Rockwell Collins successfully controls and lands wing-damaged UAV
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (June 10, 2008) - Rockwell Collins, through newly-acquired Athena Technologies, has completed a successful flight test of a significantly damaged
unmanned F/A-18 subscale model air vehicle. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) sponsored the flight demonstrations
held this spring at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.
 During the first flight test, nearly half of the airplane's right wing was ejected to simulate battle damage and in-flight
failure. During the second flight, almost 60 percent of the airplane's right wing was ejected. Upon ejecting the wing section
during both flights, Rockwell Collins' Automatic Supervisory Adaptive Control (ASAC) technology reacted to the airplane's
new vehicle configuration, automatically regained baseline performance, continued to fly the plane, and then autonomously
landed it using internal Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS) reference only.
The flight test campaign followed a similar successful DARPA sponsored demonstration in April 2007, during which an aileron
was ejected in-flight from the unmanned subscale F/A-18.
"DARPA asked us to significantly increase the level of damage and risk in this latest flight test campaign to really put the
Rockwell Collins controls technology through its paces," said Mike Myers, vice president of Business Development for Rockwell
Collins Government Systems. "We are pleased with the ability of our adaptive controls to instantly detect and react to the
new vehicle configuration after loss of major sections of the wing. The ASAC controls technology enabled the airplane to continue
to fly completely autonomously without a hitch and land without further damage."
Damage tolerance is an enabling capability for increasing the mission reliability of UAVs operating in hazardous and high-threat
environments. The technology provides for real-time autonomous accommodation of damage, followed by an adaptation process
that alters the flight control system to compensate for the effects of the damage. During the flight test, Rockwell Collins
demonstrated a capability that could be applicable to all military aircraft operating in combat environments and to commercial,
business and general aviation for full flight automation and backup.
"This demonstration highlights the challenge and importance of autonomously controlling and landing an airplane that has sustained
catastrophic damage or failure in flight," said Dr. David Vos, senior director of Control Technologies at Rockwell Collins.
"This powerful capability can save the military the expense of lost UAVs. When applied to both manned and unmanned aircraft,
damage tolerance is a key technology that can facilitate the convergence of manned and unmanned aircraft in increasingly crowded
controlled airspace; but more importantly, the solution can save lives."
Videos of the flight demonstration can be viewed at http://www.rockwellcollins.com/news/video/damage-tolerance.html
Rockwell Collins is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication and aviation electronic solutions
for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications,
information management and simulation and training is delivered by 20,000 employees, and a global service and support network
that crosses 27 countries. To find out more, please visit www.rockwellcollins.com.
Media Contacts
Dave Gosch
319.295.2908
319.651.3042 (cell)
djgosch@rockwellcollins.com
Maureen Stevens
703.517.6926 (cell)
540.878.2251
mpsteven@rockwellcollins.com
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