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MISE - Applications for electronics of not piloted aircraft

Obiettivo

The MISE project aims to increase the level of technological maturity of what has been developed by CIRA over the years in the field of the autonomous flight technologies of unmanned aircraft, with the ultimate goal to transfer the available skills and know-how to industrial partners for the integration with the national industrial context operating in the RPAS sector. Particularly, the specific objectives of the project are:

  1. Development of SW applications with advanced functionality of Flight Management (FMS) and Health Management (HMS) for RPAS MALE class, up to the definition of low-level specifications for the production of code including the verifications using ground test rigs for real-time simulations with hardware in the loop. The autonomous management of a mission will be based on a decision making module that interacts with the Ground Control Station or taking independent decisions. It will enable the various guiding using several innovative technologies (Automomous replanning, Autonomous sense and avoid, and Separation Assurance , etc .. )
  2. Development and validation of a SW applications for the On-Board Image Processing and the management of information coming from a set of mission sensors (Sensors Mission Elaboration) able to decrease the amount of mission data to be sent to the ground, to provide information to the FMS  for the navigation functions and to increase the situational awareness of ground operators. In particular, the applications will focus on imaging sensor fusion capabilities and geolocation, Target detection and tracking and compression of air video sequences and blob / inset.
  3. Development of a modular environment oriented to functional and performance modeling of systems interacting with the SW applications and inclusive of functional models of SW themselves. It is composed of at least three different versions: a simplified one for requirements definition and design of algorithms (functional simulator), a second version with greater detail for the numerical verification of the functionality and performance analysis of the algorithms and, finally, a third version for real-time verification of the algorithms with SW - In-the - Loop simulations
  4. Design and implementation of ground - test rigs dedicated to the development and validation by means of real-time hardware in the loop (HIL) simulations of the SW application developed. Specifically, these test rigs include a HW - SW environment for rapid prototyping applications for IMA (Integrated Modular Avionics) architecture and its numerical verification SIL / HIL simulator that uses an IMA architecture (or , if available, a real HW/SW IMA System). It also include a Manned Avionic Cockpit (CAM) simulator for the  Real Time verifications of SW applications for the integration of UAS in civil airspace (in presence of manned aircraft).
  5. Design and implementation of HW-SW subsystems to integrate into experimental platform OPV (Optionally Piloted Vehicle ) called FLARE developed by CIRA for the flight testing of the enabling technologies for RPAS. Specifically it is a set of sub-systems related to Ground Control Station and to the command and control data- link system.
  6. Definition, in accordance with the national Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC), of procedures and processes for the model-based development of SW applications for RPAS, able to take into account in the best way the requirements of the applicable regulations (i.e. DO-178B). The ultimate goal is to facilitate the subsequent process of technology transfer towards certifiable industrial products.
  7. Development of a technical feasibility analysis for the management and coordination of multiple RPAS for the execution of specific missions, simultaneously guaranteeing interoperability with commercial air traffic.
  8. Development of a feasibility study of SW algorithms for the management of a Hybrid System for the on board Generation of Energy applicable to both RPAS MALE aircraft and small aircraft for personal transportation (VLA , GA).

From a programmatic point of view, the MISE project activities can be divided into the following phases:

  • User and System requirements definition with the national aviation industry support (System Requirement Review)
  • High-level requirements and architecture definition with reference to the SW applications of interest (Preliminary Requirement Review)
  • Design and development of applications and related fast-time simulation tool
  • Development of tools and facilities for the Real-Time verification and on-ground testing
  • Verifications on the field (in flight or ground control station testing) with preliminary integration into the target system

The MISE project was closed in December 2015 touching all the steps above and achieving all the identified objectives.

Attività nel progetto CIRA

The main CIRA activities in this project are the development and demonstration, using test benches, of technologies and prototypes directly functional to the realization of guidance, navigation and control systems of RPAS for ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) missions. The technologies and prototypes developed under this project can be used by national companies developing unmanned aircraft and helicopter and fit harmoniously within the framework of the implementation of activities or products for the RPAS update. The main products are listed below:

Autonomy Management Systems. Development of algorithms related to the Flight Management and Health Management systems for RPAS (MALE class), up to the definition of low-level specifications for the production of the code. Specifically, the main results and developments are:

  • in collaboration with Alenia Aermacchi (now Leonardo - Aircraft Division ), an application module of Mission Planning for the mission definition and analysis related to the constraints and the mission objectives (i.e. data-link visibility, payload management, etc..)
  • in collaboration with Alenia Aermacchi (now Leonardo - Aircraft Division ), an application module of Mission Replanning for the Ground Control Station of the Sky-Y UAS. It has the capabilities of mission re-planning taking into account constraints (dynamic characteristics of the aircraft, terrain, using DTED database , flight zones forbidden and flight operational area), the health status of the aircraft and its ability to continue the mission even in degraded conditions.
  • Advanced Fault, Detection, Isolation e Reconfiguration algorithms;
  • Visual Guidance and Navigation, algorithm
  • A SW module for the Collision Avoidance based on ADS-B and then, a second version that includes a module for the Self Separation based on ADS-B used in ES mode (Extended Squitter). The algorithm (ASACAS) also  includes a specific filter module of the aircraft traces collected by ADS-B IN present in the flight area (Surveillance Processing Module)
  • A graphic application for Multifunctional Display oriented to the UAS Ground Stations. This application allows to the pilot to remotely interact with the on-board system by displaying status information and Situational Awareness " perceived " on-board and to set up online modify (during the mission) the current flight plan and the on-board database. 
  • In collaboration with Agusta Westland (now Leonardo - Helicopters Division), an FMS module for Automatic Take- off and landing of a rotary wing RPAS (SW-4 SOLO) on ship.

