Tern, a joint program between DARPA and the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR), seeks to greatly increase the effectiveness of forward-deployed small-deck ships such as destroyers and frigates by enabling them to serve as mobile launch and recovery sites for specially designed unmanned air systems (UASs). DARPA last year awarded Phase 3 of Tern to a team led by the Northrop Grumman Corporation to build a full-scale technology demonstration system. The program has since made significant advances on numerous fronts, including commencement of wing fabrication and completion of successful engine testing for its test vehicle, and DARPA has tasked Northrop Grumman with building a second test vehicle.
Tern envisions a new medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS that could operate from helicopter decks on smaller ships in rough seas or expeditionary settings while achieving efficient long-duration flight. To provide these and other previously unattainable capabilities, the Tern Phase 3 design is a tailsitting, flying-wing aircraft with a twin contra-rotating, nose-mounted propulsion system. The aircraft would lift off like a helicopter and then perform a transition maneuver to orient it for wing-borne flight for the duration of a mission. Upon mission completion, the aircraft would return to base, transition back to a vertical orientation, and land. The system is sized to fit securely inside a ship hangar for maintenance operations and storage.
Tern has accomplished the following technical milestones for its test vehicle in 2016:
Wing fabrication: Since Phase 3 work started at the beginning of 2016, Tern has finished fabricating major airframe components and anticipates final assembly in the first quarter of 2017. Once complete, the airframe will house propulsion, sensors, and other commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) systems to make up the full-scale technology demonstration vehicle.
Engine tests: In Phases 2 and 3, Tern has successfully tested numerous modifications to an existing General Electric engine to enable it to operate in both vertical and horizontal orientations. This type of engine was chosen because it is mature and powers multiple helicopter platforms currently in use.
Software integration: This summer, Tern opened its Software Integration Test Station (SITS), part of the System Integration Lab that supports software development for the program. The test station includes vehicle management system hardware and software, and uses high-fidelity simulation tools to enable rapid testing of aircraft control software in all phases of flight. The SITS is helping ensure the technology demonstration vehicle could fly safely in challenging conditions such as launch, recovery, and transition between horizontal and vertical flight.
Additional tests are about to start. A 1/5th-scale version of the approved vehicle model is in testing in the 80’ x 120’ wind tunnel at the NASA Ames Research Center’s National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC). Data collected during this test will be used to better characterize aircraft aerodynamic performance and validate aerodynamic models.
Source & More Info: http://www.darpa.mil/program/tern
Remain - [Acid / Alert (Remixes) #01] Acid Music: http://freemusicarchive.org
More Epic Music & SFX:
http://www.purple-planet.com
http://audiojungle.net
http://bensound.com
http://incompetech.com
https://www.premiumbeat.com
http://www.purple-planet.com
http://soundbible.com
More Navy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBmG-dLaTIE&list=PLsWKNvuOwNpJCw45OUYZ6TIW7LRUdXXFl
Watch More...
------------------------------------------------------------------
[ Playlists ]
Play All Videos - Military Zone: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsWKNvuOwNpLZI1UXweNpxJywqvSGgu--
Don't forget to subscribe us on Facebook, Twitter or G+
https://www.facebook.com/Military-Zone-1525317914420007/
https://twitter.com/MilitarysdZone
https://plus.google.com/u/1/107010992157185090394/posts
Blog: http://militaryzonetv.blogspot.gr
Obviously if you want....give a LIKE :)
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου