UAS Pathfinders in the Arctic Circle
ASCI 530 Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
4/25/2017
Navigating
through the frozen Artic waters can be one of the most dangerous and
challenging jobs in the world. Ship crews risk voyage through the bitter winter
storms and unforgiving sea ice hoping that available channels and routes stay
open long enough for safe passage. With the weather conditions consistently
changing, ship crews must stay current with available satellite imagery and
forecasted ice-shift predictions. If a ship’s crew finds themselves getting
closed in and surrounded by ice they usually need the assistance of an
Icebreaker.
The
United States Coast Guard (USCG) operates a large fleet of aircraft (55),
helicopters (146), small-medium sized response boats (1,650), and large cutters
(243) in maintaining the Nation’s maritime safety, security and stewardship
(United States Coast Guard, 2017). Of the entire fleet, only two Heavy
Icebreakers are operational, the Healy and the Polar Star (United States Coast
Guard, 2017). However, both the Heavy Icebreakers shelf life is only 30-years,
with Healy at its 20-year mark, and the Polar Star way past its prime (Yereth
Rosen, 2016). In 2015, President Obama proposed building brand new Icebreakers
that can operate year-round in the nation’s polar region estimated at $1
Billion each, noting that the fleet decreased from seven to two since World War
II (Julie Hirschfeld Davis, 2015).
To
better optimize the Healy and Polar Star Heavy Icebreakers for emergency rescue
situations, ships must utilize resources for navigation more effectively. The
use of UAS platforms in Artic expeditions and explorations is not a new
concept. Ships on voyage passing through these complex, and often moving
ice-shelves have had to rely on satellite imagery and radar to guide their
path. Having a UAS platform that can provide a ship with real-time imagery of
sea ice conditions just meters ahead of the ship could help optimize a crews
(Captains) navigational decision making.
Using
a sUAS Quadcopter a crewmember would be able to fly ahead of the ships planned
route and capture real-time data and imagery of ice conditions, thus confirming
that the route was still passable at estimated time of entry. This has been
proven effective and possible by the Australian Antarctic Division during a
2015 voyage (Australian Antarctic Division, 2015). The team used a sUAS
quadcopter to assist in collecting data that would be used to aid navigating
the research and supply ship “Aurora Australis” through the sea ice (Australian
Antarctic Division, 2015). However, one notable drawback was that the sUAS
compass could not be calibrated when on the ship, so the crew had to disable
the sUAS global positioning system (GPS) and fly it in full manual mode to
deliver the required data and recorded footage (Australian Antarctic Division,
2015). Seeing the capabilities that a sUAS can provide on ships would be an
example of lowest level of systems support.
Taking
it a step further, any ship could also have a mid-level system of support that
would be able to launch/dispatch at their convenience. Having a medium-range
low altitude system (MUAV) would provide the ship’s crew a larger overview of
the ice-shelf network and any available open water passage-ways nearby.
Designing the MUAV with geophysical instruments that would measure the
thickness of the ice sheets, measure the texture, composition, density and
topography of any possible rocks/icebergs below the ice would again, optimize a
crews (Captains) navigational decision making. In February 2016, a MUAV
platform designed by Intuitive Machines, flew a “Tiburon Jr.” on multiple
research missions in Antarctica testing its flight performance and capabilities
in the extreme conditions with successful results (UAS Vision, 2017).
The
third/highest level of UAS support would be utilizing a high-altitude long
endurance (HALE) system such as the MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime
Surveillance (BAMS) UAS. Having these HALE UAS reclassified under the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), or serving a broader
multifunctional purpose between the US Navy and US Coast Guard to enable
private/commercial ships quick access to current and updated (unclassified)
real-time data on sea conditions. The MQ-4C Triton BAMS is designed for
conducting maritime surveillance, at high-altitudes for long durations (The
Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation, 2012). Operators of
the MQ-4C can detect, track, and assess areas of interest while collecting data
such as imagery/signals information, which then get disseminated to fleet units
to support their intended mission (The Office of the Director, Operational Test
& Evaluation, 2012).
Having
accessibility to the data collected by a HALE UAS would only enhance and
optimize a crews (Captains) navigational decision making. By incorporating all
three UAS platforms into a larger cooperative navigational network system ships
would have another level of security in surviving the icy seas.
References
Australian Antarctic Division. (2015, December 23). Unmanned
Systems Technology. Retrieved from Unmanned Systems Technology:
http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2015/12/antarctic-supply-ship-uses-drone-to-navigate-sea-ice/
Julie Hirschfeld
Davis. (2015, September 01). New York Times. Retrieved from New York
Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/us/politics/obama-to-call-for-more-icebreakers-in-arctic-as-us-seeks-foothold.html?_r=0
The Office of the
Director, Operational Test & Evaluation . (2012). Retrieved from The Office of the Director,
Operational Test & Evaluation : http://www.dote.osd.mil/pub/reports/fy2012/pdf/navy/2012mq4c_bams.pdf
UAS Vision. (2017, April 27). Retrieved from UAS Vision:
http://www.uasvision.com/2016/07/11/3w-powered-uav-for-dlights-in-antarctica/
United States
Coast Guard. (2017, April 27).
Retrieved from United States Coast Guard/Assets:
http://www.overview.uscg.mil/Assets/
Yereth Rosen . (2016,
May 31). Alaska Dispatch Publishing. Retrieved from Alaska Dispatch
Publishing/Coast Guard Icebreaker Fleet:
https://www.adn.com/arctic/article/coast-guard-icebreaker-fleet-will-need-makeover-about-2020/2014/09/16/
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