Gremlins

Abstract

The Gremlins program developed platform technologies that enable a new class of distributed warfare. The Gremlins concept envisioned small air-launched unmanned systems that could be responsively dispatched in volley quantity from existing air platforms, fly into contested airspace, conduct a moderate duration mission, and be ultimately air recovered. Key enabling technologies for the concept included smaller developmental payloads that benefited from multiple collaborating host platforms. The Gremlins program conducted risk reduction and development of the host platform launch and recovery capability and developed and demonstrated a recoverable Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) platform concept. Enabling platform technologies included precision relative navigation, advanced computational modeling, small form factor payloads, compact propulsion systems, and highspeed digital flight control. The program leveraged these technologies, performed analytic trade studies, conducted incremental development, and demonstrated the potential for an integrated air-launched Gremlins unmanned platform capable of conducting distributed air operations.

Document Details

Document Type
Accomplishment
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2024
Source ID
c49460f5b1698e6f6b0665d94329a6fa

Tags

Readers

  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites

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