1. 4586 For The Rest of Us: Mike Meakin
The Development of a STANAG-4586 Control Station Software Suite for Smaller UAVs
Mike Meakin
UVS Canada- Nov 2009

2. Outline Who are we? The Need The Approach The Solution
Conclusion & Demo

3. Company History
InnUVative Systems Inc.- established in is a Canadian registered engineering and software development company
Specifically targeted at the unmanned vehicles industry
Specializing in ground station software development for small & micro UAVs and UGVs/ USVs
Using well recognized engineering practices within an established and controlled development environment
Follow fundamental project management principles as recognized by the Project Management Institute

4. Company History (cont’d)
Member of STANAG-4586 Working Group
Developed STANAG-4586 Vehicle Specific Module (VSM) for the Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS) protocol
allows control of a JAUS compliant vehicle from a STANAG-4586 compliant UAV Control Station
Currently developing VSM for X-Plane simulation of Heron UAV
for use by Canadian UAV Research Test Bed at Defence R&D Canada lab- Ottawa
Drawing on our extensive experience across a multitude of platforms, payloads and autoland systems, developed and delivered an Introductory UAV course for PMs, engineers and military officers
Course presented October 2009 in Singapore; next course May 2010, Singapore
Teamed with Aeryon Labs, integrating their Scout MAV to provide STANAG-4586 compliance

5. The Need...
Many of the larger systems (tactical and above) have multiple options for the implementation of STANAG 4586 in support of interoperability
Smaller UAV systems as well as UGVs and USVs are far less well serviced
Most current solutions are very expensive compared to system costs of smaller UVs
Interfaces often screen-intensive, not able to be supported by smaller systems
Interfaces are far more complex requiring training investments that are prohibitive for smaller systems

6. The Need... (cont’d)
Interoperability is equally as important for small and surface systems as for larger ones
Coordinated utilization of data (e.g. LOI 2 receipt of MALE imagery on a SUAV control station allows much greater SA)
Combined UV ops: SUAV/ MAV with UGV or USV
In many ways, smaller system problem space is more difficult than larger system
More likely to operate multiple vehicles from single station
Solution is scalable up to larger but reverse often not true

7. Examples of Combined Ops
IED Disposal Support
IED robots have multiple payloads from which to select
Use of a micro air vehicle (MAV) to quickly and safely examine the suspected IED would allow the operator to readily identify the best payload to be fitted to the robot
We need the ICX
FIDO payload.
prior to it being deployed to the IED location.
The MAV could also be used as a “second set of eyes” allowing another vantage point during IED disposal
Use of a single, integrated control solution allows the UGV system to present an organic solution for any of the existing STANAG compliant UAVs

8. Examples of Combined Ops (cont’d)
Organic Convoy IED Protection
Currently, UAVs are used to recon convoy routes in advance for IEDs
These recons are typically done daily; there is always a time lag between the recon and the convoy during which IEDs can be- and are- laid
Integration of MAVs and at least one IED disposal robot into each convoy would allow an organic, real time IED detection and neutralization capability into every convoy
MAVs could be flown as “outriders” as convoy is on the move to check the road ahead and each side
Convoys could then practice “blow as you go” IED disposal, increasing safety significantly

9. Examples of Combined Ops (cont’d)
Combined UGV/ UAV Combat Operations
Giving the soldier the ability to see what threats are around the corner has been extremely important
The next step is to relieve the soldier of having to be first around the corner to address the threat
Some systems have already anticipated the push to arm UGVs
Integration of armed UGVs- either via JAUS or native protocol- into STANAG
4586 allows the combined operations goal identified in the UAS Roadmap from OSD

10. Integration of UGV & UAV Operations
This operational concept of using UGVs in concert with UAVs is a goal specifically outlined in the UAS Roadmap
Providing a STANAG 4586 interface for a UGV systems allows easier and lower risk integration of the UGVs into multiple existing UAV systems

11. The Solution
To address these needs, InnUVative Systems developed the 4CE Control Station, an inherently STANAG 4586 control station that addresses the needs of smaller UAVs and UGVs/ USVs Allowing Command, Control, Communications, Coordination and Execution (4CE), the 4CE Control Station© offers an affordable, STANAG-4586 compliant solution for all systems!

12. 4CE Seen is Forewarned...
Supporting standard civilian and military map formats- including DTED- the 4CE Control Station© provides an intuitive situational awareness display and control interface that minimizes training and allows operators to control multiple vehicles directly from the map.

13. The system icons themselves become the primary control interface
Use of graphical click, drag, etc. for direct immediate control of vehicle and payload
Right click to access vehicle’s and payload’s dialogs
Prevents confusion regarding which dialog controls which system

14. Simplified Interfaces
This- complicated 4586 connection logic…
Becomes this- a simplified user interface for connecting
Using simplified interfaces to hide the underlying complexity of the system, the operator is able to quickly and easily place the vehicles and payloads where he needs them to accomplish his mission.

15. Advanced Status Panel
The Status Panel not only informs the operator when situations arise requiring their attention, it also supplies them with a fully interactive checklist wizard that guides them through the corrective action necessary for specific problems.

16. Affordability…
With an initial license cost less than many specialized commercial software packages and a pricing curve that further reduces it to commercial values as quantities increase, InnUVative Systems specifically supports the smaller UV systems.

17. In a competitive world The distinguishing difference is