ESA (D-TIA) activities on

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

R. Rinaldo and L. DuquerroyIntegrated and Telecommunications-related Applications

Department (TIA-A)

Royal Military Academy, Brussels

9th February, 2012

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The Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Programme Elements

A balanced combination of generic and specific

Mission/ System/Application/Service orientated Programme Elements:

ARTES 1: Preparatory ARTES 3-4: Telecom Applications & Products HYLAS/Avanti ARTES 5: Technology

ARTES 7: European Data Relay Satellite (EDRS/Astrium Services)

ARTES 8: Alphasat (Inmarsat)

ARTES 11: Small GEO (Hispasat) ARTES 10: IRIS ARTES 20: Integrated Applications Promotion (IAP/Partners) ARTES 21: SAT-AIS (EMSA / Industry)

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ESA’s Integrated Applications Promotion Programme (ARTES 20 / IAP)

The goal :

Foster new utilization of existing space capacity and

capability, in close partnership with end-users, through the

development of integrated (different space and non space

technologies) applications projects which demonstrate a

potential for sustainable services.

Incubator of Services

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UAS-enabled Applications

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Maritime Surveillance and Border Control

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SAR detected ships

SAR ships & AIS tracks

Correlation SAR & AIS

Remaining uncorrelated ships & UAS for identification

Integrated Application EO, Nav, Satcom & UAS

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Space assets are fundamental for UAS operations

UAS integration in non-segregated airspace is a pre-requisite for extensive adoption of UAS applications

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ESA and EDA common interests for UAS

ESA – EDA partnership

– Optimum gathering of expertise, capabilities and contacts for UAS

Space component Navigation

Communication

Earth Observation

Sustainable end-

user applications

using available

technology

UAS capability in Europe

UAS Air Traffic Insertion

(Air4All objectives)

UAS in non-segregated airspaceusing Satellites

ESA/IAP EDA

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ESA-EDA collaboration: General goals

– Demonstrate to end-users the potential of satellite-based UAS services in order to foster their adoption for commercial and government / institutional applications.

– Demonstrate to stakeholders that UAS using satellites can be safely flown in non-segregated airspace, and provide inputs / support the regulatory initiatives

– Demonstrate the benefits that satellites can offer in providing Safety Communications (C2, S&A, ATC) and Payload Communications

– Promote the utilization of UAS-based solutions using satellites among the relevant end-users communities and stakeholders

– Stimulate innovative space technologies and systems development for UAS for improving current performances and provide new services

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ESA-EDA Joint Roadmap for UAS

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Demo roadmap: 1st element objectives

The objectives of the 1st element are:

– Demonstrate the capability of safe insertion of UAS in non-segregated airspace using satellites, identify issues and required procedures, and provide early inputs to regulatory bodies

– Demonstrate to a test user community that UAS supported by satellites and flying in non-segregated airspace can fulfill their needs

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Demo roadmap: 2nd element goals

Main goals to be achieved in a medium-time frame, through the 2nd element:

– Addressing the needs of multiple user communities

– Proving to end-users – for most relevant aspects – the requirements for the provision of operational services

– Proving to stakeholders a comprehensive set of requirements for the safe air traffic insertion of UAS using satellites, based on regulations and solutions available at that time.

– Demonstrate new services and improved performances, based on last technology developments.

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1st element ARTES 20 demonstration:Air Traffic Insertion (ATI) objectives

1. Some phases of the flight (take-off, landing, part of the mission) shall be performed in class A, B or C non-segregated airspace referenced in the Air4All study

2. Most of the mission area, as well as some parts of the en-route flight, shall be located BLOS with respect to the Operational Payload Analysis Centre (OPAC) and Ground Control Station (GCS)

3. During each flight, both LOS terrestrial communications and BLOS satellite communications links shall be established between the pilot-in-command and the Unmanned Aircraft (UA) for Control and Non Payload Communications (CNPC) (potentially including ATC relay), with appropriate handover between LOS and BLOS links, to support the safety of the flight

4. The UAS shall interface with the responsible ATC unit to operate in non-segregated airspace.

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1st element ARTES 20 demonstration:Mission and User operational scenario objectives

1. The UA shall be equipped with payload sensors (e.g. camera, radar) for the collection of the data. The payload features should satisfy user needs.

