Development of test method for evaluation of UAS mobility capability in GNSS-denied environment

Abstract

This paper introduces the development of test methods for capability evaluation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-denied environments. The purpose of this development is to facilitate growth in the UAS industry. We discuss the test method’s approach and what UAS’s capability evaluation is essential for UAS use in GNSS-denied environments. As a result, we decided to adopt an approach that a test method evaluates a capability to perform a single simple task. In addition, these test methods should be along with the requirement of UAS manufacturers and users. Thus, first, we develop test methods to assess mobility in narrow spaces with obstacles shielding GNSS radio. We repeatedly have demonstrations and discussions of our test method with UAS manufacturers and users from the early stage of this development and collect their opinions for improvement to proceed with the development while building consensus with them. In addition, we evaluate several UASs by the test methods and examine whether our test method makes it possible to show the difference in UAS capability. This paper describes the approach of the test methods, the test methods for mobility in a GNSS-denied environment, the demonstrations and discussions with UAS manufacturers and users, and the results of the UAS’s performance evaluation by the test methods.