Multi-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems Control via Flexible Levels of Interaction: An Adaptable Operator-Automation Interface Concept Demonstration

This paper provides a detailed description of a concept demonstration that illustrates an adaptable operator-automation interface concept for applications involving multiple Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Key hardware and software components are described, as well as the changes made on a previous prototype that focused on single UAS applications. The concept demonstration illustrates four control methods, ranging from manual (operator controls the vehicle’s flight with stick and throttle control) to high level “plays” (operator’s verbal command initiates planning for a series of automated tasks), as well as the means to flexibly change or intermingle methods for different vehicles at any time. To support multiUAS control, the effort involved expanding the previous design to include task-centric (rather than vehicle-centric) interface components.