Architecture Design and Performance Analysis of Supervisory Control System of Multiple UAVs

Although UAV systems are currently controlled by a group of people, in the future, increased automation could allow a single operator to supervise multiple UAVs. Operators will be involved in the mission planning, imagery analysis, weapon control, and contingency interventions. This study examines the architecture and prototype of multiple UAVs supervisory control system. Firstly, the architecture for testing and evaluating human supervisory system controlling multiple UAVs is devised and each sub-system is described in detail. Then a prototype test bed of multiple UAVs supervisory control for demonstrating architecture and adaptive levels of autonomy is built. Finally, with the test bed, the impact of dynamic role allocation on system performance is studied based on quantitative criteria of wait times and operator utilisation. It is shown by simulation that dynamic role allocation can effectively shorten wait times, and eventually improve the system performance. Defence Science Journal, Vol. 65, No. 2, March 2015, pp.93-98, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.65.5837