Recipient Organization
SKYWARD, LTD.
5717 HUBERVILLE AVE STE 300
DAYTON,OH 45431
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The astronomical costs of wildfires to our nation impact our environment, economy, and our very lives. According to summary of suppression costs compiled by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) for 2015 alone, there were more than 68 thousand wildfires, impacting over 10 million acres, and resulting in more than 2 billion dollars in expenditures across all agencies. On a more personal note, between 1990 and 2015, an average of 17 firefighters lost their lives during fire suppression efforts; twenty-one percent of those deaths were due to entrapment. Further, according to some sources, primary concerns from the firefighting community related to fatalities include a lack of tactical knowledge of escape routes and safety zones (the "black"), and real-time data for decision makers.The national wildfire management community faces many challenges, including detecting and managing wildfires, discovering and reducing fuel loads, ensuring the efficacy and safety of firefighters, and communication and navigation for fire management activities. Remote sensing and geospatial data have been used for many years to help address these challenges. However, current methods for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating remote sensing data are primarily focused on locating and characterizing fires and not on real-time fire operations (i.e., the firefighters). Additionally, these methods are too slow and not of sufficient fidelity to address the time-critical, dynamic nature of real-time, operationally focused wildfire management activities. The objective of this study is to apply advances in geospatial data collection, processing, and visualization, coupled with recent improvements in small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and sensor technologies, to address these challenges more effectively by facilitating the collection, visualization, and sharing of operationally relevant data in real-time. This effort also includes the transition of long-standing Department of Defense (DoD) Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) practices, such as Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (TCPED, aka PED) methodologies. We propose to research the development of a deployable, open-architecture PED system comprised of a combination of Commercial-Off-the-Shelf and innovative technologies, including a small UAS with electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) sensors, a radio relay and range extension capability, a ground-based asset (i.e., firefighter) tracking system, an integrated Ground Control Station (GCS), and a geospatial data fusion and visualization software environment. Phase I research will result in data demonstrating the feasibility of the approach, in addition to comprehensive test plans, specific recommendations for subsystem components, elements of architectural design, and maturation of some elements of the overall solution. The overall system resulting from this study proposes to significantly enhance the management of real-time wildfire operations activities so as to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and to ultimately save lives.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
100%
Goals / Objectives
The major goals of this Phase I project are to 1) illustrate the efficacy of traditional Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) as applied to supporting field deployed personnel (fire fighters) and Incident Command Center (ICC) leadership during real-time wild fire management operations; and 2) to identify and demonstrate the capabilities of appropriate technologies to include a Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (sUAS) with control systems, a full motion video (FMV) sensor, a man-portable Asset Position/Status Reporting (ASR) Technology, a UAS mounted radio transceiver (i.e., radio relay/repeater), and a back-end data processing and visualization environment that will layer data within a Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED) system architecture. The end result will culminate in the form of a technical feasibility study that outlines an overall proposed architecture for a PED system and details the results of research and testing to demonstrate the value of the overall approach and effectiveness of representative technologies. The major objectives of the Phase I project are:Gather operational requirements from the wild fire community in order to develop and test the most appropriate technical solutions in the most operationally relevant manner.Illustrate the capability for a sUAS (surrogate) to maintain a loiter pattern (i.e., 1 mile radius circle) at a relevant altitude (e.g., 3000' AGL) over a suitable area for significant period of time (i.e., depending upon operational requirements) while;carrying required payloads to achieve mission requirements; andmaintaining communications with ground control equipment; anddownlinking FMV, telemetry, and other applicable data.Identify and test a (surrogate) FMV sensor and 3-axis gimbal system in order to demonstrate the ability to collect and downlink real-time video data at an operationally sufficient resolution (e.g., 6" Ground Sample Distance) for the entire duration of a test flight, and;Control the camera and gimbal in real-timeIdentify an existing solution or develop a concept for a system to generate and transmit firefighter ground position data while meeting the following conditions;Man-portableDoes not add significant weight or require significant spaceIs hardened so as to withstand wild fire related environmental factorsIntegrates into existing clothing and equipmentMakes use of available power sources as possibleTransmits highly accurate geo-position data at 1 hz per second over a distance of 3 kmProduces data that may be converted to shape file format (or similar)Identify an existing solution for a sUAS mountable radio transceiver that will receive and transmit (approved) fire radio signals over a distance of 5 km.Illustrate the capability of a software environment to ingest, layer, and display FMV data, aircraft telemetry data, and geospatial data (e.g., KML/KMZ and shape files) simultaneously
Project Methods
