D.R.O.N.E stands for Dynamic Remotely operated Navigation Equipment. Name itself says that an aircraft with no on board pilot, which can be controlled from Ground Control Station. The outcomes of this aircraft reflect surprising expression on any new comer’s face. Verily, if we want to manufacture this contraption, then we should be able to crack any problems related to different engineering streams like Aeronautical, Electronics & communication, Computer science e.t.c. The purpose of this blog is to refine out the components of Heavy weight Fixed Wing Unmanned Aircraft System. As per the requirements, U.A.S can be segregated in to four elements:
- Air-Frame
- Air Vehicle Elements
- Data-Link Communication
- Ground Control Station
Air-Frame:
Aerodynamic and basic structure of Heavy Weight Drone is same as manned aircraft, excluded cockpit and windows. Significant manufacturing materials include composites and sheet metal. Air-Frame includes:
- Stringers
- Longerons
- Ribs
- Bulkheads
- Skin
- Spar
Air Vehicle Elements:
From Controlling to target, Heavy Weight U.A.S required numbers of equipment, which can be considered under the Air vehicle elements caption. List of the significant elements given below to estimation:
- Synthetic Aperture Radar
- Electro-Optic Infrared Sensor
- Common Airborne Modem Assembly
- Sat-Com Radio Frequency Assembly
- Antennas
- L.O.S Radio Frequency Assembly
- Automatic Video Tracker
- Laser Detector Tracker Pad
- Com Jammers
- Ground Moving Target Indicator
- Electronic Warfare System
- Maritime Patrol Radar & Automatic Identification system
- Communication Intelligence System
- Ultra Light Weight Electronic System
- T.C.A.S (Traffic Collision Avoidance System)
- Autopilot
- Battery & Fuel Assembly
- Video Cassette Recorder
- APX-100 Identification Transponder
- G.P.S System
- Lethal Payloads
- Engine
- Lightening Protection System
Data-Link Communication:
For conveying information in the form of signal to U.A.V from G.C.S, we need data-link system which is the most important and susceptible element among all elements of Unmanned Aircraft system. Without this U.A.V operation is impossible. This Data-Link system creates a link between Ground control station and Unmanned Aerial vehicle. By this we can instruct to our U.A.V for making desire movements and Surveillance. In 2009, Iraqi insurgents hacked U.S. Army $4.5 m Predator with $26 sky grabber software. That’s why this element requires more focus for secure operation of U.A.V.
Ground Control Station:
In manned aircraft all the operations regarding aircraft carrying by on board pilot but in the case of Unmanned Aircraft we will have to bring virtual cockpit in ground so that we could carry all the missions like manned aircraft. An efficient user friendly Ground Control Station (G.C.S) is a crucial component in any Unmanned Aerial System (U.A.S) based platform. The G.C.S gathers all the information about the U.A.V status and allows sending commands according to the specified missions. It is remarkable that most of the stations include a common set of components, such as artificial horizons, battery and I.M.U indicators and lately 3D environments as generally accepted useful elements for the operators.