Small Unmanned Systems Business Expo Presenter Dr. John Appleby

1. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003 1
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
(SUAS) Test and Evaluation: Robotic
Aircraft for Public Safety (RAPS)
July 26, 2013
Presented at the “Small Unmanned Systems Business Exposition 2013”, July 25-26, 2013, San Francisco
John Appleby, PhD
Borders and Maritime Security Division
Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate

2. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
• Provide technical knowledge and solutions
that address DHS operational capability gaps
in border, maritime, and cargo security
• Key Operating Partners: CBP, USCG, ICE
• Two operational settings:
• Areas between Ports of Entry (POEs)
• At the POEs
• Domains:
• Air; Ground; Underground; Water;
Underwater
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Borders & Maritime Security Division
Mission Space

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 Purpose,
Approach,
Scope
 Processes
 Test site
 Vendor
participation
 Test Plan
 Test Reports
 Lessons Learned
 Schedule
Topics
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4. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
 To evaluate overall performance and utility of SUAS–sensor
combinations using:
 RAPS addresses capability gaps and related operational factors of
interest to a large and diverse group of potential users/stakeholders
at federal, state, and local levels of government
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 Key capability
measures
 One test – ours –
applied uniformly to all
systems to be tested
 Realistic operational
test scenarios and
environments
 Test reports produced
for each system tested
Purpose and Test Approach

5. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
 Notional, scripted operational scenarios for border security, search
and rescue, fire/HAZMAT/disaster response, law enforcement
 Operational utility assessments
 Suitability assessments for operation in the National Airspace System
 Fixed- and rotary-wing SUAS < 25 lbs (MTOW)
 Flight testing < 400 ft altitude (AGL)
 Other RAPS activities
 U.S. border security demonstrations
 R&D: Onboard sense-and-avoid capabilities; spoofing countermeasures
 Design studies (ultra-quiet SUAS)
 Support to DHS’s working group on privacy and civil liberties
RAPS Scope
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6. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
SUAS Applications – Border Security
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Notional DHS SUAS mission benefits (examples)
 Rapid aerial response capability
 Better situational awareness
 Improved agent safety
 More and better people/vehicle tracking
 Support rural and maritime interdiction

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Oklahoma Training Center – Unmanned Systems (OTC-US)
Elgin, OK (Ft. Sill restricted airspace)
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RAPS Test Range
OTC-US site (red outline)
“Liberty City” site nearby (urban scenarios)

8. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
 We developed 21 specific SUAS Performance Goals (next slide)
using notional operational scenarios created and provided by senior
LE, fire, and border security operators
– Scenarios were vetted with at-large operational communities
 These requirements encompass
– Program priority to seek mature SUAS solutions that could support the
near-term transition of good capabilities
– Testing in three areas: user applications; usability; transition to NAS
 RFI* released September 2012 invited manufacturer participation
– 72 white papers received
 White paper screening and selection process
– Compliance check vs. RFI requirements
– White papers placed into three categories: Near-term participation;
Later participation; Rejected (non-compliant)
* (Request for Information)
Manufacturer Participation
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9. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
SUAS Performance Goals
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Common Requirements: Threshold Objective
Lost Link Procedures Rally Point
Rally Point and after time
return to launch
Airframe Accumulated
Flight Time
> 200 hours (Rotary-wing)
> 500 hours (Fixed-wing)
> 400 hours (Rotary-wing)
> 1,000 hours (Fixed-wing)
Sensors Electro-optical and infrared Chemical/biological/radiological
Sensors (EO/IR) Fixed Gimbaled
Laser Designation None Laser spotter integrated
Training (operator) One week One day
Deployment Bungee/catapult launch Hand launched
Recovery Line/net capture Deep stall/hover
Assembly < 5 minutes < 1 minute
Ready to launch (after assembly) < 5 minutes < 1 minute
Mean time between lost link > 100 hours flight time > 250 hours flight time
Airworthiness–Operator’s
Manual
Provide written Operator’s
Manual
Provide written Operator’s
Manual
Airworthiness–Maintenance
Manual
Provide written Maintenance
Manual
Provide written Maintenance
Manual
Weight (MTO) < 25 pounds < 25 pounds
Rotary-winged UAS: Threshold Objective
Endurance 30 minutes 1 hour
Range 0.25 mile 1 mile
Speed (dash) 10 mph 30 mph
Speed (endurance) 0 mph 20 mph
Altitude 400 ft AGL 1000 ft AGL
Service Ceiling 6,000 ft MSL 10,000 ft MSL
Acoustic signature (at 400 ft AGL) TBD TBD
Fixed-wing UAS: Threshold Objective
Endurance 30 minutes 2 hours
Range 1 mile 3 miles
Speed (dash) 20 mph 40 mph
Speed (endurance) 15 mph 30 mph
Altitude 400 ft AGL 1000 ft AGL
Service Ceiling 6,000 ft MSL 10,000 ft MSL
Acoustic signature (at 400 ft AGL) TBD TBD

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 We created a Test Plan using
standard methodologies for
operational evaluation
 50 Performance Measures
(quantitative and qualitative)
 Approved for public release in
November 2012
 Test Plan may/will evolve
 Example: Simulating more complex test
scenarios involving multiple public
safety organizations
 Also, we incorporate, where possible,
stakeholders’ suggestions for changes
and improvements
Test Plan
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11. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
 Test Reports
 Created by the S&T RAPS
team for potential users
 Vendors perform fact checks
of final draft and identify
proprietary information
 Approved for release by DHS
 Content posted on DHS S&T
First Responder
“Communities of Practice”
website at:
Test Reports
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https://communities.firstresponder.gov

