The NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC) has acquired an MQ-9 Predator B unmanned aircraft system (UAS), seen in figure 1, to be used as a research testbed. The vehicle is manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) (San Diego, California), and was procured through the assistance of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards, California. A flight research computer will be integrated into the vehicle to conduct autonomous flight research experiments, such as collision avoidance, intelligent mission planning, or precision autopilot control. Modifications to the aircraft and ground control station (GCS) software are in development. The vehicle will then be able to provide duo role capability, conducting science mission flights in addition to research experiment flights. This is the first time that a large, high-altitude, long endurance UAS has been used in this manner.
Ikhana, The First 'Intelligent' Unmanned Research Testbed
2007
3 pages
Report
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Englisch