TEAMX or Manned and Unmanned Cooperation

Abstract

Since several years the UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) win more and more market. For specific short missions, UAVs perform surveillance or infrastructure checking. However, due to the UAV limitation in terms of endurance and autonomy, for many missions the cooperation between manned and unmanned aircraft is needed. The UAV will play the role of deported arms and eyes of the helicopter. With such innovation, the helicopter performs what the UAV cannot do and on the operation theatre the UAV performs what the helicopter cannot do anymore. In order to ensure the multipurpose platform functionality of the helicopter, the cooperation system will be considered as an optional and will demand only simple and quick plug and play actions. The main constraints are to relatively locate the UAV and Helicopter with a centimetric accuracy and in addition to ensure safety in flight (collision avoidance) with functionality such as geo and helicopter fencing. With an efficient MUM-T architecture system, we will be capable to perform missions with an increased level of safety, to increase the availability of the H/C, to enlarge the H/C mission perimeter, to reduce the pilot workload and to avoid human operation in the so called 3D (Dull, Dirty, Dangerous) zones.