Mini-UAVs for Convoy Protection

Dr. Hank Jones, MLB Company

Cover article, Unmanned Systems magazine, May/June 2004

MLB Bat Mini-UAVs help protect a convoy

A U.S Marine is killed and two others The news stories are now all too familiar
are wounded in an attack on their re- – American ground troops killed during
supply convoy traveling east of the Iraqi convoy or patrol operations due to
town of Falluja, a U.S. military mortar attack, small arms fire, and
spokesman said. Insurgents detonated detonation of rocket propelled grenades
a crude bomb close to the truck convoy and roadside improvised explosive
before pouring rocket-propelled devices (IEDs).
grenades and small arms fire on those
who survived the bombing.

Dr. Hank Jones, MLB Company Mini-UAVs for Convoy Protection

http://www.spyplanes.com Page 1
Hundreds of truck convoys are on the The interest in transforming standard
move every day in Iraq and the growing operational procedures for protecting
number of fatalities have not gone convoys has reached the highest
unnoticed at the Pentagon or in cities command levels of the services, and
and towns across the nation. formal doctrinal and organizational
changes are being proposed.
Operational experiments conducted by
MLB Company and others indicate that Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are
mini-UAVs can help protect the soldiers among the technologies being
traveling the dangerous dusty roads of considered in these new operational
Iraq. scenarios. Detailed operational plans
for UAVs in convoy protection are being
Three types of convoys require formed through field trials.
protection: The most publicized threat to convoys is
- Bulk transport. Up to one roadside IEDs, and some form of IED
hundred large transport vehicles plays a part in the majority of attacks.
(semi trailers or their military Sensors suitable for detection of IEDs,
equivalent) that may stretch a few which can be very small (see Figure 1)
miles in a lightly protected convoy and can be hidden in common local
at speeds from 50 to 65 mph. objects (e.g. brush, garbage, rock piles,
- Unit convoys. Ten to twenty-five culverts, animal carcasses), are not
military logistics vehicles for available.
brigade support (or five to twenty
vehicles for battalion support) UAVs may best contribute to convoy
moving at 60 to 75 mph. These protection by maintaining a persistent
convoys are high-priority targets presence over known areas of activity
for the insurgents. Aerial and and detecting the enemy technicians
ground protection is sometimes when they are installing the device. As
available, but the primary much of this activity is at night,
defense mechanism for these adequate low-light and IR sensors for
convoys is speed. the task are required for the UAV
- Special purpose convoys. Two to platform.
five non-tactical vehicles (often
converted civilian SUVs) traveling Concepts of Operations
at 85 to 90 mph act as fast
couriers of personnel and The biggest open question for UAV
materiel. operations for convoy protection is that
of ownership - are the UAV assets
Typical routes for all three convoy types organic to the convoys, or are they
vary in length from thirty to three managed by a centralized organization?
hundred miles, last from four to six This issue is being addressed by a
hours between convoy stop times, and variety of experiments underway
take place almost always during daylight throughout the U.S. armed services.
hours and in sand-blown conditions.
Speed is the best way of staying alive. One of the lead advisors on this topic,
Dr. Jeff Cerny, Advanced Systems /

Dr. Hank Jones, MLB Company Mini-UAVs for Convoy Protection

http://www.spyplanes.com Page 2
 Figure 1. Example roadside improvised explosive device
Army Missile Research and Two different applications are possible
Development at Redstone Arsenal, says given a centralized operation – route
"We are working the question of how to surveillance and convoy escort.
deploy small UAVs through a
combination of spiral development with For route protection, the primary use of
industry and live field experiments of UAVs is as a persistent patrol platform
systems that are working today." The that covers as much of the route for as
decision criteria are complicated, and it much time as possible. This is ideally
is likely that an array of UAV capabilities conducted by multiple UAVs for a single
will be needed to address the variety of route, working together to provide the
particular mission requirements. most effective coverage. Depending on
route size and UAV capability, this may
For centralized operation, the UAV be accomplished by sending UAVs
resources are controlled, operated, and along the entire routes, or by giving
maintained from a central location and individual UAVs responsibility for certain
their sensors are monitored at this Named Areas of Interest (NAIs) where
location as well. Deployed UAV assets they then loiter.
such as the AAI Shadow 200 tactical
UAV and the Northrop Grumman Hunter In the route protection role, existing
UAV are able to carry out this task in the UAVs appear to be most useful for
current environment. However, the day- detection of large groups of people,
to-day coverage of convoys by these blocked routes, and significant changes
existing UAV assets has been in infrastructure (e.g. bridge closures).
intermittent and of varying utility. A persistent and visible UAV presence

