This blogpost covers a number of recent enhancements to the already robust Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) feature set provided by AuterionOS and Auterion Mission Control. Not all of these features are brand new, but we’ve included them anyway for those who haven’t flown our system in some time.
Video
One of the most notable improvements in Auterion Mission Control (AMC) is the implementation of KLV metadata recording for MPEG-TS and RTSP/RTP video streams that contain KLV. This allows video recorded by AMC to be replayed in ATAK or in intelligence analysis tools, and for the KLV metadata containing the drone’s location and sensor point of interest to be available. This greatly increases the intelligence value of recorded video.
Additionally, ISR systems powered by AuterionOS can now stream multicast video to multiple ground stations and ATAK end-user devices. This means that the impact on the datalink per additional video receiver is greatly reduced. Operators can now use multiple GCSs as Remote Video Terminals, or implement handoff CONOPs using our deliberate handoff feature, all without compromising the network connection to the aircraft.
Flight Systems and Navigation
Users of Auterion-powered ISR systems are already familiar with our Follow Target mode, where the drone will fly to and then orbit an area where the operator taps in the video feed, or will follow and then orbit moving objects that are being tracked. This Follow Target mode of operation now works with gimbal pointing via the joystick. This unlocks a very intuitive workflow where the operator simply points the camera where they want the drone to fly, and it flies there and then orbits upon arrival. As the drone flies to new areas of interest, its path is continually checked for terrain collisions. Operators simply “fly the camera” and do not need to continually update orbit points or mission items. Additionally, we have implemented smoother flight behaviors for many of our supported ISR systems, making flying the camera in this way extremely user-friendly.
We have also introduced a mobile operations feature, where the Home point locks onto the GCS location, keeping important information like distance and direction to the drone up to date as the operator maneuvers on the ground. Users can now also easily specify alternate landing locations for VTOL aircraft by simply moving the landing point in the Fly View map and setting up safe landing sectors. No detailed mission planning required to land, wherever the operator chooses. Landing sectors are also now checked for terrain collisions, reducing cognitive load.
Improved GNSS-denied workflows also greatly improve the experience of operating Auterion-powered systems in GNSS-denied environments. Operators can:
- Easily specify the takeoff location of the drone on the map, providing an initial position even if GNSS is never available before takeoff.
- Specify wind speed and direction before takeoff, greatly improving the performance of inertial dead reckoning once in flight.
- Once in flight, reset the position of the vehicle by simply clicking on the map or clicking on landmarks observed in the video feed. This allows users to continually correct for drift during the course of an operation by keeping an eye out for major landmarks.
- Visualize raw GPS location on the map side by side with the fused position estimate based on inertial dead reckoning. This provides better situational awareness for the operator and allows for detection of spoofing. Operators can turn off GPS input if it is unreliable or spoofing is detected.
All of these features work hand in hand with sophisticated visual navigation apps that run on AuterionOS, but also unlock the possibility to conduct GNSS-denied operations with base configurations that do not have a visual navigation solution.
For VTOL systems, a new fast descent mode is available, allowing the system to loiter down to its landing altitude very quickly, preventing undesired observation of a slowly descending system near the operator’s location. A new straight-line landing feature is also available, allowing an alternate approach to VTOL landing besides a loiter-down.
User Experience and Interface
The latest UX/UI updates make interacting with your vehicle faster and more intuitive. From easier mission planning to more robust ATAK marker management, these changes enhance operator efficiency.
The new ATAK/CoT marker manager allows operators to drop CoT markers directly in the camera view and then edit and save them for future missions, increasing situational awareness. CoT markers displayed on the map and in video, whether originating from AMC or received from an ATAK network, are now more precise and stable due to improved filtering and ray tracing algorithms.
We’ve also implemented new tactical situational awareness features. The system will now calculate station time for its current objective, even while still en route to it. Suppose the operator places an orbit point 20 km away. The system will now tell the operator how long it will take until that orbit point is reached, and also how long it will be able to remain at that orbit point once it arrives before needing to return to land due to low battery. This allows UAS operators to keep the maneuver elements they are supporting better informed about UAS coverage.
Minor adjustments, major impact
- Support for the NextVision Raptor with a 200 mW NIR laser.
- Support for NextVision UPOS mode, allowing for a better forward-looking pilot view.
- Distance sensors can now be disabled during fixed-wing flight, preventing observation of the drone with night vision devices.
These updates represent our commitment to providing a more capable, reliable, and user-friendly platform for mission-critical operations.
More details on Auterion Mission Control can be found on our website.
The latest version of the app can be downloaded from Auterion Suite.
For more information, get in touch with our team.