Platforms Paired Using Autonodyne HMI
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) successfully completed an airborne manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) demonstration on 25 August, pairing an MQ-20 AVENGER with a modified KING AIR 200 as a surrogate for 4th– and 5th-generation tactical fighters.
The flight demonstrated autonomous collaboration using the AVENGER’s C2 from a ruggedised tactical control tablet, integrated with Autonodyne’s RCU-1000 Advanced Human Machine Interface (HMI), to provide real-time situational awareness combined with complex behavioural tasking. The KING AIR airborne node allowed for rapid integration and test of the C2 hardware.
GA-ASI is “[…] integrating state-of-the-art technology [and] providing combatant commanders with tested solutions for persistent, affordable air sensing with challenging target sets,” according to Mike Atwood, Senior Director of Advanced Concepts at GA-ASI. “This flight builds on the previous long-wave IR passive autonomous testing, and continues to validate that persistent Group 5 UAS aircraft can perform complex Air Moving Target Indication (AMTI).”
The two-hour demonstration over the Mojave Desert proves the ability for GA-ASI MUM-T to command airborne assets while autonomously executing behaviours and missions that provide increased awareness and effectiveness to combatants.
“Tactical control combined with powerful autonomy capabilities is critical to providing our warfighters the tools they need now,” commented Autonodyne CEO, Steve Jacobson.
