Preface
Aerospace Series List
Acknowledgments
List of Acronyms
Part One
Introduction
1. History and Overview
1.1. Overview
1.2. History
1.2.1. Early History
1.2.2. The Vietnam War
1.2.3. Resurgence
1.2.4. Joint Operations
1.2.5. Desert Storm
1.2.6. Bosnia
1.2.7. Afghanistan and Iraq
1.2.8. Long-Range Long-Endurance Operations
1.3. Overview of UAV Systems
1.3.1. Air Vehicle
1.3.2. Mission Planning and Control Station
1.3.3. Launch and Recovery Equipment
1.3.4. Payloads
1.3.5. Data Links
1.3.6. Ground Support Equipment
1.4. The Aquila
1.4.1. Aquila Mission and Requirements
1.4.2. Air Vehicle
1.4.3. Ground Control Station
1.4.4. Launch and Recovery
1.4.5. Payload
1.4.6. Other Equipment
1.4.7. Summary
1.5. Global Hawk
1.5.1. Mission Requirements and Development
1.5.2. Air Vehicle
1.5.3. Payloads
1.5.4. Communications System
1.5.5. Development Setbacks
1.5. Predator Family
1.5.1. Predator Development
1.5.2. Reaper
1.5.3. Features
1.6. Top UAV Manufacturers
1.7. Ethical Concerns of UAVs
Questions
2 Classes and Missions of UAVs
2.1. Overview
2.2. Classes of UAV Systems
2.2.1. Classification Criteria
2.2.2. Classification by Range and Endurance
2.2.3. Classification by Missions
2.2.4. The Tier System
2.3. Examples of UAVs by Size Group
2.3.1. Micro UAVs
2.3.2. Mini UAVs
2.3.3. Very Small UAVs
2.3.4. Small UAVs
2.3.5. Medium UAVs
2.3.6. Large UAVs
2.4. Expendable UAVs
Questions
Part Two
The Air Vehicle
3 Aerodynamics
3.1. Overview
3.2. Aerodynamic Forces
3.3. Mach Number
3.4. Airfoil
3.5. Pressure Distribution
3.6. Drag Polar
3.7. The Real Wing and Airplane
3.8. Induced Drag
3.9. Boundary Layer
3.10. Friction Drag
3.11. Total Air-Vehicle Drag
3.12. Flapping Wings
3.13. Aerodynamic Efficiency
Questions
4 Performance
4.1. Overview
4.2. Cruising Flight
4.3. Range
4.3.1. Range for a Non-Electric-Engine Propeller-Driven Aircraft
4.3.2. Range for a Jet-Propelled Aircraft
4.4. Endurance
4.4.1. Endurance for a Non-Electric-Engine Propeller-Driven Aircraft
4.4.2. Endurance for a Jet-Propelled Aircraft
4.5. Climbing Flight
4.6. Gliding Flight
4.7. Launch
4.8. Recovery
Questions
5 Flight Stability and Control
5.1. Overview
5.2. Trim
5.2.1. Longitudinal Trim
5.2.2. Directional Trim
5.2.3. Lateral Trim
5.2.4. Summary
5.3. Stability
5.3.1. Longitudinal Static Stability
5.3.2. Directional Static Stability
5.3.3. Lateral Static Stability
5.3.4. Dynamic Stability
5.4. Control
5.4.1. Aerodynamic Control
5.4.2. Pitch Control
5.4.3. Directional Control
5.4.4. Lateral Control
Questions
6 Propulsion
6.1. Overview
6.2. Propulsion Systems Classification
6.3. Thrust Generation
6.4. Powered Lift
6.5. Sources of Power
6.5.1. Four-Cycle Engine
6.5.2. Two-Cycle Engine
6.5.3. Rotary Engine
6.5.4. Gas Turbine Engines
6.5.5. Electric Motors
6.6. Sources of Electric Energy
6.6.1. Batteries
6.6.2. Solar Cells
6.6.3. Fuel Cells
6.7. Power and Thrust
6.7.1. Relation between Power and Thrust
6.7.2. Propeller
6.7.3. Variations of Power and Thrust with Altitude
Questions
7 Air Vehicle Structures
7.1. Overview
7.2. Structural Members
7.2.1. Skin
7.2.3. Fuselage Structural Members
7.2.3. Wing and Tail Structural Members
7.2.4. Other Structural Members
7.3. Basic Flight Loads
7.4. Dynamic Loads
7.5. Structural Materials
7.5.1. Overview
7.5.2. Aluminum
7.6. Composite Materials
7.6.1. Sandwich Construction
7.6.2. Skin or Reinforcing Materials
7.6.3 Resin Materials
7.6.4. Core Materials
