Identification of Promising Naval Aviation Science and Technology Opportunities (2006) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
3 Science and Technology for the Disruptive Capabilities
3 Science and Technology for the Disruptive Capabilities
Pages 27-57
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 27... ...
naval unique (required only by naval missions)
|
From page 28... ...
28 b Core Technologies Survivability N/A N/A Areas Human Systems Integration Technology Structures and Materials and Science Propulsion and Power a Function Functional Sensors by to Area S&T Avionics Capabilities kill)
|
From page 29... ...
29 or no improved thinks improvement and/or e committee the at investment th order-of-magnitud imply an significant landing. and more necessarily requiring even not takeoff an effort, does that short symbol a vertical technology indicates of symbol VSTOL, focused " absence " The A vehicle; air areas.
|
From page 30... ...
In addition, the committee was informed that the investment in autonomous technology at the 6.1 D&I level is to be reduced from $4 million to $2.5 million for fiscal year 2005.3 The committee recognizes that great advances in computing speed, memory density, wireless networks, and distributed computing are being driven by commercial market forces; thus, although these are critical enablers of future naval avionics, they are likely not appropriate investment areas for ONR. Further, significant work on aircraft avionics relevant to several of the identified disrup 1For a lengthier discussion on this topic, see National Research Council, 2004, Evaluation of the National Aerospace Initiative, The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C.
|
From page 31... ...
ONR should then be the principal sponsor of a cohesive program for the development of new technologies to meet the identified gaps. Although ONR is in partnership with the larger aviation community, the committee believes that the advanced avionics technologies involved in three of the identified disruptive capabilities -- namely, multispectral defense, unmanned air vehicles, and intelligent combat information management -- will be central to the future of naval aviation and therefore of high interest to ONR.
|
From page 32... ...
Consequently, ONR should pursue a technology development program that enables: · Simultaneous operations on carrier decks with manned and unmanned aircraft characterized by robust situational awareness, fault tolerance in both systems, and a significantly improved command and control architecture; and 5For more discussion on this topic, see National Research Council, 2005, Autonomous Vehicles in Support of Naval Operations, The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C. 6National Research Council.
|
From page 33... ...
The technology could include a vision system for the UAV, a data terminal for personnel, or remote "pilot" operator stations with advanced situational awareness capabilities. Intelligent Combat Information Management Naval aircraft need a new digital high-speed intelligent combat information management and display system (IMDS)
|
From page 34... ...
From the point of view of the disruptive capabilities listed in Table 3.1, it is clear that sensors, in one form or another, must play a crucial role in any new concept that arises. However, although this is undoubtedly true, Table 3.1 does not call out sensors for enhanced attention either because the committee thought
|
From page 35... ...
New sensor technology developments do not seem to be required for the particular disruptive capabilities identified in the previous chapter. Indeed, in general, ONR's radar and optical sensor work seems mainstream-that is, comparable to the state-of-the-art work available in the government, university, and contractor communities as a whole.
|
From page 36... ...
The very small sizes and severely limited on-board power capacity of microUAVs create special sensor challenges that, although they have already been addressed for modest-sized UAVs, require a dedicated S&T effort. Sensors for Hypersonic Weapons Delivery Sensor aperture compatibility with aerodynamic requirements is a very difficult problem as both may be compromised.
|
From page 37... ...
"Blue" LADAR technology can penetrate to various depths in the ocean typically measured in a few "extinction depths." Although this capability is advantageous in some parts of the ocean, it is inadequate in many littoral environments, harbors in particular. Other Sensor Technology Issues While the disruptive capabilities discussed above do not seem to require the development of completely new sensors beyond current state-of-the-art capabilities, there are a number of sensor technology issues that Navy S&T should be monitoring or actively involved in.
|
From page 38... ...
To support the Navy in Sea Power 21 and Marine Corps Strategy 21, ONR needs to stretch its vision farther into the future and start work on some revolutionary propulsion technologies. The committee suggests that a good place to start would be the technologies needed to enable the identified disruptive capabilities areas of UAVs, hypersonic weapons delivery, and heavy-lift vehicles.
|
From page 39... ...
Research in this area of active control should continue and should be broadened and deepened as a core activity in combustion. ONR does have a research effort in the area of pulse detonation engines.11 See Figure 3.1.
|
From page 40... ...
For example, long nozzles, electric arcs, and rocket propellants have been considered. The search for less costly weapons delivery should be broadened beyond the pulse detonation engine.
|
From page 41... ...
Limited storage space leads to design options that differ markedly from those of comparable land-based aircraft, and these design differences impose materials selection options that may differ radically from those for their land-based counterparts. These differences in environment and basing have led to selections of materials and design that make naval aircraft unique, and this pattern does not seem likely to change for UAVs.
|
From page 42... ...
By contrast, based on the briefings received by the committee, there does not appear to be comparable attention given to the materials and structural issues associated with the other elements of naval air vehicle platforms. The committee recommends that ONR examine the technology areas listed in Table 3.3 as a way to enable and realize the identified disruptive capabilities.
|
From page 43... ...
If the Navy leadership, through a detailed systems engineering process, determines that manned or unmanned hypersonic aircraft should be based on and return to ships, the hypersonic-capable airframe would have to incorporate lowspeed handling for ship recovery. This could entail propulsion systems capable of not only hypersonic flight but also short takeoff and vertical landings.
|
From page 44... ...