Dr. Hank Jones, MLB Company Mini-UAVs for Convoy Protection

http://www.spyplanes.com Page 3
 UAV Operations Positives Negatives
Type
Concentration of Non-LOS communication
interpretation capability required
Easier airspace Longer information loop
Centralized
deconfliction times
Straightforward repair and Difficult coordination
maintenance
Short communication Limited interpretation
ranges capability
Real-time information loop Minimal airspace
Organic
times deconfliction
Coordinated directly by Limited repair and
convoy maintenance
Table A. UAV Operations Types
may also be the best deterrent for IED airspace deconfliction, an issue that has
installation. the potential to greatly restrict all in-
theater UAV operations. In addition, the
The second application of centralized necessary operational, maintenance and
UAV operations is as a direct convoy repair expertise and resources can be
escort. In this use, the convoy developed more aggressively due to
commanders must be in constant dedicated personnel and facilities.
contact with the UAV operators. This
requirement is a significant one, as On the other hand, centralization will
current convoys have struggled to require UAVs that are capable of safe
maintain uninterrupted communication operation beyond the line of sight of
for existing needs and are unlikely to get their operators, which has a tendency to
better equipment to make significantly increase the cost of
communication to a central base more operation. Centralization will also
reliable. increase the total information loop time
as sending centrally-controlled UAV
Consequently, the level of coordination data directly to the convoy is unlikely
between convoys and UAVs should not without tools to place the UAV data in
be expected to exceed the current levels context for proper situational
possible for coordination with manned awareness.
air assets. In addition, most non-line-of-
sight communication uses satellite An alternative to centralized operation is
systems, and this bandwidth is scarce organic convoy deployment of the UAV
enough to make ubiquitous convoy assets. Such a setup reverses the
protection via a centralized hub unlikely. positives and negatives of centralized
operations presented in Table A.
As shown in Table A, there are
significant positives and negatives for Two roles are apparent for organic
centralizing operations. UAV control deployments – convoy protective escort
from a single point enables active and convoy coordination aid. For

Dr. Hank Jones, MLB Company Mini-UAVs for Convoy Protection

http://www.spyplanes.com Page 4
protection, the UAV would fly out ahead convoy commander to monitor the

Figure 2. Bat on ground

of the convoy, providing a look ahead at whereabouts and integrity of his convoy.
the route before the convoy arrives. As Communications breakdowns and
potential attackers are likely to have confusion during route reporting can
spotters on the route, low signatures are undermine the convoy commander’s
not particularly important. situational awareness.

Given the time constraints and current A UAV patrolling the convoy can aid the
sensor processing ability, the UAV commander when en route and when
would be mostly useful for spotting under attack. Commanders must
obstructions, groups or people, or currently drive their vehicle among the
infrastructure changes. For any convoy vehicles, sometimes turning
scenario in which video is sent directly back against the direction of travel, to
to the convoy, the final product should get eyes on potential problems. An
include substantial hardware or software organic UAV could be directed to the
stabilization to minimize motion sickness problem faster and with less impact on
for the sensor user. the commander.