7.7. Construction Techniques
7.8. Basic Structural Calculations
7.8.1. Normal and Shear Stress
7.8.2. Deflection
7.8.3. Bulking load
7.8.4. Factor of Safety
7.8.5. Structural Fatigue
Questions
Part Three
Mission Planning and Control
8 Mission Planning and Control Station
8.1. Introduction
8.2. MPCS Subsystems
8.3. MPCS Physical Configuration
8.4. MPCS Interfaces
8.5. MPCS Architecture
8.5.1. Fundamentals
8.5.2. Local Area Networks
8.5.3. Levels of Communication
8.5.4. Bridges and Gateways
8.6. Elements of a LAN
8.6.1. Layout and Logical Structure (Topology)
8.6.2. Communications Medium
8.6.3. Network Transmission and Access
8.7. OSI Standard
8.7.1. Physical Layer
8.7.2. Data-Link Layer
8.7.3. Network Layer
8.7.4. Transport Layer
8.7.5. Session Layer
8.7.6. Presentation Layer
8.7.7. Application Layer
8.8. Mission Planning
8.9. Pilot-In-Command
Questions
9 Control of Air Vehicle and Payload
9.1. Overview
9.2. Levels of Control
9.3. Remote Piloting the Air Vehicle
9.3.1. Remote Manual Piloting
9.3.2. Autopilot-Assisted Control
9.3.3. Complete Automation
9.3.4. Summary
9.4. Autopilot
9.4.1. Fundamental
9.4.2. Autopilot Categories
9.4.3. Inner and Outer Loops
9.4.4. Overall Modes of Operation
9.4.5. Control Process
9.4.6. Control Axes
9.4.7. Controller
9.4.8. Actuator
9.4.9. Open-Source Commercial Autopilots
9.5. Sensors Supporting the Autopilot
9.5.1. Altimeter
9.5.2. Airspeed Sensor
9.5.3. Attitude Sensors
9.5.4. GPS
9.5.5. Accelerometers
9.6. Navigation and Target Location
9.7. Controlling Payloads
9.7.1. Signal Relay Payloads
9.7.2. Atmospheric, Radiological, and Environmental Monitoring
9.7.3. Imaging and Pseudo-Imaging Payloads
9.8. Controlling the Mission
9.9. Autonomy
Questions
Part Four Payloads
10 Reconnaissance/Surveillance Payloads
10.1. Overview
10.2. Imaging Sensors
10.3. Target Detection, Recognition, and Identification
10.3.1. Sensor Resolution
10.3.2. Target Contrast
10.3.3. Transmission through the Atmosphere
10.3.4. Target Signature
10.3.5. Display Characteristics
10.3.6. Range Prediction Procedure
10.3.7. A few Considerations
10.3.8. Pitfalls
10.4. The Search Process
10.4.1. Types of Search
10.4.2. Field of View
10.4.3. Search Pattern
10.4.4. Search Time
10.5. Other Considerations
10.5.1. Location and Installation
10.5.2. Stabilization of the Line of Sight
10.5.3. Gyroscope and Gimbal
10.5.4. Gimbal-Gyro Configuration
10.5.5. Thermal Design
10.5.6. Environmental Conditions Affecting Stabilization
10.5.7. Boresight
10.5.8. Stabilization Design
Questions
11 Weapon Payloads
11.1. Overview
11.2. History of Lethal Unmanned Aircraft
11.3. Mission Requirements for Armed Utility UAVs
11.4. Design Issues Related to Carriage and Delivery of Weapons
11.4.1. Payload Capacity
11.4.2. Structural Issues
11.4.3. Electrical Interfaces
11.4.4. Electromagnetic Interference
11.4.5. Launch Constraints for Legacy Weapons
11.4.6. Safe Separation
11.4.7. Data Links
11.4.8. Payload Location
11.5. Signature Reduction
11.5.1. Acoustical Signatures
11.5.2. Visual Signatures
11.5.3. Infrared Signatures
11.5.4. Radar Signatures
11.5.5. Emitted Signals
11.5.6. Active Susceptibility Reduction Measures
11.6. Autonomy for Weapon Payloads
11.6.1. Fundamental Concept
11.6.2. Rules of Engagement
Questions
12 Other Payloads
12.1. Overview
12.2. Radar
12.2.1. General Radar Considerations
12.2.2. Synthetic Aperture Radar
12.3. Electronic Warfare