2. The data shall be transmitted in (near) real-time via satellite communication to the OPAC

3. The demonstration shall prove quantitatively and qualitatively the benefits of satellite–based UAS for the selected user application/service

4. The system architecture shall be integrated with the selected users’ operational system

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1st element ARTES 20 Demonstration implementation

ESA and EDA have agreed (ESA-EDA Project Arrangement, signed by

Mme Vaissiere and Mme Arnould on 15 December 2011):

1. The tender procedure and contract will be according to ESA rules

2. The total contract price is 1.2 M€ maximum, co-funded by ESA and EDA

3. EDA and ESA will each nominate participants for the Tender Evaluation Board

4. An ESA-EDA Joint Team will supervise and manage the activity, including review and process of the deliverables

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UASatCom – UAS for Exploration and Monitoring Services: ARTES 20 Feasibility Study

– Currently manned aircraft are used to perform mineral/gas/oil exploration surveys and for monitoring oil & gas pipelines

– The companies performing this work and their customers are in need for services that are

– Safer – to not risk the lives of the crews

– Cheaper – it is a low-margin business

– Better – by flying closer to the ground

– UASatCom project key objectives:

– Investigate how small UAS supported by satellites can be used to provide the services

– Take the first steps to close existing gaps

– Build a business model

– Investigate legal & regulatory issues

– Team: Barnard Microsystems, Inmarsat, AnsuR

– Price: 180 k€, 50% funded

– Status: on-going (Project kick-off: June 2011)Result from gemoagnetic survey

Aircraft equipped with sensors as used today for geo-surveys

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SADA (Space Assets for Demining Assistance) UAV’s for demining: ARTES 20 Feasibility Study

90-97.5% of suspected minefields proves in hindsight to be uncontaminated -> staggered approach needed

1. Target with priority those minefields that are most threatening and costly to society. Based on EO.

2. Avoid the unnecessary deployment of clearance activities in non-contaminated areas. UAV’s amend EO information on indicators of absence and presence of mines

3. Reduce the cost of detection and clearance per unit of land area (by planning, mapping). UAV’s support field observations, by providing detailed maps of the former battle field that help plan field activities. Risk index

Team: RadioLabs (I), University of Rome Sapienza (I), MEEO (I), Aurensis (E), GTD (E), VUB (B)Price: 400 k€, 100% funded Status: on-going (FR: April 2012)

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BIOSCOPE (Vegetation Monitoring Service): ARTES 20 Feasibility Study

Farmers need timely information on the status of their crops to plan field operations

– Thanks to remote sensing farmers can map the spatial variability of the crop status and perform precision farming

– However, due to the cloud cover and required timing for image acquisition the use of space imagery must be complemented by UAVs

– Need to develop a service which can reliably deliver images on the status of the vegetation within a short time window (3 to 10 days to 3 weeks) , and upon short notice (1 to 6 weeks)

Team: Terrasphere (NL), Aerovision (NL), Aurea Imaging (BE), CRP Lippmann (LUX)Price: 180 k€, 50% co-fundedStatus: on-going (Project kick-off: June 2011)

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ARTES 1 – UAS C2 system study – Background and objectives

– Scope of work defined in coordination with Eurocontrol, EDA and EASA, taking into account ARTES10 (Iris) activities

– Main objective: Define and analyse a satellite system for UAS BLOS C2– Develop architectures and provide a preliminary design based on a new

or modified satellite communication system– Asses service provisioning models– Indicating remaining issues for WRC2012– Provide roadmap for future developments

Scope of ESA Iris programme Scope of

UAS C2 system StudyTeam: TAS (F), Thales-AV (F), TRIAGNOSYS (D), HONEYWELL (CZ), TAS (I)Status: on-going (project kick-off:14/07) Price: 250 k€, 100% funded

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ARTES 5.1 – High speed UAV Satcom terminal

– Background: Future payload sensors for UAV will require significantly higher bit-rates

– For example multiple high definition cameras, each producing bit-streams of hundreds of Mbps

– E.g. “Gorgon Stare” multiple camera’s looking at multiple scenes simultaneously Σ 100 Mpixels frames/sec

– Currently there are no European providers for high-speed satcom terminals suitable for UAVs

– Mass and power important limitations

– Proposal for ARTES 5.1 (1000 k€):

– Development of a high-speed (512 Mbps) UAV satcom terminal

– Status:

– Consultation ongoing with industry about interest and to refine the scope of the activity

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Workshop invitation

Please be invited to attend the 3rd User/Stakeholder Workshop on UAS

organized by EDA and ESA on March 8th 2012, at the ESA Redu Centre (Redu,

Belgium)

Main objectives: to inform and consult ESA and EDA Member States as well as UAS

stakeholders (users, industries, authorities) about:

– ESA-EDA cooperation on UAS: strategic aspects

– ESA and EDA activities on UAS

– UAS applications scenarios

– Regulatory aspects

http://iap.esa.int/news-and-events/eda-esa-uas-workshop-2012-announcement-02-2012

http://www.eda.europa.eu/News/12-02-06/ESA_EDA_3rd_User_Stakeholder_Workshop_on_Unmanned_Aircraft_System