44 IDENTIFICATION OF PROMISING NAVAL AVIATION S&T OPPORTUNITIES TABLE 3.3 Technology Opportunity Areas to Enable Disruptive Capabilities Disruptive Technology Area Capability Area Opportunities Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) Efficient lifting surfaces/morphing structures UAVs/hypersonic vehicles Structurally embedded apertures UAVs Extremely lightweight structures UAVs MEMS-based active control of lifting surfaces UAVs Lightweight self-monitoring and self-healing structures UAVs/hypersonic vehicles Advanced low-observable sensor windows with high-temperature capability Directed energy Lightweight structures hardened against directed-energy weapons attack Directed energy High peak power with rapid-heat-dissipation capable structures Heavy-lift air vehicles Very lightweight ballistic-projectile-resistant armor/structures Heavy-lift air vehicles Active reconfigurable rotors and control surfaces for optimized flight Heavy-lift air vehicles NOTE: MEMS, microelectromechanical systems; VLO, landing gear operational speed.
|
From page 45... ...
profile -- very long loiter capability (7 days) Reduced structural integration Reduced structural Essential weight with VLO compatibility integration weight with for subsonic/supersonic VLO compatability flight applications for hypersonic flight applications Lightweight structures applicable Ultra-lightweight structures Essential to small UAVs for nano-UAVs Very lightweight, highly reliable Ultra-lightweight, highly Essential actuators for small UAVs reliable actuators for nano-UAVs Health monitoring of primary Self-healing structures Essential structures with self-reporting of maintenance actions required Affordable sensor windows Affordable sensor apertures Essential compatible with sensor compatible with sensor requirements for subsonic/ requirements for supersonic supersonic flight flight Lightweight structures capable Essential of withstanding directedenergy weapons attack Lightweight structure with Essential the ability to withstand high peak power pulses while dissipating the heat generated without degradation of the primary structure's strength Lightweight structures that help Lightweight structures that Essential reduce overall weight, enabling help reduce overall weight, 500- to 1,000-nm ranges with enabling 1,500- to 2,000-nm typical helicopter flight profiles ranges with faster flight profiles than existing helicopters (tilt-rotor-like)
|
From page 46... ...
Furthermore, when they are used as structural members, their sensitivity to fatigue fracture may be a life-limiting feature. Two important new advances in materials development promise to address these deficiencies and herald a new generation of organic matrix composites, but extensive research is required to achieve further basic
|
From page 47... ...
Nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes offer the opportunity for control of strength and electrical conductivity in the materials used as strengthening fiber for organic matrix composites.
|
From page 48... ...
Given the mandate to reduce the number of personnel on aircraft carriers, dependence on machines for detecting and identifying entities is mandatory. A consortium of 220 organizations has developed an online machine vision information exchange.17 This would be an excellent place for ONR to leverage technologies and to identify category 6.1 research that is naval unique.
|
From page 49... ...
Human Systems Integration Research in the 2011 to 2025 Time Frame To provide minimally manned naval air operations, ONR must perform basic research in the synergistic teaming of manned and unmanned assets. The tradeoffs of various levels of synergy have already been identified by the Army.24 The Aviation Applied Technology Directorate has listed its desired capabilities for rotary-wing aircraft and UAVs.
|
From page 50... ...
50 and aircraft, hanger assets of of operations (6.3) assessment, control among Technology performance submarines, measures and simulation support vehicles)
|
From page 51... ...
51 or of for for displays handling security personnel; protection fuel reducing operators mission semiautomated models mitigation wearable for support carrier and boats, multilevel and tools, and simulators injury behavior pilots training Automation eliminating autonomous Spinal both high-speed protection, for rehearsal forces training Handheld vehicles, ground eye fleets footprint tools reduction, and for support aerial laser reach-back displays, underwater protection, small unmanned and fatigue training rehearsal command unmanned Semiautonomous of unmanned vehicles, vehicles Tactical immersion full-spectrum protection, sea-based enabled mission Holographic verbal mission-planning assets and aiding of and for validity data Synergistic teaming manned unmanned Computer Methods presenting uncertainty assessing of manned operations combat air Minimally naval 24/7/365 readiness Intuitive information assimilation unique essential relevant Naval Naval Naval 2011-2025 2011-2025 2011-2025
|
From page 52... ...
Identifying automation technologies for reducing or eliminating support personnel and providing autonomous carrier protection that could transition to the fleet in the 2011 to 2025 time frame would greatly reduce manning requirements. Such a capability is already listed in the Navy Functional Concept of Operations.26 Autonomous aircraft carrier protection has been identified as a requirement by the Chief of Naval Operations.27 A naval-essential capability in the 2011 to 2025 time frame is 24/7/365 combat readiness.
|
From page 53... ...
There is a 40-year history of research on spinal cord injury mitigation.31 Fuel-handling technologies have been developed by the Air Force32 and the Army Corps of Engineers.33 The Navy has a long history of interest in mission rehearsal,34 and ties between the Naval Aviation Training System Program Manager, PMA205, and ONR would enhance naval capabilities in this critical area. Finally, the Army has performed extensive research in semi-automated forces for training.
|
From page 54... ...
· Next-generation rotorcraft/VSTOL air vehicles will have unique rotor signatures. · Heavy-lift vehicles will be large, low flyers with visual signature challenges.
|
From page 55... ...
Beyond these specific problem areas, aerodynamics should be considered a core technology area to be sustained by ONR. For example, it does have substantial importance in hypersonic flight technology and as a key enabling technology for understanding and exploitation of dynamic fluid-structure interaction.
|
From page 56... ...
Development of the capability to create designs with dramatically reduced noise and vibration requires fundamental improvements in dynamic modeling and simulation. There is a pressing need for accurate and computationally tractable models of the unsteady flow field and its interaction with nonlinear structural elements, including rotor blades.
|
From page 57... ...
and developing a D&I road map to guide naval S&T activities. ONR should consider developing strong technology programs supporting the desired disruptive capabilities if these are to become a reality.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.