Encountering atmospheric turbulence is ubiquitous for all aircraft. With the proliferation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the Navy, detection and recognition of turbulence severity must be performed by means other than an onboard pilot. Our software-based solution, Systematic Turbulence Recognition and Estimation Algorithm with Metrics (STREAM), leverages onboard sensors to estimate the intensity of aircraft turbulence, which is then displayed in real-time to ground station personnel. The algorithm has been verified with test data of multiple UAS. Systems Technology, Inc. has addressed problems facing UAS over its 60-year history through handling qualities assessments, system identification methods, and metric development and display. Our goal is to transition this technology by integrating STREAM into Navy platforms, such as the MQ-25, as well as prime contractor platforms.
Improving shipboard landings in high sea state conditions for varying class of autonomous vehicles remains a constant challenge for the US Navy. Our modular solution provides a completely general framework with applicability to rotorcraft and fixed wing UAS operations. The system involves two primary components: 1) a predictive deck motion estimation (DME) algorithm, and 2) a swappable guidance and control algorithm. The framework has been flown and verified on multiple unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Systems Technology, Inc. has addressed the Navy shipboard approach and landing problem for both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft over its 60-year history through advanced flight control designs, handling qualities assessments, ship motion projection, and Improved Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System (IFLOLS) stabilization. Our goal is to transition this technology by integrating our DME algorithm with prime contractor platforms existing guidance systems.
There is a critical need to improve Navy aircraft shipboard recoveries in degraded visual environments and high sea state conditions. Systems Technology, Inc. (STI) is developing The Jet Aircraft Shipboard landing Man-machine Interface for Naval Environments (JASMINE) that combines enhanced head-up display symbology and advanced flight director modes with the NAVAIR-developed MAGIC CARPET control laws to guide strike fighter pilots to carrier landings while reducing pilot workload and enhancing safety. With a 60-year history, STI is an industry leader in the design, analysis, and pilot testing/evaluation of manual and automatic flight control systems and related technologies. Development risk is diminished through simulation evaluations conducted by Navy strike fighter test pilots. Rockwell Collins, developer of head-up displays, will provide support and guidance for fleet integration of JASMINE.
New and rapidly changing threat environments necessitate increased capabilities in missile and munition path following. Systems Technology, Inc. (STI) is developing missile modeling and pseudospectral optimization technologies to perform real-time path optimization to meet this challenging threat environment. This capability allows the missile to attack fixed and moving targets, change targets, and perform multi-phase missions including adapting to threats, countermeasures, etc. With a more than 60 year history, STI is an industry leader in the design, analysis and implementation of dynamic vehicle models and control methodologies that are directly applicable to this problem. Development risk is diminished through the extensive use of desktop simulations and close coordination with the relevant Program/Project Manager, Air (PMA) to establish realistic scenarios and constraints on missile performance and capabilities.
There is a critical need to improve Navy rotorcraft shipboard recoveries in degraded visual environments and high sea state conditions. Systems Technology, Inc. (STI) is developing the Adaptive Shipboard Guidance and Recovery Display (ASGaRD) that supports single pilot shipboard recoveries under zero-zero conditions with a set of intuitively integrated guidance and spatial cues that are optimized to enhance pilot-vehicle system performance and safety. With a 60 year history, STI is an industry leader in the design, analysis, and evaluation of manual and automatic flight control systems and related technologies. Building on this expertise, the effectiveness of ASGaRD has been demonstrated via piloted simulation. Team partner, Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, is the prime contractor for the MH-60R and is providing support and guidance towards fleet integration.