UAV Test Range Support for Operational Assessment
Challenge ended
Description
One Nation Innovation on behalf of DoD’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is seeking a qualified test range to facilitate a comprehensive assessment of UAV capabilities over a one-week test period. The selected range will support the testing of UAVs from 7-11 participating companies, each completing a series of missions designed to evaluate key performance metrics. The range must provide infrastructure, controlled airspace, and environmental conditions that allow for detailed testing of UAV payload, range, speed, altitude, navigational adherence, BVLOS, and detectability in both standard and challenging scenarios. This proposal is designed to solicit bids from test ranges with the specific infrastructure, experience, and conditions needed to support the UAV operational assessment project.
Overall Objective
Our objective is to partner with a test range capable of: - Supporting structured assessments across a set of performance and detectability metrics. - Providing controlled environments that simulate operational challenges, such as GNSS denial and EMI interference. - Offering real-time monitoring, data capture, and safety protocols to ensure accurate evaluation of each UAV’s capabilities.
Problem Statement
Required Test Range Capabilities: Payload Mass and Volume Testing - Requirement: Facilities for conducting payload testing with simulated loads of varying mass and volume. - Capability: The range should have facilities to prepare and measure UAVs under different payload configurations, including static and in-flight assessments. Launch Method and Rate of Launch - Requirement: Dedicated launch areas supporting multiple launch methods (horizontal and vertical). - Capability: The range should accommodate repeated launches, provide rapid turnaround for multiple attempts, and offer recovery zones to support high launch rates across different UAV types. Range and BVLOS Testing - Requirement: At least 30 km of open airspace that allows for long-range BVLOS operations. - Capability: The range must be approved for BVLOS and equipped with tracking infrastructure that ensures continuous monitoring and communication with the UAVs during extended missions. Waypoint Navigation with GNSS Denial and EMI Environments - Requirement: Defined areas where GNSS signals can be selectively disabled and EMI interference can be introduced. - Capability: The range should support accurate waypoint navigation testing in both GNSS-supported and GNSS-denied conditions and offer a controlled EMI environment. Altitude and Speed Verification - Requirement: Ability to accommodate tests across varying altitude bands, with the infrastructure to capture high-precision altitude and speed data. - Capability: The range must provide airspace and tracking equipment to accurately verify altitude and maximum and sustained cruising speeds. Detectability Testing across Radar, EO/IR, Audio, and EM - Requirement: Equipped with radar, EO/IR, audio, and EM detection systems for assessing UAV observability. - Capability: The range should support detectability tests under both controlled and representative mission conditions, capturing data on detection range and accuracy across all specified sensing modes. Terminal Phase Impact Testing (Without Energetics) - Requirement: Designated impact zones for conducting terminal phase descent and impact tests using mass simulators. - Capability: The range must support safe impact testing that captures metrics on impact characteristics, structural integrity, and reusability, excluding live fire or energetic materials. Mission Profiles Each participating company will complete the following mission types, and the range must support all requirements below: - Waypoint Navigation: Launch and follow a path across at least four waypoints in open terrain. - BVLOS in Challenging Terrain: Conduct a BVLOS mission in terrain with EMI interference and waypoint adherence challenges. - Random Mission Planning: Rapid planning and execution of a randomized route to evaluate planning efficiency. - Distance Endurance: Extended path for testing endurance over repeated missions until terminal flight. Data Collection and Monitoring Requirements The range must provide advanced telemetry and data collection systems, enabling: - Real-time tracking of flight parameters, including speed, altitude, range, and waypoint adherence. - Observability data across radar, EO/IR, audio, and EM spectra. - Environmental control data for GNSS and EMI interference zones.