Ground Control Station Analysis

            There are many options for control stations available to unmanned system operators.  Many of them come with a plethora of features and tools for data processing and analysis, and some are even capable of multiple vehicle control.  One such system that is capable of multi-domain vehicle control is the Portable Ground Control Station by Octopus ISR Systems (Figure 1).  This system is a highly modular, dual display control station that can serve as the main command and control system for a variety of unmanned systems in the ground, air and sea domains (Ground Control Station, n.d.).

Figure 1: Portable Ground Control Station (UAV Factory, n.d.)

            The Portable Ground Control Station is a highly flexible and robust system that can adapt to many types of unmanned vehicles.  Designed to be compact and portable, the ground control station is designed into a carrying case measuring 1000mm x 420mm x 170mm and weighing at a total of only 18.9 kilograms.  Additionally, the control station is mounted to the inside of the case enabling its operators to set it up and tear it down in minimal amounts of time.  The system is powered by two lithium batteries that can be changed out without restarting the control station, making it ideal for long duration missions where a direct power connection is not available.  The control station really makes it money through its modular electronics compartment (MEC) (Figure 2).  This compartment is designed to fit a wide variety of addon hardware and features a host of connectors for seamless integration, basically making adding sensors and additional features as simple as plug-and-play (Ground Control Station, n.d.).  The MEC can supply power anywhere from 10-32 volts of direct current, allowing it to fit additional equipment such as datalink systems, video receivers, data storage and recording devices.  The control station is also equipped with two pass-through antennae for communications (UAV Factory, n.d.).   This flexibility allows the control station to shine amongst others by being adaptable to many different types of unmanned vehicles.

Figure 2: Modular Electronics Compartment (MEC) (Ground Control Station, n.d.)

            The interface for the Portable Ground Control Station is developed around the Panasonic CF-31 Toughbook (Figure 3), which serves as the processing hub for the data that is collected and the command and control processes.  The Toughbook is connected via a docking station to the control station and is augmented by a 17-inch, high-brightness touchscreen display that is built into the carrying case.  The components added to the MEC can be connected to these displays via several types of connectors including USB, ethernet, serial ports, video inputs, VGA, and audio connectors.  This allows the added modules to project data onto either the 17-inch touch screen or the Toughbook for processing and analysis (UAV Factory, n.d.).  The integration of the Toughbook allows each user to customize the software that is used so that it can perfectly match their mission and so that there are minimal restrictions on the types of software that can be utilized with the Portable Control Station.

Figure 3: Panasonic CF-31 Toughbook (Ground Control Station, n.d.)

            There are very few limitations to this design due to its highly modular and flexible nature.  One of the limitations to this system is its size.  While it is overall fairly small and light, it is not small enough to be carried in a backpack for into the field through rugged terrain.  This means that the Portable Ground Control Station would need to be setup at a basecamp type area to be able to conduct missions.  This could potentially limit some users on where they can collect data and fly their missions.  One option would be to reduce the size of the system by decreasing the size of the MEC or by removing the 17-inch touchscreen display, however this would reduce the flexibility in the system for its users.  Size a flexibility always come with tradeoffs, but these options could provide some more portability for the system, which could be ideal for some users.

            Another limiting factor is that this control station is designed to be only have one operator.  This could pose a problem if the unmanned vehicle being used has complex sensors and payloads that require two operators to be used effectively.  The small size of the system does not allow for side-by-side work of two operators, nor does it have two sets of controls for control of the vehicle and of any sensors.  A second set of controls could potentially be added via the MEC, however it would create a cramped working environment for the two operators.  One possibility to overcome this issue would be to connect two control stations together.  This would allow one station to be used for an operator to control the vehicle, and one for an operator to control any payloads required for their mission. 

References

GROUND CONTROL STATION. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2018, from http://octopus.uavfactory.com/uav-payloads-equipment/portable-ground-control-station

UAV Factory. (n.d.). [Brochure]. Author. Retrieved August 10, 2018, from http://www.uavfactory.com/product/16