A Chiba University team member holds up the team’s quad-rotor MAV, which can fly at a maximum speed of more than 100 kilometers and can be controlled in groups of threes, in preparation for launch. Chiba University was one of 12 international teams to compete in the competition. (Photo by Larry D. McCaskill.)

Activities during the first U.S.-Asian workshop for the demonstration and assessment of micro air vehicle (MAV) and unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) technology were abuzz as the vehicles took to the overcast Asian sky and crossed the dusty Indian terrain in Agra, India. Hosted by the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command’s (RDECOM’s) International Technology Center-Pacific (ITC-PAC) along with India’s National Aerospace Laboratory and the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, the week-long event was attended by more than 200 scientists and engineers from various international governmental, academic, and industrial organizations. Twelve teams from eight countries showcased various next-generation, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-enabled prototype systems of MAVs and UGVs.

“Success does not always have one meaning,” said COL James D. Bass, Commander, RDECOM, ITC-PAC. “Attracting so many organizations and research institutions to come and display their use of the technology is the first big step. That and demonstrating them in a realistic scenario provides a lot of insight and knowledge on the technology and its capabilities. The Indian government has been very hospitable and I look forward to continued collaborations with them in future research efforts.”

RDECOM has nine technology centers worldwide, each with the mission of locating and investigating foreign technologies that can be transitioned in the American military arsenal. Bass said the next step forward is clarification of the most critical technologies presented at the conference, and once that is accomplished, RDECOM will pursue research grants to fund higher-level research to mature the technology. The final step of the research effort would involve transferring the technology into the military arsenal. “Conferences like this provide opportunities that are critically important to helping researchers understand how their technologies will be applied in operational environments,” said LTC Eric J. Stierna, Commander, Southern Asia Office, ITC-PAC.

Some of the MAV platforms included UGVs to assist in the reconnaissance of the terrain. (Photo by Larry D. McCaskill.)

According to Stierna, demonstrations allow researchers to become better informed on basic user requirements, which help them to develop capabilities that deliver better value to the warfighter. MAV 08 researcher teams demonstrated a deep understanding across a wide range of MAV capabilities and limitations using a variety of COTS technologies. “This conference opened ITC-PAC to the potential for collaborations between the U.S. Army and the Indian government in the areas of MAVs,” Stierna said. Advantages of the MAV technology are its use in urban reconnaissance operations, target recognition, and identification, as well as the potential to detect conventional, chemical, and improvised explosive devices.

Balraj Gupta, Director, Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, said being able to assess the capabilities is the most important aspect of the demonstration. “Some of my expectations were met, but more importantly, all the teams made very good attempts. All the teams tried their hardest, but each had shortcomings,” he said.

During the event, teams exhibited their systems, presented the technology and theories of use to a panel of judges, and participated in course navigation/recognition maneuvers. The mission scenario mixture of operational and developmental flight test maneuvers and missions were combined to create a unique and challenging demonstration environment for the prototype systems. The objective was to demonstrate how combinations of MAV and UGV systems controlled by a team of human operators can effectively conduct a simulated hostage rescue mission.

Teams attempted to maneuver their systems through a 1-kilometer course, which consisted of various obstacles that included simulated mines, while avoiding detection by hostile combatants. The first day of aerial demonstrations had to be rescheduled as high winds and uncooperative weather disrupted teams’ attempts to safely operate their MAVs. Attempts on the second and third days were more productive.

According to Gupta, the technology is attractive because of both its military and civilian applications. He also believes there is a need for more cooperation between the U.S. and the Indian Ministry of Defense. “I am encouraged that both sides are interested in continuing collaboration,” he said.

LTC Eric J. Stierna, Commander, Southern Asia Office, ITC-PAC, provides additional guidance to a MAV 08 participant. Stierna said opportunities such as MAV 08 help researchers understand how their technologies will be applied in operational environments. (Photo by Larry D. McCaskill.)

Teams that participated included the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA; Delft University of Technology and Wageningen University and Research Centre, Netherlands; Drone Aerospace Systems Pvt. Ltd., India; University of Arizona, USA; MAV for Search, Tracking, and Reconnaissance (MAVSTAR), Australia; Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ENAC), France; Academy of Business and Engineering Sciences Engineering College, Ghaziabad, India; Chiba University, Japan; Universitat Pompeu Fabra/Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats, Spain; Martin Mueller Engineering, Germany; Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB), India; and National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore, India.

Awards were given to the following teams based on evaluated mission performance, a technical paper review, and static judging:

Best Mission Performance

• ENAC, France
• Martin Mueller Engineering, Germany
• MIT, USA
• University of Arizona, USA

Best Hover Performance/Rotorcraft

• IITB, India
• MIT, USA

Best Autonomous MAV

• ENAC, France

Best Exotic Design MAV

• University of Arizona, USA

Best UGV Performance

• MAVSTAR, Australia