Development, Test and Evaluation of Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Systems in A Simulated Wide Area Search Scenario: An Implementation of the Autonomous Systems Reference Architecture

The implementation and testing of autonomous and cooperative unmanned systems is challenging due to the inherent design complexity, infinite test spaces, and lack of autonomy specific measures. These challenges are limiting the USAF\u27s ability to deploy and take advantage of tactical and strategic advantages offered by these systems. This research instantiates an Autonomous System Reference Architecture (ASRA) on a Wide Area Search (WAS) scenario as a test bed for rapid prototyping and evaluation of autonomous and cooperative systems. This research aims to pro- vide a framework to evaluate the system’s ability to achieve mission and autonomy objectives, develop reusable autonomous behaviors, and develop reusable cooperative decision making algorithms. For this research and application to the WAS mission, metrics of autonomy were derived from literature requirements for autonomous systems implementing reactive architectures and control: responsiveness, robustness, and perception accuracy. Autonomous behaviors, to include more complex behaviors combining simple (atomic) behaviors were developed, and a variety of cooperative decision rules were defined. The subsequent evaluation implemented a face centered cubic design of experiments over four scenarios including a single vehicle, and three levels of cooperation between two vehicles. Following a rigorous test plan, the tests were conducted in simulation implementing automated testing and expedited analysis. The test results were used to create a response surface model to characterize the system and conduct multiple response optimization to determine an optimal configuration that maximizes area searched, percent detected, and perception accuracy in a given target density

Aeronautical engineering: A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 278)

This bibliography lists 414 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in April 1992

Second CLIPS Conference Proceedings, volume 1

Topics covered at the 2nd CLIPS Conference held at the Johnson Space Center, September 23-25, 1991 are given. Topics include rule groupings, fault detection using expert systems, decision making using expert systems, knowledge representation, computer aided design and debugging expert systems

Naval Postgraduate School Catalog 2016

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited