Architecture Models for Coordination of Unmanned Air and Ground Vehicles Conducting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

Abstract

This paper presents a model-based systems engineering methodology for employing architecture in system analysis (MBSE MEASA) for the cooperation of cross-domain unmanned vehicles conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR). The comprehensive framework developed in this paper uses Systems Modeling Language (SysML), which supports the assessment of system requirements for systems engineering. The research develops architecture to analyze collaborative cross-domain unmanned systems performance. The architecture models focus on the interaction between UAVs and UGVs and use the relationship of system architecture products and model-based systems engineering analysis to quantify system performance. This methodology will also identify those design features which are most impactful to mission effectiveness. The MBSE MEASA incorporates the iterative process of systems engineering in determining the optimal solution for the architecture products. This research will demonstrate the usefulness of model-based systems engineering analysis in the design of UAV-UGV cooperation while conducting a mission scenario. The result of this research will be a validated and executable system architecture for cross-domain unmanned vehicle cooperation. The architecture will serve as the conceptual template to guide future research and development of unmanned vehicles.