The oft-overlooked role for organic The value of short communication

UAVs is as an eye in the sky for the ranges, given the communications

Dr. Hank Jones, MLB Company Mini-UAVs for Convoy Protection

http://www.spyplanes.com Page 5
difficulties currently faced by convoys in The UAV operator for a convoy is
Iraq, cannot be overstated. A UAV unlikely to be fully trained in airspace
beaming data directly and only to the issues, so in the near term there will
convoy can carry a smaller and simpler likely be a restriction on convoy UAV
communications system than one flight areas to reduce airspace
required to use a satellite link. The confliction.
direct connection also reduces the
information loop delay time down to In the future, deployed forces should
almost zero, but at the cost of requiring begin to think of convoys in three
personnel in the convoy to do the data dimensions and recognize that a convoy
interpretation. may have a “little bird” over it at 500 or
1000 feet. The UAV can always be

Figure 3. Sample still imagery of IED area in the desert

Figure 4. Mosaic of still images in a desert setting

Dr. Hank Jones, MLB Company Mini-UAVs for Convoy Protection
http://www.spyplanes.com Page 6
 Figure 5. The small footprint of the MLB Bat allows organic deployment

landed, crashed, or sent home if a A centralized real-time route protection

serious airspace conflict arises. capability is greatly simplified when an
automatically aimed three-axis gimbaled
As a final obstacle to organic convoy camera is available. Otherwise, the
operation, someone in the convoy must operator task load is too high for too
be responsible for maintaining the UAV long for manual aiming and fixed
amongst a set of already lengthy cameras require a stabilization/
equipment maintenance tasks. mosaicking software suite that cannot
ensure complete data over the area of
Convoy Protection Experimentation interest. In addition, the automatic
aiming allows the operator to specify
The MLB Company has been NAIs that the UAV can then spend extra
conducting experiments with a mini- dwell time on without requiring operator
UAV, the MLB Bat (see Figure 2 and intervention each time it passes over.
Table B), in a variety of convoy
protection scenarios, concentrating on An alternative to live video of the route
centralized route patrol and organic is the collection of high-resolution still
deployments. imagery (see Figure 3) that can be
processed on the ground to look for
The Bat is a small UAV with a six-foot potential hazards. A mosaic of the route
wingspan, 15-pound takeoff weight, six- created from these images (see Figure
hour endurance, three-axis 4) can be provided to the convoy
automatically aimed gimbaled video commander for planning.
camera, and bungee-powered catapult.

Dr. Hank Jones, MLB Company Mini-UAVs for Convoy Protection

http://www.spyplanes.com Page 7
Mini-UAVs like the MLB Bat have very Mini-UAVs appear to be well suited for
small operational footprints even when organic deployment due to their small
compared to slightly larger “small UAVs” ops footprint, low cost, and capable
like the Shadow. Mini-UAVs do not endurance and range. Figure 5 shows
require a runway for takeoff and only the full extent of equipment necessary to
need a road or small field for recovery, operate the Bat from a convoy vehicle.
yet can maintain extended flight times
and a range of a couple hundred miles. The UAV is launched from a convoy
These qualities allow the centralized vehicle and is commanded to loiter
operation to be moved to the battalion about a GPS point sent up by the UAV
level if so desired. command vehicle. This point moves at
some distance ahead of the convoy on
Mini-UAVs thus compete with larger- its route to provide an early warning of
class UAVs and manned aircraft to carry trouble ahead (e.g. 30 seconds warning
out the persistent route protection at 60 km/h = 500 meters in front). The
mission. The main benefit of mini-UAVs calculation of this point may vary in
is their operational footprint and low complexity from an analysis of the entire
cost, though they suffer from limited route beforehand to simply slaving the
sensors due to payload constraints. UAV to the motions of a convoy vehicle.

Figure 6. View of convoy vehicle from automatically aimed video

Dr. Hank Jones, MLB Company Mini-UAVs for Convoy Protection

http://www.spyplanes.com Page 8
Figure 6 shows a video capture from very successful, with significant
the airplane while automatically looking increases in ease of use and situational
at a convoy vehicle. awareness for the convoy commander.

