PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) has demonstrated that an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) can navigate and land on a moving ship without GPS or direct human pilot control. The technology is designed to help unmanned aircraft operate in maritime environments where satellite navigation and communications may be jammed.
The demonstrations showed that a tactical drone could perform mission tasks and recover on a vessel with a pitching deck. The system uses commercial-standard cameras, motion sensors and onboard electronics combined with guidance, navigation and control software developed by NAWCAD’s Maritime Autonomous Guidance-Navigation-Control Intelligent Coupled Systems Lab. Testing included work with a scale model of a Navy Yard Patrol craft on October 14, following initial indoor validation of the computer vision and flight-control algorithms.
“In contested areas where satellites and communications are jammed, autonomy gives significant advantage to our sailors,” said Navy Rear Adm. Todd Evans, NAWCAD commander. “Breakthroughs like this help us scale unmanned capability fast and affordably across a distributed fleet.”
How the Technology Works
Traditional shipboard drone recovery can require multimillion-dollar radar systems, specialized flight-deck equipment and ship modifications that take months to complete. NAWCAD’s approach uses existing aircraft sensors and software to reduce the need for this additional hardware.
The drone uses computer vision to recognize the ship’s shape and visual features, guiding its approach without GPS. Algorithms predict the deck’s movements in real time, allowing the aircraft to adjust its flight path and land on the moving vessel.
The modular software is designed to work with different unmanned aircraft computer systems and could support platforms ranging from small tactical quadcopters to larger combat-class aircraft.
“In a high-end maritime conflict, GPS is the first operational link an adversary attempts to sever,” said Peter Arslanian, a NAWCAD aerospace engineer. He added that the adaptable software could expand deployment options through software upgrades rather than expensive modifications to ships with limited space.
Funding and Future Integration
The project was funded by the Office of Naval Research and the Naval Innovative Science and Engineering Program. With the initial flight demonstrations complete, the software is ready to progress toward operational testing on fleet platforms.
NAWCAD is coordinating with military program offices to move the technology into formal acquisition processes, including the Navy’s Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems program, the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) EVADE project.
NAWCAD also plans to adapt the technology for larger unmanned systems, particularly tactical resupply drones that could deliver equipment to ships operating in contested waters.
NAWCAD employs military personnel, civilians and contractors to operate test ranges, laboratories and aircraft supporting the testing, evaluation, research, development and sustainment of Navy and Marine Corps aviation platforms. Headquartered in Patuxent River, Maryland, it also has major operational sites in St. Inigoes, Maryland; Lakehurst, New Jersey; and Orlando, Florida.
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