Multi-Mission Blue UAS

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Integrated Network Systems-of-Systems; Trusted AI and Autonomy OBJECTIVE: Develop a customizable autonomous Blue Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) suite that can conduct emergency response, civil engineering, aircraft maintenance (MX), Operational Support (OS) and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) defense and. Demonstrate extensibility for future payloads and missions. DESCRIPTION: USAFE is seeking autonomous UAS software and Blue UAS platforms for five unique missions with the ability for future expansion. The UAS software must demonstrate autonomous data and power transfer, provide collision avoidance, autonomous start up, autonomous take off, autonomous recovery, autonomous flight to intended destination and autonomous 2D and 3D scan capability. The UAS platforms must be water proof, demonstrate drone remote identification and interoperability with WinTAK and with the unmanned aircraft traffic management system being utilized as the Command and Control (C2) station. Specified requirements vary depending on tasked mission. Security Forces (SF) require 24/7 response time for emergencies. The UAS platform(s) in question does not need to be airborne at all times but must be available and fully charged at a moment's notice with a minimum loiter time of 45 minutes. The solution for emergency response must also contain a method for ensuring continuous operations if the battery life of the platform becomes drained, leaving no gap in coverage. The platform must be able to respond within five minutes or less from the initial notice to the location specified (up to 3 miles away). UAS must have universal mounting system for fluid and swift payload changes (i.e. camera, spot light, load speaker, etc.) Civil Engineering (CE) requires easily mobile platforms with high quality cameras in order to conduct outdoor building inspections and developing 3D models. CE also requires High resolution Ortho-imagery in color and Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR) payloads (both with accuracy greater than 50 centimeters) for collecting spatial data. Aircraft Maintenance (MX) requires high quality hyperspectral, electric optical (EO) and Infrared (IR) cameras used to autonomously inspect aircraft and develop 3D models used to track maintenance. Operations Support requires an easily mobile platform with high quality electric optical (EO) and Infrared (IR) cameras in order to conduct and track outdoor SERE training, survey/3-D model landing and drop zones and inspect airport lighting, taxiway and runway infrastructure. CBRN requires a universal mounting system similar to SF for easily swappable payloads. Payloads may include but are not limited to Catalytic Bead Sensor (CAT), Electrochemical Detection (EC), Metal Oxide Sensor (MOS), Micro Electro Mechanical Sensor (MEMS), Nano Material Sensors (NANO), Photo Ionization Detection (PID), and Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW). PHASE I: Evaluate vendor solutions to proposed requirements and ensure key requirements are met; autonomous software, WinTAK integration, and customizable platform(s)/payload mounting system. Capabilities/issues identified but not address in previous phase can be resolved, added or remove as needed. PHASE II: Develop and test autonomous Blue UAS suite for emergency response, civil engineering, and CBRN defense. Capabilities/issues identified but not address in previous phase can be resolved, added or remove as needed. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Expand capability to additional mission sets and tie into base network. Fully operational capability requires seamless integration onto the Air Force Information Networks (AFIN) for network transport and Air Forces Network (AFNET) for software utilization. The system will utilize these networks for software application usage (both for on premises and remote access), security practices and procedures, and data transport requirements. Prior to inclusion on Air Force Installation Base Enclaves, all hardware components must comply with DoD Unified Capabilities Requirements (UCR), and be listed on the Department of Defense Information Network (DoDIN) Approved Products List (APL). All software components must adhere to UCR and be certified per the Air Force Evaluated Products List (EPL). In the event components are not currently authorized, authorization will be completed with support of government sponsorship prior to capability delivery to enable immediate operational usage. Request solution use current common criteria certified components when/where possible. REFERENCES: 1. DoD C-sUAS Strategy 2021; 2. AFMAN 11-502; 3. DAFMAN 17-1301 KEYWORDS: UAS; sensors; extensible; ISR; CBRN; autonomous; MX