Mission
The mission for the request for
proposal that relates to hurricane damage and insurance claim collection via
UAS. After large hurricanes, infrastructure often is limited, damaged to roads
and pathways is limited due to fallen trees and power and communications
networks are often limited if not completely destroyed. In order to facilitate quick insurance
claims, the ability to gather photographs immediately after the hurricane is
vital. Not only with his data help insurance adjusters, but it could also augment
a governmental response to the damage by helping predict and plan required
resources and support. In order to create a system capable of accomplishing
this mission, many parts of the system can come from Commercial Off the Shelf
(COTS) products. The majority of the design effort will go into ruggedizing
both the air vehicle as well as ground control station in addition to finding ways
to power both the air vehicle and ground station without a reliable power
source. The entire process from design and testing should take no longer than
one year.
Derived
Requirements
1.
Transportability
1.1 Transportation
case weight
1.1.1
Transportation
case shall be authorized for checked baggage on airline.
1.1.2
Transportation
case shall fit in sedan trunk
1.1.3
Transportation
case shall be man portable (50LBS or less)
1.2
Transportation case as charger
1.2.1
Transportation
case shall serve as charging station for air vehicle.
1.2.2
Transportation
case shall serve as charging station for GCS.
1.3 Transportation
case ruggedness
1.3.1
Transportation
case shall be waterproof per IP68 rating.
1.3.2
Transportation
case shall be drop proof from 5 feet.
1.3.3
Transportation
case shall be dustproof per IP68 rating.
2.
Data-link
2.1 Data-link frequency
2.1.1 Data-link shall not interfere with
emergency rescue communications.
2.1.2 Data-link shall communicate without
external network assistance (no LTE).
2.1.3 Data-link
shall be resistant to interface from external influence.
2.1.4 Data-link
shall be encrypted.
2.2 Data-link distance
2.2.1
Data-link shall extend to at least 2 miles.
2.2.2
Data-link shall be line of sight only.
3. Ground
Support Equipment
3.1 Power Generation
3.1.1 Power generation shall be from
external generator (gasoline).
3.1.2 Power generation shall be from 12VDC
(car charger).
3.1.3 Power generation shall be from solar
panels.
3.1.4
Power generation shall be adjustable between gen/vehicle/solar via simple
switch.
3.2 Image
processing
3.2.1 Image processing shall be done off
site.
3.2.2 Image processing shall be transmitted
via cellular network
3.2.3 Image processing shall be
transmitted via satellite network
3.2.4 Image processing shall be
transmitted via WIFI
3.2.5 Image processing shall automatically
transmit via lowest cost network available.
3.3 On-site maintenance
3.3.1 On-site maintenance package shall
support operations for one-week mission
3.3.2 On-site maintenance package shall
fit inside transportation case
3.3.3 On-site maintenance package shall
provide common spares for one-week mission
3.3.4 On-site maintenance package shall
include common tools for one-week mission
Testing Requirements:
1.
Transportability
1.2 Transportation
case weight
1.2.1
Check complete
transportation case with airline common carrier
1.2.2
Place complete
transportation case in trunk of typical sedan
1.2.3
Weight complete
transportation case to determine if under 50 pounds.
1.2
Transportation case as charger
1.3.4
Conduct
charging operations via transportation case for air vehicle
1.3.5
Conduct charging
operations via transportation case for GCS
1.4 Transportation
case ruggedness
1.4.1
Submerge
transportation case in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes then inspect.
1.4.2
Drop transportation
case from 5 feet then inspect for damage.
1.4.3
Expose transportation
case to dust for 30 minutes then inspect.
2.
Data-link
2.1 Data-link frequency
2.1.1 Operate data-link within close
proximity of fire department and police department.
2.1.2 Operate data-link in a location that
does not have LTE network.
2.1.3 Operate
data-link in a location that is exposed to exposed high voltage powerlines.
2.1.4 Attempt
to intercept and exploit encrypted data-link
2.2
Data-link distance
2.2.1 Operate
data-link past 2 miles and check for signal loss.
2.2.2 Operate
data-link beyond line of sight and check for signal loss.
3. Ground Support Equipment
3.1 Power Generation
3.1.1 Power system via gasoline generator
and attempt a full charge cycle.
3.1.2 Power system via 12VDV car port and
attempt a full charge cycle.
3.1.3 Power system via solar panels and
attempt a full charge cycle.
3.1.4 Swap
power source during charging cycle and check for proper switching.
3.2 Image
processing
3.2.1 Send data to offsite location for
processing.
3.2.2 Send data to offsite location for
processing via cellular network.
