Unmanned Aircraft Systems

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Unmanned Aircraft Systems NOAAs 10-Year Plan
Dr. F. Martin (Marty) Ralph Project Manager,
NOAAs Unmanned Aircraft Systems Major
Project NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory,
Boulder, CO
Civilian Applications of UAS, 1-3 October 2007
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Vision for UAS Applications in NOAA
Unmanned Aircraft Systems will revolutionize
monitoring of the Earth system, much as radar
and satellite technology have done in the past.

• Critical environmental monitoring needs and
  requirements remain unmet.
• NOAA will
• accelerate the exploration of this technology for
  civilian applications and
• will benefit society by improving NOAAs ability
  to meet its mission requirements, and by
• strengthening US Global Economic Competitiveness
  in this key emerging technology.

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• From Vision
• To Execution

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NOAAs Strategy for Exploring UAS Technology

• NOAA has partnered with NASA, DOE and NSF on
  demonstrations and planning
• NOAA Established the UAS Major Project (2005)
  
• Developed a 10-year plan for UAS in NOAA
• Adopted a regional UAS Test Bed approach to
  test platforms and missions across several
  regions and key phenomena so as to gain
  real-world experience, and to engage local
  partners

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• NOAAs UAS Testbeds

Testbed Implementation team Sara Summers (Lead)
Pacific Dr. Gary Wick (OAR) Todd Jacobs
(NOS) Arctic Dr. Betsy Weatherhead (OAR) Dr.
Robyn Angliss (NMFS) Hurricane Dr. Joe Cione
(OAR) Dr. Chris Landsea (NWS) Major
objectives FY07 Develop Testbed
plans FY08-09 Conduct low-altitude
demos FY09-10 Conduct high-altitude
demos FY10 Decision on operational use of UAS
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NOAA Is Looking At A Broad Range Of Platforms For
Global Information

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NOAAs UAS Milestones FY07-13Approved in NOAA
Program Decision Memo
Rough order of magnitude (ROM) investment
required 80 M.
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NOAAs UAS Milestones FY07-16
ROM total 10 year cost 170 M, including global
expansion to several major UAS by FY16, or many
smaller UAS, including OMRR, sensor refreshment
and applications enhancements.
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Summary

• UAS - A Technology Whose Time has Come
• Projected to be a Multi - Billion Dollar Industry
• Numerous possible missions for research and
  operations
• NOAA UAS Testbeds being established to explore
  applications
• FY08-10 focused demonstration studies
• FY10 decisions on going operational
• 3M FY08 Presidents Budget for NOAA
• Three testbeds will explore range of platforms
  and applications
• Growing NOAA investment in FY09-10 and beyond
• 3 B in DoD Budget

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NOAA UAS Project Contacts

• http//UAS.noaa.gov (NOAA UAS Web Page)
• Marty.Ralph_at_noaa.gov (NOAA UAS Project Manager)
• Sara.Summers_at_noaa.gov (Deputy Project Manager)
• Philip.G.Hall_at_noaa.gov (UAS Flight Operations)

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