Upward Falling Payloads (UFP)
Abstract
The Upward Falling Payloads (UFP) program will develop forward-deployed unmanned distributed systems that can provide non-lethal effects or situational awareness over large maritime areas. Building upon and complimenting concepts for maritime situational awareness and ISR developed under the DASH program, budgeted in Project PE 0603766E/NET-02, the UFP approach centers on pre-deploying deep-ocean nodes years in advance in forward operating areas which can be commanded from standoff to launch to the surface. Advances in miniaturized sensors and processors, the explosive growth in the variety of small unmanned systems, and the advances in autonomy and networking all point toward highly-capable, yet affordable, distributed systems. Currently, large numbers of distributed unmanned systems are not utilized in far-forward areas due to logistics and distance, the need for delivery platforms, and the associated latency for insertion. The UFP program will remove this barrier to accelerate large-scale unmanned distributed applications and missions. The presumption is that a wider range of technology options and system solutions will emerge when the barriers to deployment are removed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2015
- Source ID
- b2e9d29c134890716ca095faa36fe486
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- Root: TACTICAL TECHNOLOGY