Kite: a helicopter from the unmanned family
The full-size mock-up of the Korsun unmanned helicopter was presented to the general public for the first time at the exhibition UVS-TECH 2010 Unmanned Multi-Purpose Systems in Zhukovsky. Shortly before the opening of the exhibition, the director of the programs of the Russian-made helicopters Helnady Bebeshko told AviaPort about the new aircraft and about the plans of the helicopter to create other unmanned helicopters.- Today, the exhibition presents the model of an unmanned helicopter "Kite". Tell us about the new product in more detail.
“Today, most of the projects being developed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) provide for dual use of the complex, both for the civilian sphere and for solving combat missions. And we are focusing on the exhibition for commercial use, for example, for monitoring, working in conditions of man-made and natural disasters, for the transport of goods. Naturally, we are ready to offer the customer a military option that can solve reconnaissance, shock and transport tasks, as well as be used in special operations, such as electronic warfare, chemical, bacteriological and radiological intelligence, and so on.
According to its characteristics, this is a medium-range machine, its radius of application is about 300 km with a task duration in the target area of about three hours. The maximum take-off weight of the helicopter will be 500 kg, and the payload - up to 150 kg.
- For the helicopter selected coaxial scheme. What is the reason?
- When choosing a design scheme, we analyzed the domestic and international experience of creating unmanned helicopters, the features of the application, the list of tasks that the complex will have to solve. It is fundamentally important that we need to create a universal machine that can be used with equal success both on land and at sea. And from this point of view, a coaxial scheme is preferable. It allows you to reduce the negative effects of wind during takeoff and landing. The automatic control system of a helicopter of such a scheme is somewhat simpler; since there is no steering screw, it is easier to implement control algorithms. Coaxial helicopters are more maneuverable, they have better altitude characteristics. Actually, these advantages predetermined the choice of the scheme.
- You said that it is possible to create a shock version. Is this a remote-controlled complex, or will elements of artificial intelligence be implemented in the Kite, allowing it to independently use weapons?
- Today, the achieved level of systems for detecting and recognizing objects does not allow to fully solve the problem of selecting targets, determining the degree of their danger and deciding on the advisability of using weapons. And in real combat operations, when the mobility of units and equipment is very high, the situation changes very dynamically, and all decisions must be applied in real time. That's why Drones can confidently solve the problem of hitting stationary targets, the coordinates of which are known in advance. Or perhaps reconnaissance.
Artificial intelligence is being worked out not only in Russia, but also in many other countries. We still have to solve the problem of recognizing, categorizing goals. Today, software that would completely replace a person has not yet been found, so it’s impossible to do without an operator. But some work in this direction is already there. For example, group actions are possible when a manned aircraft or helicopter controls a group of unmanned aircraft.
- For a multipurpose complex, it is important to have an extensive set of options for the target load, which could close as many tasks as possible. Are there any developments in this area?
- The composition of the target load is always dictated by the customer, and we are ready to integrate on board virtually any equipment. The choice today is quite wide, and there are developments both domestic and foreign. For example, to conduct reconnaissance, it is possible to form a complex that will include a television camera, an infrared camera, a camera, and a laser range finder. At the same time, the equipment is placed on a gyro-stabilized platform. You can implement the "night" option, in which the detection system will be optimized for operation at night. Impact option may have a sight-sight station and suspension for controlled weapons. Well, there are specific options: for chemical, bacteriological intelligence and so on.
We are planning to create a universal modular platform with interchangeable load. An interface unit will be mounted on the platform, which will link the board with various equipment options. Thus, we intend to solve the problem of versatility and flexibility of application.
- One of the most difficult tasks when creating a helicopter type UAV is the implementation of the automatic landing function. Will the "Kite" in the automatic mode to land?
- Yes, this opportunity is envisaged. But this imposes serious requirements on the automatic control system, primarily on its reliability. We put a number of decisions in it. First, the reservation and duplication of the main systems, sensors and actuators. For example, there must be at least two computers, and they must use different operating systems to increase reliability. Secondly, it is self-testing, the constant determination of the health of all components. If a flight fails, the system must independently detect the problem block and reconfigure it — disconnect the failed device, exclude it from the control system, and enable the reserve. At the same time, we provide for at least two levels of reconfiguration, at which the task can continue, and the third level is to provide a return or an emergency landing. Another important innovation is the "electronic pilot" function. The fact is that during the training of pilots great attention is paid to the development of actions in emergency situations, when a failure occurs. Pilots learn the sequence of actions by heart, work it out on simulators and stands. Here, the automatics should, in case of failure, perform all the actions on the algorithm worked out in advance in order to prevent the loss of the UAV.
