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uav
GE Intelligent Platforms has been a leading provider of
embedded computing technologies for unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) since development of this paradigm-shifting
new form of military aircraft. UAVs are now revolutionizing
how aerial intelligence is gathered and in some cases even
how the enemy is engaged. The US Army, Air Force and Navy
have all made substantial commitments to even greater
use of UAV technology in the future as a way to limit risks to
warfighters, conduct missions under conditions not possible by
manned flight platforms, and even lower capital and operating
costs for battlefield deployments.
The technology requirements of unmanned platforms
present unique challenges to contractors. Video capture
and streaming capabilities are of major importance both
to control the aircraft and obtain meaningful observation
of potential objects of interest on the ground. The capture,
processing and transmission of enormous volumes of data
must be accomplished seamlessly and in real-time with
components that incorporate leading-edge size, weight and
power advantages. Flight management and control systems
(and sometimes weapons management systems) also must
meet the unique challenge of operating a battlefield asset from
considerable distances.
Many unique GE products have helped launch the UAV
paradigm, and continue to move it forward to maturity. Our
video capture and processing technology has been deployed in
UAVs such as the US Navy Fire Scout as well as a DARPA-funded
demonstration of in-flight refueling of a UAV. Video tracking
systems from GE such as our ADEPT5000 rugged video tracker
have successfully overcome the challenges of data clutter
from non-targets, multiple target tracking, and obscuration
and decoy attempts to avoid detection. Acquiring the data
necessary to perform these surveillance activities is the role of
a myriad of sensor technologies, and onboard analog-to-digital
data converters must be able to manage that data with near-
zero latency.
The latest and greatest technology is of little use if subsystems
fail to integrate in an efficient manner. GE Intelligent Platforms’
rigorous subsystem integration and testing programs free
contractors and system integrators from the time- and capital-
intensive certification of subsystems, and thus help to
quickly move UAV concepts out of the design studio and onto
the battlefield.
photo courtesy of u.s. air force