Most mini-UAVs can be re-tasked at any What’s next?

point during their flight, and a UAV
operator within the convoy would be Pending further experimentation with
able to alter the UAV mission to achieve organic deployments, centralized
the best information. Video from the operations are likely to be the norm for
UAV can be sent to any number of UAVs in the field. The route patrol
vehicles in the convoy as in-vehicle mission, rather than close support of
resources permit. individual convoys, appears to be the
best fit for current UAV capabilities.
MLB has demonstrated a "zero
operator" mode of convoy protection in Mini-UAVs will be a part of this mix,
which the Bat mini-UAV is put in an though they will have to find their place
autonomous flight mode that among the larger UAV platforms and
coordinates UAV motion and camera manned aircraft. Organic deployments
aiming with convoy movement. The are a new paradigm for UAV operations
aircraft flies at a specified lead and in convoy operations, and more proof of
offset distance from the convoy the concept will be required before they
commander’s vehicle location and are sent into the field.
automatically alters its flight path to an
appropriate loiter trajectory when the The low cost of mini-UAVs and potential
convoy is moving slower than the UAV's for ubiquitous coverage makes this
stall speed. A 3-axis gimbaled camera paradigm attractive, but requirements
system with EO and IR sensors is for low maintenance, very low operator
automatically steered to the specified involvement, and safe launch/recovery
aim point by the UAV's flight computer operations must all be addressed. The
throughout the entire mission, thus goal for all systems is to make the
eliminating the need for a fulltime sensor convoy personnel feel safer and be
operator. The UAV focus point is then safer.
controlled by the convoy commander’s
vehicle direction and velocity, effectively According to Dr. Cerny, the Army is
making the ground vehicle's steering working the problem to close the gap
wheel the UAV operator interface. From between possibilities and capabilities:
launch through landing, the UAV "Small UAVs have great potential to
requires no input from the operator and provide an eye in the sky over our
thus achieves a large amount of utility in transportation lines with reliability and
a fully autonomous manner. persistence in a small footprint and at a
cost that is acceptable. We are
A dial or keypad could be added to beginning to experiment to determine
change the offset distance while the the best method of employment."
UAV is in flight without requiring a full
operator control station. The
experiments to this point have proven

Dr. Hank Jones, MLB Company Mini-UAVs for Convoy Protection

http://www.spyplanes.com Page 9
A draft Operational Requirements Dr. Hank Jones works for MLB
Document (ORD) would be the next Company. He can be reached at
step, but that is months if not years [email protected]
away.
To learn more about the Bat mini-UAV,
For the troops on the road, fielding of go to www.spyplanes.com
mini-UAVs designed to locate and
neutralize IEDs and other roadside
threats would be a welcome sight
indeed.

Powerplant 1.2 cubic inch (23cc) 2-stroke engine

Fuel Gasoline & oil mixture; diesel, JP-8, JP-5, and Jet-A fuels also possible
Wingspan 72 inches
Gross weight 15.0 lbs (maximum)
Payload 4.0 lbs
Speed 25 to 60 mph
Duration 2.5 hours (nominal); 6 hours (maximum)
Altitude 9000 feet (maximum operating)
Range 7.0 mile radius (telemetry limited); 180 mile fuel range
Color CCD video camera with 45 deg FOV. Three-axis stabilized gimbal
mount with 17 deg and 45 deg FOV color cameras. IR video and still
Sensors
cameras available.
72 MHz uplink, 2.4 GHz downlink for video and 1200 baud flight data, 800
Data Link
mw video transmit power.
Launch Autonomous launch using bungee-powered catapult
Recovery Automatic return-to-base with autonomous GPS landing on wheels
GPS waypoint navigation using MLB flight controller with IMU. Aircraft
Guidance operates autonomously from launch through landing. Waypoint changes
can be made when aircraft is in telemetry range.
Video receiving and recording station for color camera. PC laptop with
Ground Station moving-map and flight data displays is used to monitor the flight and store
data.
Engine starter, power supplies, antennas, shipping cases all included in
Support equipment
standard system.
Training and MLB offers support (flight operations, flight training, and repair) at
Support additional cost. Travel expenses and parts are charged additionally.
Standard Bat system with one vehicle, ground station, catapult, and basic
Price training starts at $42,000 for US customers.
Delivery date specified on receipt of order.

Table B. MLB Bat specifications

Dr. Hank Jones, MLB Company Mini-UAVs for Convoy Protection

http://www.spyplanes.com Page 10