Unmanned Aerial Systems

Deploying Next-Generation UAS Platforms with 3U VPX

More powerful. Lighter. Cooler. These are the key criteria for the design of Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) in next-generation Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) platforms, which continue to grow in importance to military organizations worldwide. The ability of these platforms to provide persistent surveillance of targets while eliminating the need to put warfighters in harm's way makes them indispensable assets to commanders. The effectiveness of these platforms in the field is governed by their sensor payload and their processing systems. Next-generation UAS designs, such as the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D), require high levels of processing power for multiple onboard sensors, and all that power must be delivered in a lighter, cooler configuration that minimizes the size, weight and power (SWaP) envelope of onboard electronics subsystems.

Unfortunately, designing LRUs that meet next-generation UAS program requirements is a challenge. Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) single board computers (SBCs) are available that provide key functionality for everything from feature recognition and video surveillance, to target identification and tracking. But not all SBCs are ideal for LRUs destined for new UAS platforms. Most do not have the processing power required. Some that do have the processing power require too much real estate in available chassis configurations, while others may offer the right mix of processing power and compact size, but cannot be cooled properly to meet rugged operational requirements. LRUs built on open architecture 3U VPX form factor modules offer the optimal balance of size, weight and power for a variety of UAS applications.