Back to search

MAROFF-2-Maritim virksomhet og offsh-2

Machine Piloted Unmanned Systems (MPUS)

Alternative title: Maskinstyrte piloter for ubemannede system (MPUS)

Awarded: NOK 10.2 mill.

The project has resulted in new methods for high-precision geolocation using radio technology based on digital array antenna systems. The methods make it possible to remove inaccuracies and errors that have previously been linked to positioning systems have been able to be reduced to such an extent that the dynamic and land-based positioning system constitutes a real alternative to GPS/GNSS in areas where radio technology is deployed. This increases safety in cases where errors occur on the GPS/GNSS systems on board and enables unmanned operations in areas exposed to GPS/GNSS interference. The project has also led to results in research on high-precision inertial navigation sensors through research on MEMS technology and applications of lightweight inertial navigation systems suitable for unmanned platforms. The project has also led to new results in achieved accuracy and reliability for visual navigation systems. There has been extensive use of field experiments in the project where flights with unmanned systems have been carried out to gather experience in real operational environments. Through these experiments, it has been possible to research interactions between the various systems for navigation and to look at the effect of integration together with errors and deviations that occur in real environments and prototype implementations. Through these experiments, new insight has been gained both in the individual systems and in the algorithms that combine the navigation information from the various systems. This has led to the development of new methods to reduce deviations and the likelihood of incorrect navigation. The results will, after the project, lead to the launch of new products for inertial navigation for unmanned systems, radio location systems based on digital antenna arrays as well as integrated unmanned systems that use combinations of radio location, inertial navigation and optical systems to achieve a higher degree of operational safety than previously known technology before the project was started.

The outcome from the project is a significant lift of state-of-the-art on an international level for sensor quality and robustness, navigation aids and processing systems for unmanned vehicles. The results will open for more safety in autonomous operation or air and surface vessels that will increase safety, increase operation efficiency and lead to less human intensive control in unmanned operations. The outcome confirmed by the project is: * New products will be realized and sold as a result of the outcome. There has been already a significant attention from customers, and commercial projects are being outlines. * Unmanned systems can now be operated safely even if onboard GPS/GNSS systems fails or is being disturbed intentionally. * More unmanned units can now be operated in an area without compromising safety. * One operator or command center is able to control a large number of unmanned vehicles in an area due to the increased safety of operations achieved * The probability to overlook findings in monotone operations will decrease, and hence the value of an operation would be increased as operations can now be automated * The ability for an unmanned system to execute good countermeasures in case of incidents will increase because the innovations in this projects enables better autonomous operations for unmanned vehicles * The overall reliability and safety in unmanned operations will increase * Threats of safe operations from GPS/GNSS jamming can be eliminated as a results of the outcome of the project.

The project will conduct research to remove "missing links" in sensor systems for orientation- and navigation system in order to increase robustness for operation to a level where more mission critical decisions can be done by the on board machine in the manned system. The project will enable a base of sensors and processing systems that will allow unmanned systems to be operated partially disconnected from direct human influence or to handle exceptions and failures without involving human interaction. A part of the project is also to build sensors and systems to allow processing of data in a efficient manner to reduce the requirement for human processing of data as the number of unmanned units will operate in a dense area in coastal areas. The most important task in order to increase safety is to conduct research on sensors for more precise inertial navigation, sensors for visual information processing, and systems for redundant high precision positioning based on wireless microwave technology. The combination of such systems and reliable systems for assessment of actions in case of diverging sensor information is crucial for safe operations of unmanned vehicles. Examples of state-of-the-art missing links: * A vessel equipped with a simple wireless jammer is currently able to stop inspection by unmanned vehicles or cause dangerous situations with unmanned vehicles operating blind * An operation of more than 2-3 vehicles is for practical and safety reasons not possible to operate in a dense area because coordination operators in the same area would require special training and would increase risk of misunderstandings and incidents. * An unmanned operation needs careful planning and does not include sudden operative changes. In case of sudden operative changes, the mission will have to be aborted and re-planned. * Observations are not automated. A single operator required for each video sensor in operation in an area. * Emergency procedures are not automated

Funding scheme:

MAROFF-2-Maritim virksomhet og offsh-2