Characterizing the Potential of Active Aircraft Diversion Technologies for Remotely Redirecting an Aircraft.
Komatsu, Janet.
2011
-
Abstract: Since the
1930s, airplane hijackings have been used by terrorist organizations to further their
own agendas, often staking civilian lives in the process. Adversarial (but not
necessarily hostile) unmanned aerial vehicle intrusions into sensitive military or
political areas have also threatened otherwise peaceful U.S. defense operations. In
these scenarios, non-lethal active aircraft ... read morediversion (AAD) technologies can be used as
an anti-terrorism and defense solution. Laser-based AAD technologies utilize a high
powered laser aimed at a target aircraft's wings to force an aircraft to turn or
oscillate. Given this technology, the goal of this thesis is to characterize the ability
to divert an aircraft for three specific pilot cases: no pilot, pilot with limited
visibility, and pilot with full capability. Simulations indicate that the laser-based
diversion has great potential for diverting an unpiloted aircraft originally flying
straight and level. Human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulations with certified pilots show that
lasers can also enable a limited diversion capability for aircraft navigated by pilots
with limited visibility. Furthermore, HITL simulations demonstrate potential for
enhanced (not necessarily laser-based) AAD diversion on fully capable pilots when large
control forces (hundreds of bounds) are available for
diversion.
Thesis (M.S.)--Tufts University, 2011.
Submitted to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.
Advisor: Jason Rife.
Committee: Dan Hannon, and Valencia Joyner.
Keyword: Mechanical Engineering.read less - ID:
- 9306t949s
- Component ID:
- tufts:20881
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
