Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) have been the focus of studies since the early 1970s concerning applicability to real-world operations ranging from civilian and military surveillance to weapons delivery. Recent advances in the fidelity and scale of synthetic environments (primarily driven by training applications) have made feasible full implementation of the precepts of simulation-based acquisition for development and deployment of UAV missions. In addition, the increasing fidelity and realism of synthetic environments may play a role in operation of UAVs by fusing real-time onboard sensor data with digital knowledge of the area - including targets - in which the UAV is flying. This synthesis of information could provide options well beyond the capabilities of traditional Ground Control Stations by placing the limited field of view of the UAV in a broad geographic and geometric context, thus eliminating "soda straw" field of view limitations now prevalent in the operation of UAVs. The research and prototypes discussed in this paper demonstrate the feasibility of such an approach.
展开▼
