The Swiss Federal Aircraft Factory (F+W), Emmen, Switzerland has developed an Automatic Landing System for Unmanned Airvehicles (UAV) or Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV). Until now, such RPVs needed a ground based pilot for landing, since the accuracy of traditional positioning equipment is limited to about 100 meters, which by far is insufficient for an automatic process. The accuracy of this new system is now about 2 meters and thus allows for fully automated landings.
The so-called RAPS (RPV Autoland Position Sensor) is a major part of the autolanding system. During the approach, RAPS continuously measures the dynamic position of the RPV in azimuth, elevation and range. These values are transmitted to the GCS (Ground Control System) and are used as feedback in the autoland servo control loop. The RPV can thus be corrected, i.e. guided along a predetermined landing path.
RAPS consists of a tripod with a motorized sensor platform and an electronic unit. The equipment is deployed in close vicinity to the landing field. Video and computer communications to and from the GCS are provided by means of a Fibre Optic Link. The RAPS can be fully remote-operated from the GCS.
On the sensor platform, a Laser Radar unit and a TV camera point to the approaching RPV. The RPV is illuminated by invisible infrared light pulses. These are echoed back to the RAPS. Using these echoes, RAPS determines the RPV distance as well as azimuth and elevation angles. The TV camera gives visual information to the operator for monitoring the process.
The position sensor is based on an Intel 80186 architecture, provided on a bare board by Gespac, Geneva, Switzerland. A DDC-I Ada Cross Compiler System (DACS-80x86) was used for the implementation. Papers describing the concept and the project will be available in both German and English.
The Autoland Project was funded by the Swiss Military Department's Defense Technology and Procurement Agency.
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DACS™ (DDC-I Ada Compiler System) is a trademark of DDC-I.
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The Swiss Federal Aircraft Factory (F+W), Emmen, Switzerland has developed an Automatic Landing System for Unmanned Airvehicles (UAV) or Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV). Until now, such RPVs needed a ground based pilot for landing, since the accuracy of traditional positioning equipment is limited to about 100 meters, which by far is insufficient for an automatic process. The accuracy of this new system is now about 2 meters and thus allows for fully automated landings.