Enhanced and Synthetic Vision for Remotely Piloted Vehicles

Over the past decade, remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have proven their worth in operations around the world. Technological advances and ever-changing global situations make unmanned systems more attractive and feasible now than ever before. New sensors available in smaller sizes and lighter weights provide great capability per unit of weight. The advancement in data link technology provides high bandwidth connectivity for vehicle command and control and data transfer. Advances in microprocessor technology, software development, inertial navigation systems (INS), and global positioning systems (GPS) enable robust autonomous flight control systems and onboard processing of sensor data. Further, new composite materials and improved propulsion systems contributes to reduction in weight and fuel efficiency. Net-centric operations enable RPAs, UAVs, and networked ground systems to conduct missions more effectively and increase the effectiveness of manned and space platforms. In net-centric approach, command and control of unmanned vehicles is conducted remotely via communication links. Additionally, it is possible to separate the sensor information from aircraft command links so that the sensor data can be supplied directly to distributed analysts, decision-makers, and global customers