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Achieving Over-The-Horizon

Requirements UsingLow Earth Orbit Satellites (LEOS)

Achieving Over-The-Horizon

Requirements UsingLow Earth Orbit Satellites (LEOS)

Presented by Eric SaikinPresented by Eric Saikin

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Customer RequirementsCustomer RequirementsTo meet customers

evolving requirements for threat representative systems in simulated tactical situations requires capabilities not currently available

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Customer RequirementsCustomer RequirementsMultiple (up to eight) air-launched targets in

an Over-The-Horizon (OTH) engagement on a range with limited support

Ability to support fleet training

Ability to support open ocean exercises

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Low Earth Orbit Satellite

Ground Station

CONOPSCONOPS

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LEOS/CIS SystemLEOS/CIS SystemWhat is it?

Low Earth Orbit Satellite (LEOS)/Command Interface Simulation (CIS) System

Portable system for use at remote sites to controlmultiple vehicles over-the-horizon

Interoperable with existing range equipment

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Command & Control Data LinkCommand & Control Data LinkLow Earth Orbit Satellite

Utilizes low earth orbit satellite modems for data link for command and control of vehicle

Vehicle GPS location and performance data is transmitted back to ground station via satellite modems

Bandwidth of satellite modem is sufficient to control vehicle

Globalstar currently has greater bandwidth than IRIDIUM

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Command Interface Simulation

Self-contained and portable and provides everything needed to conduct a complete mission at a remote site

Complete mission planning, checkout, control, situational awareness, and data reduction

Ethernet backbone enables extremely robust and flexible system using off-the-shelf components

Ground StationGround Station

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FeaturesSmall, lightweight, portable, and expandable systemHigh-speed Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN)

enables all information to be shared amongst connected components

Off-the-shelf, ruggedized laptops provide reliable, replaceable, low maintenance equipment

Interoperable with existing range equipment by passing data back and forth

LEOS/CIS SystemLEOS/CIS System

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Features (cont’d)CIS System can connect to the internet via firewall

if neededLEOS can utilize Iridium satellite data service, in

lieu of Globalstar, with reduced bandwidthLEOS/CIS System can be used to control water or

land vehiclesBasic concept can be expanded to REPLACE

existing target/UAV control systems

LEOS/CIS SystemLEOS/CIS System

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IRIDIUM TestIRIDIUM TestThe flight test on 22 October 2002 demonstrated

the ability to: Plan and simulate a flight pathModify and download an updated flight plan prior to

launch via a remotely located Radio Frequency (RF) data link

Automatically control the flight path without operator intervention

Modify the flight path during the mission using an OTH data link

Perform payload operations during manual and automatic flight operation

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HardwareHardwareNAL Research Corp

IRIDIUM Data ModemCloud Cap Technology

Piccolo Avionics (Navigator)

Vehicle Interface Box

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Flight SegmentsFlight Segments

The flight lasted approximately 51 minutes and consisted of three segments:Manual control using the normal flight control

system to verify operational functionality

OTH control of the vehicle

Manual control of the vehicle during the recovery sequence

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Flight PathFlight Path

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Segment SummarySegment SummaryThe vehicle was declared operationally functional

after 11 minutes of flight OTH control of the vehicle lasted for 36 minutes Normal recovery operations were performed upon

command release from OTH system flight controlDuring the OTH controlled flight segment, no pitch or

throttle adjustments were made by the operators

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IRIDIUM DropoutIRIDIUM Dropout

The IRIDIUM satellite communications link experienced one dropout lasting approximately 48 seconds

Simplistic redial software not optimized for fast reacquisition

Expect to be able to significantly reduce this time

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Wide TurnsWide Turns

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Straight Leg Cross TrackStraight Leg Cross Track

3660000

3662000

3664000

3666000

3668000

3670000

3672000

3674000

3676000

3678000

3680000

3682000

364000 366000 368000 370000 372000 374000 376000 378000 380000 382000

UTM Easting - meters

UT

M N

ort

hin

g -

met

ers

WayPoint 9

WayPoint 10

WayPoint 11

First Straight Leg under auto navigateSouth East to North West

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ITCS Data RatesITCS Data RatesFrames

Per Second

Uplink

(Bits / Second)

Downlink

(Bits / Second)

45 6075 10890

30 4050 7260

15 2025 3630

10 1350 2420

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Data RatesData Rates

IRIDIUM – 1200 bps

Globalstar – 7200 bps

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Demonstration Flight TestDemonstration Flight TestFirst Flight – ability to control target using

commercial Low Earth Orbit Satellites

Universal Replacement Auto Pilot (URAP)

Switch between three preplanned missions

Downlink GPS location and vehicle parameters for situational awareness display

Evaluate ability to control vehicle manually

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Globalstar Satellite OrbitsGlobalstar Satellite OrbitsLow Earth Orbits ~700 Miles Up

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Globalstar Gateway atClifton, Texas

Building 189San Nicolas Island, CA

URAP Equipped BQM-74E withLEOS DKW

(Globalstar Satellite & 900 MHz)

Globalstar SatelliteLow Earth Orbit ~700 Miles up

Uplink Command Sent to Airborne LEOS DKW Over Globalstar Satellite Link and 900 MHz

Line-of-Sight Link (~0.35 Sec)

12

3

4

5

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Global Satellite “Mutual Footprints”Global Satellite “Mutual Footprints”

Globalstar Satellite Footprints ~3000 Mile

Diameter

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Globalstar Data Link TestingGlobalstar Data Link Testing Data rate – 7.2 Kbps

Measured latency (92 samples) – 699 ms one-way

Measured connect/reconnect time (18 samples) – 6.8 sec Connection time

Tests were run from one to three hours without a disconnect (engineers terminated the test)

Reconnect time After one minute with no power – modem reconnects in five seconds

Indicates very robust data link

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URAP Low Altitude Sea Skim Capability URAP Low Altitude Sea Skim Capability with Satellite and UHF Control Linkswith Satellite and UHF Control Links

UHF Link (Line-Of-Sight)

Globalstar Satellite Link (Over-The-Horizon)

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Airborne Transponder (DKW) Airborne Transponder (DKW) and Globalstar Antennaand Globalstar Antenna

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San Nicolas San Nicolas First Flight First Flight

Mission Plan Mission Plan in Falcon Viewin Falcon View

Launch Point

Way Points

Action Points

3 missions with 3 turn radius for 60, 45, and 30 degree bank angles

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Situational Awareness Display Situational Awareness Display Vehicle Flying in “Tube”Vehicle Flying in “Tube”

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Launch Pad Control Building

San Nicolas IslandSan Nicolas Island

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BQM-74E on Launch PadBQM-74E on Launch Pad

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Globalstar Ground StationGlobalstar Ground Station

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LEOS Ground TerminalLEOS Ground Terminal

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Vehicle Control PanelsVehicle Control Panels

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Situational Awareness DisplaySituational Awareness Display

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ResultsResultsAll objectives met

Vehicle switched missions when commanded

Operator had no problem controlling vehicle in manual mode

Satellite data link worked as expected