Automatic Takeoff and Landing

The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a UAS high-altitude, unmanned, multi-intelligence, persistent maritime Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) system designed to provide the fleet with an experimentation and demonstration capability to support the Navy’s transformational initiatives of SeaPower 21and FORCEnet, through the sea trial process (Northrop Grumman, n.d.). The Mission Control Element (MCE) personnel operate the command and control, mission planning, imagery quality control, and communications functions of the system. Personnel in the Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) of the ground segment load the autonomous flight mission plan and monitor the operation during automatic takeoff and landing. The Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) of the UAS is used to aid in this process.

Photo: Northrop Grumman

The Global Hawk is more dependent on satellite uplink to maintain flight than a manned plane. Automation is often thought of as an all-or-none proposition, but as the variety in current UASs demonstrates, automation occurs at many levels and in many varieties (Barnhart, Shappee, & Marshall, 2012). The Global Hawk’s abilities are limited without continuous connection to pilots on the ground. This is a serious limitation affecting the UAS automated system and safe operations. It could be even more detrimental during combat with enemies using cyber attacks and anti-satellite warfare to compromise operations. An enhancement to the RQ-4 Global Hawk’s automation level includes the use of multiple satellite and line-of-sight data links provide numerous communication paths to the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration MCE and the LRE, with broadband communications via commercial satellites serving as the primary data link for imagery transmission.

The Boeing 777 has autonomous flight capabilities that are similar to the RQ-4 Global Hawk. The pilot-airplane interface is enhanced with integrated displays, controls, and automation working together for efficient flight deck operations. The Boeing 777 uses both the Airplane Information Management System (AIMS) and the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) for its autonomous functions. The AIMS manages the approach and departure procedures, system feedback, as well as in-flight controls. The EFB is used to manage flight operations and streamline cockpit and crew efficiencies to include but not limited to; flight checklists, ATC approach information and electronic flight plans (Boeing, 2014). The flight deck and flight management system of the Boeing 777 provide provision for future enhancements, more notably those made possible by the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

Manned aircraft have the advantage of situational awareness. They are more responsive to unexpected threats than UASs. While they have the automatic takeoff and landing systems, there are safeguards in place in case the automatic system experiences a malfunction. The Global Hawk has the advantage of not having a human on board, but it has the disadvantage of limited situational awareness. The UAS is dependent on remote pilots to conduct operations. By using a fully autonomous system to remove human error, this eliminates possible threats to operational safety. An autonomous system can perform as programmed, but not always as anticipated. The most efficient systems are those that allow autonomous flight, with the capability to switch flight to manual control on demand. The Boeing 777 with its onboard flight crew presents the better situation for manual override than the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

References

Barnhart, R. K., Shappee, E., and Marshall, D. M. (2012). Introduction to unmanned aircraft systems. New York, NY: CRC Publishing.

Boeing. (2014). New Airplace 777. Retrieved from http://www.newairplane.com/777/#/design-highlights/technology/flight-deck/

Northrop Grumman. (n.d.).  RQ-4 Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration System. Retrieved from http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/RQ4Block10GlobalHawk/Documents/GHMD-New-Brochure.pdf

Thompson, L. (2014, February 20). U-2 Vs. Global Hawk: why drones aren't the answer to every military need. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2014/02/20/u-2-vs-global-hawk-why-drones-arent-the-answer-to-every-military-need/