Skyward will focus Phase I efforts on researching the best technical solutions, maturing the system integration, and demonstrating the capability of transmitting sUAS-accessed information in near-real time. Our Team will meet the objectives of this SBIR, leveraging our experience and previous ongoing sUAS developments to initiate the development of a baseline system that supports cost model development, preparations for Phase II, and identifying risk areas. Our Phase I efforts will culminate in a feasibility study demonstrating the value of the approach and identifies the technology required for a Phase II. The Phase I work plan consists of five primary tasks.Task 1 - System and Design ResearchSkyward will begin this research program by coordinating with various technical and operational representatives (i.e., NIFC, Fire & Aviation Management, etc.) through a survey of questions in order to reach as many stake holders as possible. The expected result of the survey is a refined set of Phase I research goals and objectives.Skyward is already doing similar Material and Design research under IR&D, so we will be able to quickly provide an engineered baseline that will meet Phase I requirements while anticipating the challenges of Phase II desired goals. This task will initially involve identifying and down-selecting materials and design configurations to act as the matrix for the final trades and acquiring those components which we do not currently possess. Skyward's existing aircraft and sensors will serve as surrogates for testing.During Phase I the Skyward team will conduct research and develop design concepts for the radio transceiver and asset tracking solutions. These solutions; however, will not undergo testing until Phase II. We believe there areacceptable Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) technologies for the radio transceiver solution, but significant work will be required to integrate the components into a sUAS platform. Additionally, our current proposal focuses on the use of a surrogate platform in Phase I, so this sort of integration work is neither appropriate, nor does it fit into the scope of the Phase I project. Similarly, the asset tracking solution is a new technology for which there is no end-to-end solution presently available. We believe; however, that the components of this solution exist in the form of various COTS technologies. So, our efforts in Phase I will focus on designing a solution, identifying the various pieces, and developing an integration plan.We are also preparing for other contingencies which may accelerate some activities. We have already begun work toward researching the two solutions discussed, and we have also identified a strong sUAS platform candidate for our final recommendation. Rapid development and resource sharing/acquisition are possible through relationships with our current partners during Phase I. So, there is a possibility that we may be able to develop, integrate, and test one or both technologies during Phase I. We will; therefore, develop our test plan based upon proposed testing, but remain flexible so as to account for any new developments.Task 2 - Test PreparationTask 2 will involve preparations for experimental testing. Skyward's current efforts will allow this to occur in tandem with Task 1. Skyward has already begun forming relationships with numerous test sites to ensure that testing can be accomplished on schedule, and to provide backup sites in the event of weather, range schedule, or other conditions. A Commercial Test Agreement with the Ohio/Indiana UAS Test Center has already been established, which provides access to the various sites. We've also begun research in cooperation with our partners to identify potential technical solutions for asset tracking, radio relay, and GCS integration. And because of Skyward's IR&D efforts to date, our team is currently conducting subsystem testing and multisensory flight tests that will ensure surrogate systems are mature enough for this effort. Test planning will focus on accomplish the following tests:Multiple test flights in surveillance patterns over simulated events to determine best resolutions and transmission parameters for various forms of data in a variety of operating conditions (i.e., varying loiter patterns, altitudes, speeds, stand-off distances, etc.);Multiple tests of the integration of flight controls, data transmission, and data visualization systems;Multiple air and ground-based data transmission tests to show the ability to ingest, layer, and visualize data within a software environment;Task 3 - TestingSome Task 3 experimental testing will begin the first month (in concert with Tasks 1 and 2) as our surrogate systems are already under evaluation. The purpose of testing is to accomplish the planning described in Task 2. The goal of testing is to demonstrate the capability to collect, transmit, and visualize various forms of data in order to determine the best parameters for each and to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach. The results of all tests will be documented. Testing will include the following objectives at a minimum:Ground Testing ObjectivesUAS and sensors:Verify data links between UAS and GCS components;Frequency interferences;Link stability and effects on data transmission;Data throughput capacity and back-end storage requirements;Data processing and visualization (software) environmentTest the ability to ingest and visualize sUAS telemetry data and FMV data layered with geospatial data layers (i.e., maps, other imagery, shapefiles, etc.)Flight Test ObjectivesUAS and Sensors:Verify data links between UAS and GCS components;Test UAS Flight CharacteristicsTest link conditions at various distances (altitude and stand-off distances) from GCS components;Test integration of flight control, data transmission, and data visualization systems;Assess sensor capabilities and resolutions using resolution target under various distances and conditions (e.g., smoke and haze, various lighting);Test and document data handling techniques, data hand-off & retrieval, and storage capability on the ground system;Data processing and visualization (software) environmentTest the ability to ingest and visualize sUAS telemetry data and FMV data layered with geospatial data layers (i.e., maps, other imagery, shapefiles, etc.)Task 4 - Data AnalysisTask 4 will involve characterizing findings from Phase I. Evidence will be documented to show advantages of the system in terms of weight, cost, maintenance, retrofit ability, etc. Design criteria, based upon Phase I discoveries, will also be documented, including desired growth options of the architectures. Maintenance issues will be discussed including how the materials and systems hold up to the operational environment (moisture absorption, vibration, thermal capability, etc.). Integration and attachment concepts will be discussed, including requirements for retrofitting, swapping, removal, and replacement. The weight trades of particular system elements will be addressed.Task 5 - ReportingTwo progress reports will be preparedper USAD guidance. The final report will document the efforts of Phase I and establish a baseline systems design and representative cost model, which will serve as the basis for entering Phase 2. The draft Phase I report will be provided for review in month 7. Following the incorporation of customer comments, a final report will be delivered for publication in month 8. Cost analysisfor commercialization will be included, based on the established baseline design and estimated further development costs. Projected costs will use the Skyward model with known cost and estimated engineeringcosts for unknown elements. This includes all the major cost elements like development, capital, tooling, labor, ILS, preproduction test, required maintenance/repairs/consumables , insurance, warranty etc..