Unmanned System Control Station Analysis
For this week’s research assignment, I am to select a ground control station (GCS) for an unmanned ground system (UGS) or unmanned maritime system (UMS), and provide an in-depth analysis of its data depiction and presentation strategy, including hardware, software, and user interface. For this topic I have selected Textron Systems Synturian Control Station. Synturian is an upgrade to Textron’s Universal Ground Control Station (UGCS), and is similar in that it is designed to control unmanned systems in the sea, air, and land domains. However, it is much more scalable than their previous UGCS, allowing for greater mission flexibility (Synturian, 2016).
Data Depiction and Presentation
The Synturian Control Station display is platform agnostic, meaning that no matter what system it is controlling, data is shown in the same way. This provides a familiar experience to the operator, whether he or she is controlling a UGS, a UMS, or an unmanned aerial system (UAS). Data is presented in a map-centric view that presents mission information up front, with platform status information in the background. The basic display setup is through a flat-panel computer monitor or television screen, however the Synturian Remote package, which is a portable system that provides Level of Interoperability 2 (LOI 2) to additional users, displays on any tablet or smart phone, displaying imagery from the payload (Synturian, 2016). LOI 2 is the direct receipt of unmanned system related data and metadata to other properly equipped users (STANAG 4586, 2017).
Hardware, Software, and User Interface
The basic Synturian GCS operates off of two desktop computer processing units (CPUs), one for the vehicle operator and one for the payload operator. However, additional CPUs can be added to accommodate more users or to integrate additional unmanned systems. The software is a Linux-based program that is NATO Standardization Agreement 4586 compliant and designed to interface with systems utilizing the Tactical Common Data Link (One for All: AAI Textrons UAV Control System (UGCS/OSVRT), 2013). The user interface is designed to be intuitive, incorporating not just a keyboard and mouse, but touch screens as well. The touch screen capability enables a user to do such things as easily draw overlays on the map display, or even zoom in on a particular part of the video while allowing other users to continue to see the full image. While not quite man-portable, the entire system is designed to be lightweight and expeditionary in nature. The GCS can be set up anywhere that has shelter and electricity, such as a combat operations center, an existing building, or even a tent with a generator. The Synturian Remote, on the other hand, is designed to be man-portable and carried on patrols. In addition to its touch screen display, the Remote system includes a receiver and antenna that receive data from the unmanned system (Synturian, 2016).
Suggested Improvements
One improvement that I would make to this system would be to improve the LOI capability of the Synturian Remote to LOI 3. This would give the Remote user the ability to control the payload, as required, to look at what he or she wants without having to communicate back to the system operator (STANAG 4586, 2017). This could be especially useful when operating in urban areas or other terrain that could interfere with direct communication between the patrol and the operator.
References:
One for All: AAI Textrons UAV Control System (UGCS/OSVRT). (2013, January 15). Re
trieved April 30, 2017, from http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/one-for-all-aai-tex
trons-uav-control-system-05412/
STANAG 4586. (2017). Retrieved April 30, 2017, from http://www.lockheedmartin.com/
us/products/cdl-systems/about-us/stanag-4586.html
Synturian. (2016). Retrieved April 30, 2017, from http://www.textronsystems.com/sites/de
fault/files/resource-files/US%20Synturian%20Military%20Datasheet.pdf