Abstract
An autonomous unmanned aerial system (UAS) needs, during the flight, accurate information about the current failure state of the aircraft and its capabilities in order to safely perform its mission and properly react to contingencies. The flight battery of an electric-propulsion aircraft is its most relevant resource. Model-based prognostics algorithms are used to obtain good estimates of its current state of charge and remaining capacity. However, these algorithms can have a large computational footprint. We present Prognostics-as-a-Service, a hybrid approach combining on-board computation with server-based prognostics on the ground.In this paper, we focus on the role, battery prognostics plays for the safe operation of a highly autonomous aircraft: prognostics for (1) continuous on-board safety monitoring, (2) for UAS operations, and (3) for contingency planning. We present the NASA Autonomous Operating System (AOS) and discuss how the autonomous components closely work together with on-board and server-based ground prognostics systems. We will illustrate the system with case studies on small NASA unmanned aircraft.
Highlights
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) are being increasingly used in different application areas
We focus on the role, battery prognostics plays for the safe operation of a highly autonomous aircraft: prognostics for (1) continuous on-board safety monitoring, (2) for UAS operations, and (3) for contingency planning
We discussed how prognostics plays an important role for autonomous electric-propulsion aircraft
Summary
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) are being increasingly used in different application areas. The goal of all these applications is to break away from piloted remote control toward full autonomous operations, where the flight computer of the UAS has full authority over the aircraft and cargo. For most UAS applications, electric-propulsion aircraft are used This means, one or more high-power batteries are driving all motors and propellers of the vehicle. At each point in time during the flight, the AUC needs reliable information about the current state-of-charge (SOC) of the battery and if the battery has enough remaining capacity to safely fly the entire mission. Model-based, the prognostics system monitors the battery, provides up-to-date statistical information about the current state-of-charge (SOC) and the rest of useful life (RUL) for the flight battery.
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