US Navy Office of Naval Research (ONR) is displaying a prototype, tube-launched swarming naval UAV, developed as a part of the Low-Cost...
US Navy Office of Naval Research (ONR) is displaying a prototype, tube-launched swarming naval UAV, developed as a part of the Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology (LOCUST) program at the annual Sea-Air-Space Exposition April 13-15, which takes place at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Maryland.
The LOCUST program will make possible the launch of multiple swarming UAVs to autonomously overwhelm an adversary, providing tactical advantage to marines and sailors.
The LOCUST includes a tube-based launcher that can send UAVs into the air in rapid succession. The breakthrough technology then utilizes information-sharing between the UAVs, enabling autonomous collaborative behavior in either defensive or offensive missions.
Since the launcher and the UAVs themselves have a small footprint, the technology enables swarms of compact UAVs to take off from ships, tactical vehicles, aircraft or other unmanned platforms.
The recent ONR demonstrations, which took place over the last month in multiple locations, included the launch of Coyote UAVs capable of carrying varying payloads for different missions. Another technology demonstration of nine UAVs accomplished completely autonomous UAV synchronization and formation flight.
The ONR is gearing up to the 2016 ship-based demonstration featuring rapidly launching 30 autonomous, swarming UAVs.
Even though the LOCUST UAV is highly autonomous compared to remote-controlled UAVs, there will always be a human monitoring the mission.
