Design and performance evaluation study of a prototype of a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle

摘要

This thesis aims to provide a low-cost solution through integrating commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies to produce a prototype of a "Tactical Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle UCAV" system that can be utilized by the front-line ground units in the near future. The Tactical UCAV is designed to enhance the information collection and autonomous precision strike capability of the ground units. The Tactical UCAV can also be deployed as sensor nodes as part of a larger global information grid in a networkcentric warfare operation. The proposed Tactical UCAV system is comprised of a Hunter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (HUAV), which primarily carries high resolution sensors and communication devices and is used as a mother-ship for smaller "Killer UAVs (KUAV)." The KUAV carries a mission specific set of instruments; it can be a sensor or a warhead or both depending on the desired end results. After the target is acquired by the HUAV, the target information will be transferred to the KUAV. The KUAV can then be launched in close proximity of the target with the target position update from the HUAV. This thesis will focus on the development of a prototype KUAV and the integration of the prototype with the existing HUAV "Rascal" developed and operated by the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). The KUAV and the HUAV will form the Tactical UCAV system.