High bandwidth communications links between heterogeneous autonomous vehicles using sensor network modeling and extremum control approaches

In future network-centric warfare environments, teams of autonomous vehicles will be deployed in a coorperative manner to conduct wide-area intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in a tactical environment. The operational range of these survey vehicles is usually limited by the line-of-sight (LOS) and/or bandwidth constraints of the communication system. To increase the operational range and to allow real-time transmission of data back to the command station, autonomous vehicles configured with high bandwidth communication system are positioned between the command station and the survey vehicles acting as communication relay vehicles and flying sensors. This will allow the survey vehicles to transfer their data back to the command station on the move, thus improving the efficiency of the missions. In this thesis, an autopilot guidance and control algorithm was developed that will allow the relay vehicles to reposition themselves autonomously to maintain an optimal loitering flight path to maximize the quality of the communication link between the command station and survey vehicle. The main contributions of this thesis are two-fold. First, a communication propagation model was developed to predict the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio of the communication link, which is used as a reference SNR signal for the UAVs. Second, the communication model was then integrated into a feedback control loop to formulate a new real-time adaptive controller, which is based on an extremum seeking approach with a gradient-based controller, to drive the relay vehicle to an optimal loitering path using SNR as the cost function.http://archive.org/details/highbandwidthcom109453833Technology Agency author (civilian).Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Maritime Interdiction Operations in Logistically Barren Environments

Includes supplementary materialThis report contains analysis that shows that existing technology exists to improve Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) by approximately 30%. Furthermore, analysis contained herein will aid MIO planning for future operations. Since MIOs are an inherently dangerous, but necessary activity with far reaching implications to theater political and economic dynamics, this improvement is of great interest. MIO is a Naval solution to the problems of smuggling weapons, explosives, people and narcotics. MIO, when employed correctly has the potential to save lives and limit economic/political damage.N