SCIENTIFIC SYSTEMS CO INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N152-111

Description

Autonomous landing of a fixed wing Unmanned Air Vehicle on the deck of a moving ship requires a fast initializing, precise, and accurate ship-relative navigation solution able that is capable of functioning in emissions control scenarios (EMCON). Current state-of-the-art landing systems rely on RF emissions and are therefore inoperable in EMCON or are subject to the availability of a specific RF spectrum. The proposed RAIN-LANDR system is designed to provide fully EMCON compliant, continuous, high integrity range and bearing data for unmanned or assisted approach and landing. RAIN-LANDR leverages and integrates aircraft fast initializing pose estimation and navigation filter modules developed by SSCI to provide high accuracy precision ship-relative navigation data. High intensity, visible light beacons placed on the ship extend the range of operations and speed-up pose estimation, ultimately contributing to fast filter convergence. The objective of the Phase I effort will be the development of the RAIN-LANDR system concept, validation in simulation studies using physics-based renderings with accurate light source modeling. The Phase I effort will provide a solid foundation for the implementation and demonstration of an integrated system in Phase II.