12.4. Chemical Detection
12.5. Nuclear Radiation Sensors
12.6. Meteorological and Environmental Sensors
12.7. Pseudo-Satellites
12.8. Robotic Arm
12.9. Package and Cargo
12.10. Urban Air Mobility
Questions
Part Five
Data Links
13 Data-Link Functions and Attributes
13.1. Overview
13.2. Background
13.3. Data-Link Functions
13.4. Desirable Data-Link Attributes
13.4.1. Worldwide Availability
13.4.2. Resistance to Unintentional Interference
13.4.3. Low Probability of Intercept (LPI)
13.4.4. Security
13.4.5. Resistance to Deception
13.4.6. Anti-ARM
13.4.7. Anti-Jam
13.4.8. Digital Data Links
13.4.9. Signal Strength
13.5. System Interface Issues
13.5.1. Mechanical and Electrical
13.5.2. Data-Rate Restrictions
13.5.3. Control-Loop Delays
13.5.4. Interoperability, Interchangeability, and Commonality
13.6. Antennas
13.6.1. Omnidirectional Antenna
13.6.2. Parabolic Reflectors
13.6.3. Array/Directional Antennas
13.6.4. Lens Antennas
13.7. Data Link Frequency
Questions
14 Data-Link Margin
14.1. Overview
14.2. Sources of Data-Link Margin
14.2.1. Transmitter Power
14.2.2. Antenna Gain
14.2.3. Processing Gain
14.3. Anti-Jam Margin
14.3.1. Definition of Anti-Jam Margin
14.3.2. Jammer Geometry
14.3.3. System Implications of AJ Capability
14.3.4. Anti-Jam Uplinks
14.4. Propagation
14.4.1. Obstruction of the Propagation Path
14.4.2. Atmospheric Absorption
14.4.3. Precipitation Losses
14.5. Data-Link Signal-to-Noise Budget
Questions
15 Data-Rate Reduction
15.1. Overview
15.2. Compression Versus Truncation
15.3. Video Data
15.3.1. Gray Scale
15.3.2. Encoding of Gray Scale
15.3.3. Effects of Bandwidth Compression on Operator Performance
15.3.4. Frame Rate
15.3.5. Control Loop Mode
15.3.6. Forms of Truncation
15.3.7. Summary
15.4. Non-Video Data
15.5. Location of the Data-Rate Reduction Function
Questions
16 Data-Link Tradeoffs
16.1. Overview
16.2 Basic Tradeoffs
16.3. Pitfalls of “Putting Off” Data-Link Issues
16.4. Future Technology
Questions
Part Six
Launch and Recovery
17 Launch Systems
17.1. Overview
17.2. Conventional Takeoff XXX
17.3. Basic Considerations
17.4. Launch Methods for Fixed-Wing Air Vehicles
14.4.1. Overview
17.4.2. Rail Launchers
17.4.3. Pneumatic Launchers
17.4.4. Hydraulic-Pneumatic Launchers
17.4.5. Zero Length RATO Launch of UAVs
17.4.6. Tube Launch
17.5. Rocket Assisted Takeoff xxx
17.5.1. RATO Configuration
17.5.2. Ignition Systems
17.5.3. Expended RATO Separation
17.5.4. Other Launch Equipment
17.5.5. Energy (Impulse) Required
17.5.6. Propellant Weight Required
17.5.7. Thrust, Burning Time, and Acceleration
17.6. Vertical Takeoff
Questions
18 Recovery Systems
18.1. Overview
18.2. Conventional Landing
18.3. Vertical Net Systems
18.4. Parachute Recovery
18.5. VTOL UAVs
18.6. Mid-Air Retrieval
18.7. Shipboard Recovery
18.8. Break-Apart Landing
18.9. Skid and Belly Landing
18.10. Suspended Cables
Questions
19 Launch and Recovery Tradeoffs
19.1. UAV Launch Method Tradeoffs
19.2. Recovery Method Tradeoffs
19.3. Overall Conclusions
Questions
20 Rotary-Wing UAVs and Quadcopters
20.1. Overview
20.2. Rotary-Wing Configurations
20.2.1. Single Rotor
20.2.2. Twin Co-axial Rotors
20.2.3. Twin Tandem Rotors
20.2.4. Multi-copter
20.3. Hybrid UAVs
20.3.1. Tilt Rotor
20.3.2. Tilt Wing
20.3.3. Thrust Vectoring
20.3.4. Fixed-Wing Quadcopter Combination
20.4. Quadcopters
20.4.1. Overview
20.4.2. Aerodynamics
20.4.3. Control
Questions
References