Visual Based Payloads. Software Applications for the On-Board Image Processing and the management of information coming from the set of mission sensors able to decrease the amount of mission data to send to the ground. In particular, the focus of the applications implemented covers the following functions:

  1. Imaging sensor fusion and geo-localization;
  2. Target detection and tracking;
  3. Video Compression

    Specifically the main results are:

  • The development of a Sensor Aided Imagery Codec which aims to make the digital encoding of full motion video or motion imagery , using the motion estimation algorithms accelerated by the use of the navigation data. The system is fully compliant with the ITU H.264 video encoding standard
  • A Visual Target Tracking algorithm module for ISTAR missions

On‐board Energy Management Systems. Development of a feasibility study of SW algorithms for the management of a Hybrid System for the on board Generation of Energy applicable to both RPAS MALE aircraft and small aircraft for personal transportation (VLA , GA).

Integrated Modular Avionic Technologies. It was completed the development of basic SW (VxWorks 653 kernel and drivers) for I/O communication of the IMA platform and the implementation of a tool for automatic code generation from graphical models for IMA 653 systems. This tool allows to generate C-Code starting from the models developed in Matlab / Simulink ® environment including the use of APEX standard calls according to the ARINC653 standard.

Multiple UAS Coordination. Development of a technical feasibility analysis for the management and coordination of multiple RPAS for the execution of specific missions, simultaneously guaranteeing interoperability with commercial air traffic.

Integrated Simulation Development Tools for HW & SW in the loop verification. The main developments in this framework are:

  • A simulation module of the air traffic in the area under test
  • A detailed engineering simulator of a fixed-wing UAS system;
  • An Integrated Simulation Facility (ISF) that allows creating complex real-time simulations, involving different facilities which share the same scenario information. In particular it is possible: to configure the shared traffic scenario of the test area, set up shared meteorological scenario in the test area, set the date and time of the simulation and the consequent configuration GPS constellation, and so on
  • a specific design and verification tool for the development of algorithms for Rotorcraft Unmanned Aerial Systems for the take-off and landing on ship, including a ship model with sea motion, an Airwake model, sensors and helicopter model (material point and emulation of low-level control system)
  • a simulation facility called Emulator Controller Working Position (ECWP) based on ADS-B using the ISF facility that carries the ADS-B information of all the cenario simulated aircraft. It allows the execution of real-time simulations with the presence of air traffic controllers in the loop, with the ultimate aim of assessing the management procedures of a RPAS aircraft in the commercial air traffic. 
  • A Manned Avionic Cockpit (CAM) simulator for the  Real Time verifications of SW applications for the integration of UAS in civil airspace (in presence of manned aircraft)

On‐ground & In‐Flight Facilities for Testing & Validation. Specifically in this area a communication system (command and control Data-link) has been developed. Its main  characteristics are the low latency and a specific directional antenna system that allows the line of sight tracking of the aircraft in the area of operations (VTS).


SW Design Process Standardization compliant with DO‐178B. Definition, in accordance with the national Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC), of procedures and processes for the model-based development of SW applications for RPAS, able to take into account in the best way the requirements of the applicable regulations (i.e. DO-178B). The ultimate goal is to facilitate the subsequent process of technology transfer towards certifiable industrial products.


Programma

​The project MISE is funded by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development through the funds allocated (808/85) for the "Interventions for the development and growth of competitiveness in the industries operating in the aeronautical sector".

  • data inizio: Tuesday, June 1, 2010
  • durata: 66.00
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
55
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
MISE
On Board Systems and ATM, Safety and Security, Software Development and Virtual Reality, Electronics and Communications, Propulsion, Aeronautics - Technology Integration and Flight Demostrators
The project MISE “Applicativi per elettronica di aeromobili non pilotati” is funded by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development through the funds allocated (808/85) for the "Interventions for the development and growth of competitiveness in the industries operating in the aeronautical sector".
Navigation/Flight Management/Autoland, Warning Systems, Electronics ＆ Microelectronics for On-board Systems, Communications Systems, Optics-Optronics-Lasers-Image processing and data fusion, Electrical Power Generation ＆ Distribution, Flight Control System, Flight/Ground Tests, System Certification, Fault Tolerant Systems, Advanced Information processing, Collaborative Decision Making, Decision Support Systems, Autonomous operation, Aeronautical Software Engineering, Development of Operational Research methods ＆ tools, Numerical Models (including Fast Time simulation), Real Time Simulators, General Purpose Equipment, Methodology, Overall ATM, Airspace management, Navigation Systems, Human Factors Integration, Man-machine Interface
Guidance Navigation and Control Lab, Electronics Lab

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