Unmanned Systems Technology 008 | Alti Transition UAS | Ground control systems | Xponential 2016 report | Insitu Orbital N20 | UAVs | Solar power | Oceanology International 2016 report

32 F rom smartphones to multi- screen portable systems, ground control systems (GCSs) are evolving alongside the technology of unmanned craft. As the complexity of the control systems on the craft themselves increases, even up to the latest F-35 (nominally) manned fighters for downloading systems data, so there is a need for more sophisticated ground control for remotely piloted systems. Greater autonomy is also opening up new ways of controlling the craft. GCS evolution is tightly coupled to the data requirements of the craft and the demands of end-users. As gimbal systems become more complex, they in turn need more complex control in the GCS, and higher data rates to collect and analyse the video being sent back from the craft. This potentially has to be coordinated by the GCS, and then delivered to the user. As in many other areas of technology, cloud computing is having a big impact on GCS design, and the potential benefits from this shift in technology are huge. At the moment, applications such as inspections require a qualified pilot to go to a remote location with a UAV, set it up and fly it, as well as control a still or video camera as part of the inspection. With the ground station linking to cloud computing infrastructure though, video can be delivered anywhere in the world. The next step is then to allow the user to control the camera remotely and combine that with control of the craft. This presents a major technology challenge to achieve a low latency in the chain of information transmission. Nick Flaherty explains how ground control system design and technology meets the needs of unmanned applications Firm footings June/July 2016 | Unmanned Systems Technology The ground control station for the F-35 fighter (Courtesy of Chassis Plans)