSION

In this paper an interactive human-machine interface for UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) mission control is described. It provides a functional scenario to manage coordinated formations of civil UAVs. The aim is to enhance the capabilities of unmanned vehicles in case of complex tasks. Based on the implementation of an immersive environment as a multiple screen stereo visual system equipped with interactive devices, such as virtual gloves the system allows a formation to be controlled directly in the 3D graphic scene. By selecting and grabbing the trajectory waypoints in the scene the operator can intuitively modify UAVs mission paths. Moreover, communication between ground support and onboard logic is managed by means of high level orders. Simultaneous control of multiple aircrafts is obtained and one or two operators manage the whole mission in a single control station. Both the telemetric data and the images coming from onboard cameras and sensors are simulated in the advanced ground station and visualized in the virtual 3D scenario. One of the most effective features of the immersive environment is based on real time mapping of the live images – consisting also in false color maps and contour maps – as textures on appropriate areas of the synthetic terrain model. The background logic is “sensor driven” since some flight modes allow the operator to drive the sensor window on a (even moving) target, while the flight path of each UAV is automatically adjusted to perform the monitoring task. In order to further increase the situational awareness UAVs flight information are presented to the operator intuitively as 3D paths visualized as channels in the air-space. In some of the operation modes, the background logic automatically helps the operator in controlling multiple UAVs flying at the same time, showing a list of suggested actions and graphic aids on the scene. According to the displayed information the operator can perform new decisions, for instance re-planning the mission or selecting new targets. The mission is based on contemporary control of two UAVs, which should find an oil tanker that discharges oil in the sea. Once detected the slick, one UAV must track it while the other aircraft searches the oil tanker, driving for the civil protection intervention.