3.2.3 Send data to offsite location for
processing via satellite network
3.2.4 Send data to offsite location for
processing via WIFI
3.2.5 While sending data check for proper
network swap according to net availability
3.3 On-site maintenance
3.3.1 Operate the system for a week with
no external maintenance support.
3.3.2 Pack the maintenance package into
transportation case and ensure compliance.
3.3.3 Operate the system for a week with
no external maintenance part support
3.3.4 Operate the system for a week with
no external maintenance tool support
Development
Process and Timeline
The method of development
for this system will required multiple teams to work with both uniquely new
designs as well as modify COTS components. Due to the fact that most components
will not need to be designed from scratch the process should be slightly
quicker. The entire timeline of all 5 phases will be approximately 12 months
from concept design to production. One of the key processes during all phases
of development is the requirement for an overarching systems engineer to ensure
system integration is occurring continuously. Ensuring the components are
subject to phased testing and validation would assist in ensuring development
was both on time and in compliance with requirements through the entire design
process (Sadraey, 2010). In regards to the phases of development the will be
broken down as follows:
Phase 1: Concept Design- Build conceptual solution to above
requirements. (2 month)
Phase 2: Preliminary
Design- Determine what COTS components can be used and integrate and design new
and unique components as per the requirements above. (2 months)
Phase 3: Detail
Design-Teams design production ready systems that integrate both COTS and
non-COTS components and integrate into total system design plan. (3 months)
Phase 4: Test and
Evaluation- Utilize the testing requirements above in order to ensure
sub-system integration between teams is conducted to standard. Selection of test sites and procedures will
be accomplished. (2 month)
Phase 5: Production- Selection of production site, marketing, and
distribution will be considered. (3 months)
Testing
Strategies: Due to
the heavy reliance of both ground support equipment and power generation
components, the testing strategies of this system will focus on the integration
of all the major components of this system. In order to test the system
properly, the key will be finding a location that is representative of a post
hurricane disaster area. In order to provide a controlled environment as well
as the attributes that are similar to a hurricane effected area, remote sites
must be used. The capstone test and evaluation exercise should occur in a
location with limited vehicle mobility, limited power resources, limited
network connectivity, and for a duration of at least 7 days. The location will
not be resupplied of any system parts, tools, or maintenance parts. This
exercise will simulate the conditions that this system may meet when deployed
to a disaster site, and the duration would simulate the typical time on the
ground this system would remain without support from the rear.
Design
Rational
The major themes used to build the design requirements were
durability and self-sufficiency. In regards to durability, the aircraft will
need to be shipped, flown, driven, or carried in many different vehicles to
reach areas effected by hurricanes. In order to protect the system, while at the
same time allowing a single person to transport it, a high level of detail was
put on the transportation case. In order to reduce weight and complexity,
allowing the transportation case to act not only as a protective case, but also
a charging stations and physical location of the GCS helped reduce cost and
weight while decreasing additional equipment requirements. The transportation
box’s resistance to the elements was vital due to the possibility of the system
being stored outside if conditions do not allow for climate controlled indoor storage.
The aspect of self-sustainability
is vital due to the fact that after a hurricane, the USPS, UPS, FedEx and other
shipping options will often be limited due to destruction of infrastructure
such as roads, runways, and ports (Cleary, 2016). The need to have all
maintenance parts and tools stored in the transportation case will allow the
sole operator of the system to deploy forward into the destruction zone without
the need to trek back and forth, which would be both logistically difficult and
time consuming. The ability of a single operator to gather multiple claims in a
period of week while deployed forward will provide insurance companies with a
marked advantage over there competition.
The power and network requirements
presented also allow for near real time information flow from the destruction
zone to a processing center regardless of power and network availability, which
would most likely be either degraded or destroyed following a hurricane. The
use of satellite networks, solar power or generators helps not only deploy to
areas with limited infrastructure, but also allow for continuous operations
without the need to return to the rear.
The entire system was designed to
support long term self-contained operations in areas with degraded or destroyed
infrastructure. The concept of sending out a small package with a single
operator will reduce operational costs as well as logistical costs while
maximizing the number of claims an insurance company to collect. The system
will also decrease the reaction time that traditional insurance companies need
to provide proper insurance claim coverage in hurricane affected areas.
References
Cleary,
T. (2016, October 06). What Is a Category 4 Hurricane? 5 Fast Facts You Need to
Know. Retrieved October 25, 2016, from
http://heavy.com/news/2016/10/what-is-category-4-hurricane-matthew-damage-strength-history-definition-wind-speed-storm-surge-facts-names/
Sadraey,
M. (2010). A Systems Engineering Approach to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ...
Retrieved October 25, 2016, from
http://enu.kz/repository/2010/AIAA-2010-9302.pdf
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