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 RAPS Web sites
 Government employees and
government-sponsored
stakeholders interested in
RAPS may request, via
FirstResponder.gov, access
to DHS S&T’s First
Responder “Communities of
Practice” website, which
includes the RAPS
“Community of Practice” site
 Access is controlled by DHS
S&T and the RAPS PM for
the RAPS and RAPS Secure
pages, respectively.
Communities of Practice
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13. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
 Full Test Reports
 Content: Complete test results, including scoring summary tables to facilitate
SUAS inter-comparisons; includes company-proprietary information
 Audience: Government employees and government-sponsored stakeholders
interested in RAPS (potential users)
 Access to Full Test Reports:
 Available upon request to RAPS PM
 Archived in Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety (RAPS) Secure “Community of
Practice” site
 Executive Summaries of Test Reports
 Content: Highlights of and general statements on test results
 Audience: Approved for unrestricted, public release
 Access to Executive Summaries:
 Available upon request to RAPS PM
 Archived in Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety (RAPS) “Community of
Practice” site
Test Report Access
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14. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
RAPS Timeline
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RFI Released
September 2012
Test Plan Finalized
November 2012
RAPS-001 Test
Report Released
(restricted)
April 2013
Vendors Selected
72 White Papers
October-November
Flight testing begins
December 10, 2012
Test Report
Production
2013-beyond

15. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
 No one platform performs well in all scenarios
 Fixed wing aircraft:
 Very good in search and rescue, fire monitoring
 Some fixed wing SUAS need operating areas > 200 ft radius
 Launch and recovery zones
 Deep stall landings affected by winds
 Rotary winged aircraft:
 Perform well in crime, accident, and arson scene investigation and in police
SWAT applications
 Hover ability is very beneficial
 Some systems are relatively quiet, providing stealth, and can “perch” at
specific locations
 Nearing the 30-minute endurance level
 Winds are not a limiting factor (fly in winds up to 30 mph)
 In winds, maintain commanded flight profiles better than fixed wing aircraft
Lessons Learned – To Date
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16. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
 Essential performance capabilities for effective, high-use operations:
 Integrated EO and IR sensors on a gimbaled platform
 Search and rescue scenarios are aided by ability to switch between two modes
to validate targets of interest
 Dual sensors are valuable in urban scenarios where shadows are prevalent
 Geo-referenced EO and IR full motion video
 Needed for chain of custody and target of interest location accuracy
 Collision avoidance:
 For some systems, the best way to avoid oncoming traffic may be to initiate
immediate landing
 But climb and descent speeds may not be sufficient to avoid collision
 Other findings:
 Quiet systems developed by DoD may need audible augmentation during
search and rescue
 Fuel cell SUAS: > 8 hr endurance is a significant new capability
 Note – The fuel cell we tested requires > 12 min for warm up prior to launch
Lessons Learned, cont’d
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17. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
RAPS Schedule
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18. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
RAPS Schedule, cont’d
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New RFI, tentatively, in Fall 2013 which, with 2012 RFI, would support ongoing testing in 2014; manufacturers TBD

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Dr. John Appleby, Chair DHS S&T HSARPA
Mr. Bob Griffin, Director DHS S&T First Responder Group
Mr. Jonathan Cantor DHS Chief Privacy Officer (Act.)
Ms. Tamara Kessler, Chief (Act.) DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Mr. John Priddy, Director DHS Customs and Border Protection (CBP)/ Air Operations
Capt Doug Nash, Chief DHS U.S. Coast Guard/ Office of Aviation Forces
Mr. Chris Vaughan DHS Federal Emergency Management Admin./ Geospatial Management Office
Mr. Jim Williams, Director Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)/ UAS Integration Office
Mr. David Morton FAA/ UAS Integration Office, Aviation Safety Inspector
Mr. Steve Pansky FAA/ UAS Integration Office, Senior ATC Analyst
Dr. Steve McKeever Oklahoma State Univ./ VP for Science &Technol. Transfer; UML/ Executive Director
Mr. Eric Meyn, Director University Multispectral Laboratories (UML)/ Unmanned Systems Division
Chief Robert Doke Oklahoma State Fire Marshall
Chief Jon Hansen Director, Oklahoma Council On Firefighter Training (COFT)
LTC Jon Greenhaw Oklahoma National Guard
Mr. Mike O’Shea Department of Justice/ Office of Justice Programs
Cmdr Bob Osborne (ret.) Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Chief Donald Shinnamon, Sr.
(ret.)
Public Safety Aviation Consultant
Mr. Andy Lacher MITRE Corporation/ UAS Integration Research Strategist
RAPS Steering Group

20. Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003
RAPS Project Support Officer:
 Mr. Kevin Spence: (202) 254-2235
kevin.spence@associates.hq.dhs.gov
RAPS Web Links:
 FirstResponder.gov is a public-access DHS S&T website
 Government employees and government-sponsored stakeholders
interested in RAPS may request, via FirstResponder.gov, access to DHS
S&T’s First Responder “Communities of Practice” website, which
includes the RAPS “Community of Practice” site. Access is controlled by
DHS S&T and the RAPS PM. https://communities.firstresponder.gov
 RAPS RFI (released September 24, 2012):
https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DHS/OCPO/DHS-OCPO/DHS13-01/listing.html
Project Office and Web Links
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