NEXTGEN FEDERAL SYSTEMS LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: A17-026

Description

The Autonomous Environmental Routing Onboard (AERO) system is an innovative software-hardware solution that performs onboard processing of environmental information from multiple sources to execute autonomous route adjustments for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs). This processing and resulting autonomy minimizes negative environmental impacts while leveraging advantageous conditions for executing missions, both individually and as a ‘swarm.’ AERO provides environmental intelligence to UASs including the ability to ingest environmental (e.g., meteorological, obstructions) data to construct grids that are input into the Army’s Automated Impacts Routing (AIR) system, embedded onboard, resulting in optimal routes for the autopilot. The solution includes onboard environmental sensors and communications with a ground station and the swarm (of other UASs). AERO also leverages favorable environmental conditions to expand flight time, improving the UAS and swarm’s mission capabilities. AERO’s innovative architecture allows for the integration of various environmental sensors for route optimization and collective data sharing. With its dual-mode capabilities, AERO is designed to function (1) by ingesting model and impact grids and sharing onboard sensor data in coordination with the ground station, and (2) becoming self-reliant when disconnected, using internally-stored data and sensors to continue the mission.