FWV Technologies Applicable to UCAV--Flight Controls
Fourteen FWV technologies were listed under flight controls in the QFD matrix. Half of those technologies were deemed to have application to UCAV SEAD vehicles while half were deemed only marginally applicable at best.
The seven directly applicable were selected because they could reduce production weight and/or cost, increase storage life, reduce development time, or provide necessary control functions . Specifically, Forebody Vortex Flow Control and Multi-Axis Thrust Vectoring can reduce production cost and weight while providing improved vehicle control. Power-By-Wire/Electric Actuation, COTS Hardware & Software, and Fiber Optic Gyro Inertial Measurement Sensors technologies should significantly increase storage life. Automated Closed-Loop Coupling is required for UCAV command and control functions. Finally, Flight Control Rapid Prototyping Processes will provide fast development of the UCAV flight control configuration and allow quick modification of the design based on simulation and flight test data.
The remaining seven listed technologies were not seen to be primary candidates for the UCAV based on the assumption that UCAVs will be smaller, have fewer control effectors, a shorter life, and fewer operational flights than a manned strike fighter. Multivariable Reconfigurable Control, Genetic Algorithm Flight Control Laws, and Intelligent Damage Adaptive Control System technologies all address inflight reconfiguration to accommodate battle damage and require multiple control effectors. Performance Seeking Aircraft Control addresses optimal cruise and maneuver performance for a highly changing inflight weight and drag configuration, which probably is not the case for a UCAV. Fly-By-Light Closed Loop Control, which uses fiber optic cables instead of electric cables for communication and actuator control, may add cost and not significantly reduce wiring weight in a UCAV. Likewise, Laser Optical Air Data System technology, which is intended to reduce signature and improve sensor accuracy, may be too large, heavy, and costly to use in a smaller UCAV. Finally, On-line Diagnostics for Two Level Maintenance takes time to develop for each application and may not prove effective for a vehicle with long storage life and reduced operational flights.
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