UAPS 20 Unmanned Surface Vehicle Control Station Analysis

This blog  will analyze the control station technology of an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) control station in regards to the control station’s ability to provide effective situational awareness to the operators of this system. USVs are a growing segment of unmanned systems that offer multiple approaches to providing a low-cost solution to maritime issues such as port security, coastal patrol, and force protection (Haynes, 2011). One such system, the UAPS 20, was chosen to represent this market segment.  Manufactured by the SIEL Company of Torino, Italy (SIEL, 2011) the UAPS 20 is a system-based approach meant to provide a low-cost ruggedized platform based on one or more rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIB) which are controlled in one of four methods of operation. According to the Company’s website (SIEL, 2011), the UAPS 20 system is designed to operate in the following modes;

1.      Manual Mode: On onboard operator directly controls the USV

2.      Remote Mode: The operator controls the USV from either onshore or a supporting vessel.

3.      Semi-Auto Mode: Whereas the USV follows a pre-programmed course with the operator controlling the speed of the USV.

4.      Full-Auto Mode: Where the USV operated independently under operator supervision.

               The RHIB (illustrated below) is equipped with both a console for a human operator and an onboard system for semi-autonomous and fully autonomous operations.

Source: http://www.sielnet.com/index.php/products/62 (SIEL, 2009).

       The UAPS 20 USV is operated by a pair of consoles. The operator control station (OCS) is built as a ruggedized and water-proof computer workstation which permit the USV operate either remotely control the USV or plan and execute a pre-programmed mission profile while providing the operator with video and telemetry transmitted from the USV (SIEL, 2009). The second console, the central monitoring system (CMS), permits the operator to monitor a fleet of up to 15 USVs by providing real-time location and telemetry data (SIEL, 2009).

      The OCS (pictured below) is the primary method of controlling the USV and provides a touch-screen graphical interface to the operator along with a dedicated joystick and function buttons. The OCS also includes navigational software and allows the operator to set mission waypoints. The company’s website states that the OCS is capable of controlling the USV from a distance of 10 miles (SIEL, 2009) 

  

Source: http://www.sielnet.com/index.php/products/58 (SIEL, 2009)

   A drawback to this control station is the small size of the display screen.  Measuring 15 inches, this single screen is used to display navigational data, telemetry, and video feeds from the USV’s camera system. In a study conducted by the U.S. Army (Barnes & Jentsch, 2012) observed that larger displays were superior in providing information to the operator. This problem may be allayed if the operator was able to use the visual screen of the CMS to aid in situation awareness however this capability is not mentioned. SIELs website does mention that the OCS is equipped with USB and RJ45 connectors (SIEL, 2009) that may be used to connect larger displays but this places the requirement to provide such equipment on the customer. 

  In summary, the OCS for the UAPS 20 USV system is well capable of operating in an open maritime environment. The operator though, if faced with attempting to navigate and view the video feed from a rather small computer screen. Another item for consideration is the CMS which is identical in dimensions to the OCS, but is able to manage up to 15 USVs. Managing this task from a single screen could be a very challenging task for for the operator of this station as opposed to the operator of the OCS, who just needs to manage one.

References:

Barnes M Jentsch F 2012 Human-Robot Interactions in Future Military OperationsBarnes, M., & Jentsch, F. (2012). Human-Robot Interactions in Future Military Operations. : Ashgate Publishing Ltd.  20160430092813362075090

Haynes J 2011 Unmanned Surface Vehicles - USVs go from Concept to ServiceHaynes, J. (2011). Unmanned Surface Vehicles - USVs go from Concept to Service. Retrieved from http://www.shockmitigationdirectory.com/earticle-detail/unmanned-surface-vehicles---usvs-go-from-concept-to-service/27/ 20160429183051999718189

SIEL 2009 Operator Control Station (OCS)SIEL. (2009). The Operator Control Station (OCS). Retrieved from http://www.sielnet.com/index.php/products/58 20160430093711845072389

SIEL 2009 System HighlightsSIEL. (2009). System Highlights. Retrieved from http://www.sielnet.com/index.php/products/usv 201604300943461997765065

SIEL 2009 UAPS 20 - Low cost RHIB PlatformSIEL. (2009). UAPS 20 - Low cost RHIB Platform. Retrieved from http://www.sielnet.com/index.php/products/62 20160429184403352522731

SIEL 2009 UAPS 20 - OCS and CMSSIEL. (2009). UAPS 20 - OCS and CMS. Retrieved from http://www.sielnet.com/index.php/products/58 20160430085434523582816

SIEL 2009 UAPS 20 - OCS and CMSSIEL. (2009). UAPS 20 - OCS and CMS. Retrieved from http://www.sielnet.com/index.php/products/58 20160429185858645894170

SIEL 2009 UAPS 20 - OCS and CMSSIEL. (2009). UAPS 20 - OCS and CMS. Retrieved from http://www.sielnet.com/index.php/products/58 201604291853531256084204

SIEL 2011 About SielSIEL. (2011). About Siel. Retrieved from http://www.sielnet.com/index.php/company 201604291736401538497210

SIEL 2011 UAPS 20 - System Main CharacteristicsSIEL. (2011). UAPS 20 - System Main Characteristics. Retrieved from http://www.sielnet.com/index.php/products/52 20160429181010661173463