Allows the operator to insert, delete, add, and change speed and heading of waypoints while viewing a 2D or 3D geo-rectified environment and to execute and monitor the plan. The UGCS also allows an operator to save and reload any previous flight plans stored on board the Ground Control Station (GCS).

Given a set of no-fly zones, Kutta's efficient auto-router will find the most efficient (e.g. shortest) 2D and 3D paths around obstacles in real-time. Kutta's auto-router has been proven in monte-carlo simulations to achieve a routing around a randomized mix of 50 to 100 circles and polygons in under an average time of 0.12 msec on an Intel 1 GHz processor. Note all flight planning modes work in conjunction with the integrated auto-routing algorithm and Kutta has shown this auto-router to run extremely well on a Intel Xscale 624 MhZ processor.

This UGCS tool allows an operator to easily define the pertinent radio frequency characteristics (e.g. transmit and receive power, frequency, required S/N ratio, etc) of both transmitter and receiver. Using a Digital Terrain Elevation Model (DTED), Kutta's efficient RF LOS algorithm determines the vertices of a multi-side polygon, where 100% RF coverage from the Ground Control Station (GCS) to the unmanned vehicle exist. The vertices of the resulting area are provided in modular fashion for display on other existing mapping applications (e.g. FalconView).

This UGCS feature allows a user to easily designate standoff distance and direction of photographic and video reconnaissance. The user simply indicates a place on the ground that needs to be imaged and then drags a cursor in a given direction to define the bearing and standoff distance for the photo/video to be taken. Based upon the Vehicle Specific Module for the payload (i.e. Fixed or Gimbaled), Kutta's BDA algorithm autonomously determines the waypoints for the air vehicle.

Based on the UGCS touch-screen interface, an operator is allowed to pan, tilt, and zoom a gimbaled camera by touching the streaming video screen. If an operator wants to pan slowly to the right, it only takes a screen touch just right of the indicated video center point. If the operator wants to rapidly slew the camera to the right, a touch on the right outer limits of the video screen will slew the camera in that direction at its maximum rate.

During an active mission, a UGCS operator is able to dynamically re-task the unmanned vehicle to quickly divert to a new waypoint and loiter at the newly defined waypoint for a user defined amount of time. After the timer expires, the unmanned vehicle returns to the original flight plan by auto-routing around known no-fly zones.

The UGCS algorithms consistently monitor the health of the ground control station to the unmanned vehicle link, the unmanned vehicle's engine RPM, airspeed, and a host of other performance parameters. Based upon user-defined limits, the system constantly monitors these pertinent health parameters and initiates or prompts appropriate action (e.g. return home, stay on course, return to last known signal link) if problems arise.

The UGCS contains an extremely efficient sensor footprint and footprint history algorithm. This algorithm gathers real-time input from the unmanned vehicle's position (Latitude, Longitude, Altitude) and the pan, tilt and zoom parameters of an EO/IR payload to determine the sensor's actual projection onto the ground. While keeping track of where the sensor has looked, this algorithm paints the sensors history on a 2D map. Since the algorithm takes into account Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED), the sensor footprint can be overlaid in both 2D and 3D environments, offering exceptional situational awareness of where the sensor has pointed, where it is pointing, and where it is capable of pointing.



The UGCS allows a user to input a Restricted Operating Zone (ROZ) defined by airspace management authorities. Kutta's algorithm merges the ROZ with the RF LOS tool to define a Safe Airspace Volume (SAV). The SAV provides a visual reference to ensure the unmanned vehicle's flight path remains within the defined SAV. Application program interfaces provide the SAV bounding points and shape to allow overlaid map display on other third party mapping software. Additional software from our partners can be purchased and integrated with a vehicle's auto-pilot to ensure the vehicle stays within the bounded SAV.

The UGCS contains innovative algorithms that allow operators to track themselves and/or track a relative distance and bearing from their current position and direction of travel.

The UGCS allows a user to drag and drop an area to be covered by a defined flight pattern. That is, the user simply selects the type of search pattern (e.g. spiral in, spiral out, plow, or grid), selects a center point, and drags a cursor to define an area to be covered. The intelligent algorithm automatically determines mission waypoints and uploads them to the unmanned vehicle when authorized.

Kutta has successfully created many STANAG4586 VSMs for a variety of customers (to include Piccolo, Procerus) and specific STANAG message sets to support AAI's Shadow platform and to support Bi-Directional Remote Video Terminal (BDRVT®) operation. Existing VSMs are available for purchase, and STANAG 4586 experts are available for contract services to develop a STANAG 4586 VSM specific to your platforms or requirements.

Kutta utilizes a very efficient, light-weight MPEG hardware encoder to digitize MPEG 1, 2, or 4 video and display in real-time. Our recorded MPEG data contains time-stamped and embedded unmanned vehicle parameters such as the vehicle's position and gimbaled positions of the payload for improved video analysis and playback. When used in conjunction with Kutta's sensor footprint, the video review mode provides the ability to visualize the vehiclel's ocation and the payload pointing position relative to the real-time video for improved geo-referenced situational awareness.

Tired of plugging in numerous cables to connect your ground control system to a visualization platform? Kutta's OneConnect eliminates all cabling mess and consolidates data from a heterogeneous mix of sensors into one USB connection, thus- combining all pertinent GCS signals (e.g. C2 radio, video receiver and MPEG encoder, GPS signal) into one simple connection.

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