An interconnected network of UAS as a system-of-systems

Abstract

Technological advancements and miniaturization have made it possible for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to perform a diverse range of tasks. UAS are being used in various applications ranging from remote sensing[1] to disaster response[2] to package delivery[3]. As drones rapidly fill the airspace, there are several threats that the system can encounter. These threats include mid-air collisions, loss of remote command connection, security breach of the drone's software system and critical damage to the hardware. To ensure the integrity of the drone in flight, an interconnected UAS architecture, having a fully functional system capable of responding to these situations, is required. This paper presents a system meeting these requirements. An interconnected UAS system of systems is proposed that includes systems for onboard GPS, obstacle avoidance central control and safety response. It focuses on the coordination level that the UAS systems will need to have amongst themselves. It proposes a control system to ensure effective monitoring of UAS. The UAS system architecture is comprised of eleven systems that are essential for a safe flight. In addition, the control system includes five different systems that are involved in the decision-making process. The importance and operation of these systems are discussed in detail. The proposed UAS software architecture is capable of performing autonomous self-control. It has decision making modules that can receive data from various sensors and integrate it to provide efficient route planning and data management. The software systems monitor the area surrounding the UAV to facilitate routing and decision making. The software architecture includes self-awareness to respond to situations such as adverse climatic conditions that impact the flight capabilities of the UAS. The proposed UAS system also includes hardware to monitor and update the list of obstacles in its path. This requires the UAS to be equipped with sensors for obstacle determination and a software system that accepts the inputs from these sensors, makes decisions and performs actions, promptly. An emergency response system is included to ensure that the drone will land safely in an appropriate location, if its systems are compromised. This response system is capable of deciding the severity of the situation and sends commands to the flight control system regarding the recovery steps that should be taken. The proposed system architecture incorporates cybersecurity in its design framework so that it is equipped to handle potential hackers that might try to gain access to onboard navigation controls and reroute the UAS for personal gain or another agenda. If the system senses a threat, it launches the emergency response system. The proposed UAS software architecture includes a maintenance and diagnostics system that coordinates and monitors drone activities. It performs functions ranging from monitoring the health of the hardware systems to uploading error reports to the central server. The system transmits error reports to the control unit which further processes the data to determine the source of the error and resolve the issue. In UAS systems, a computerized framework takes input from at least one sensor, and uses a pre-characterized set of guidelines to make decisions [4]. This paper aims to achieve an interconnected UAS system of systems that can address several issues and solutions related to flight autonomously.