And, of course, automatics will be able to hedge the operator, who will be able to take control, especially in the take-off and landing modes.
“When can we see the Kite flight prototype?”
- Of course, it depends on how much customers are interested in the device. Today, work is underway to formulate the State Armaments Program, and we hope that the unmanned subject will be adequately reflected there. Accordingly, if a competition is announced by the Ministry of Defense, and Russian Helicopters will be declared the winner in this competition, we will be ready in the shortest time to create a flight model. In two years we would be able to lift it into the air, and the whole cycle of development and testing will take about four years.
- Will Russian Helicopters offer helicopter-type UAVs of a different dimension to the customers, lighter or, on the contrary, heavy?
- We have a study on various models. For example, the company Kamov developed a complex with a mass of 300 kg, with a radius of 80 km. Its target load is on the order of 80 kg. This model may be of interest, for example, to special forces, paratroopers, for whom small dimensions and mobility are important. With funding available, in three or four years, the developer can bring the UAV to the flight test stage. There are other projects.
However, since we determine the most probable order for ourselves, we concentrated on this dimension. The fact is that for solving tactical tasks, machines of this dimension are most applicable. The helicopter is still not so fast, its speed will be of the order of 150-200 km / h, so if it is far from the target, it will lose the UAV of an aircraft type. And directly above the battlefield, when solving fire support tasks, such a large apparatus was quickly shot down. We focus on solving problems in depth from 100 to 300 km, where such important targets as enemy reserves, missile launchers, command and control posts and so on are located.
At this range, the helicopter has advantages over the aircraft. The first is that it can hover, be in ambush for natural shelters, terrain, and quickly take up a position to strike. Secondly, it can be used to illuminate a target with a laser beam. Unlike an airplane, a helicopter can illuminate a target for a long time, being on a certain line, at a given angle. Another advantage is that the helicopter has a volumetric fuselage, where you can place antennas, equipment, and cargo. For helicopters, the problem of landing on the ship is much easier to solve. Finally, the "Kite" can be an invaluable assistant in the actions in isolation from the main forces. Remember the film "The Ninth Company", where the unit is left without ammunition, medicine, food. Having launched several helicopters, you can deliver hundreds of kilograms of cargo, and evacuate the wounded by return flight. Such tasks to solve the aircraft can not afford.
- In addition to the target load, on the unmanned helicopters of a different dimension could you use other developments on the Kite, for example, a control system?
- Each time to create your own automatic control system for a separate helicopter does not make sense. It creates a universal system that can be used in the entire promising line. The hardware, in principle, can be unified: a calculator, sensors, a number of systems can be used for several different complexes. Also, the ground component, including radio links and ground command posts, will be unified. And the differences will be in mathematical models and control algorithms.
- Do you plan to create optional manned helicopters on the basis of those machines that today produce or design Russian Helicopters?
- This task is real, and such work is carried out not only abroad, but also with us. It should be noted that in the USA the task was set, so that by the year 2020 all helicopters, without exception, were executed in a pilot-pilotless version. But there is one more direction connected with the facilitation of the pilot’s work, while maintaining his presence on board. Airborne systems must take over the stabilization of the flight, so that the pilot only sets the commands to the left and right, up and down, without worrying about keeping the unbalanced car.
- Is it possible to estimate how much unmanned helicopters can be claimed?
- Detailed marketing research on this issue is not yet available, but there are a number of assessments on which to focus. By 2020, the number of UAVs will be in the tens of thousands, except for a micro-UAV. As for helicopter-type machines, the need for them is estimated at about 7 thousand cars. The Russian market, of course, is more modest - about 1-1,5 thousand units.
We have every chance to compete for this market. I would like to draw attention to the fact that during Soviet times we occupied the leading positions in the world in unmanned topics, as in the nomenclature, quantity and quality of devices. We not only did not lag behind - we were literally ahead of the rest. And if today, due to well-known reasons, we have lost leadership in a number of areas, in unmanned aircraft significantly lagged behind Israel and the United States, then in helicopter technology, due to the complexity of creating unmanned helicopters, especially in automatic control systems, there is no such lag. Nowhere else in the world has a mature serial helicopter complex been created. Accordingly, with due attention from the state, with the support of the customer, we will be able to break into leadership again.
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