Introducing: Bolt & Bolt-M

sc_rufctr · 10-10-2024, 01:27 AM

Impressive... Drones have certainly changed the battlefield. The end of this video prompted me to start this thread.

There must a be a whole bunch of research and development in this field right now.
Also... Seahawk has mentioned drones (Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)) in a few posts over the years.

Thinking about getting into this industry somehow.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 10-10-2024, 01:39 AM

I am surprised UAS swarm technology hasn't developed enough to be deployed, like in Ukraine. I question why haven't between 100K and 1 million drones been used again Russian forces by now?

The only reason I can think of is keeping your cards close to the vest.

oldE · 10-10-2024, 03:32 AM

Drone warfare is indeed a major player on the battlefields of Ukraine. FPV drones hunt down armored vehicles, emplacements, even individual troops. Electronic countermeasures have been deployed by each side.
Check out "Ukraine Matters" podcast. It seems to give a fairly unvarnished account of what is going on.
It is indeed the 21st century.

Best
Les

Shaun @ Tru6 · 10-10-2024, 04:51 AM

I've seen the footage Les and it's impressive work, what I've talking about is 5000 drones, 10,000 drones, wave after wave of them, attacking a particular enemy position with devastating finality.

160,000 Allied troops landed at Normandy. I want to see that at the drone level.

911boost · 911boost's Garage

Paging Paul....

Seahawk · 10-10-2024, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911boost

Paging Paul....

I have been on the phone all day talking this very thing. Swarm is actually easy, making the small UAS a threat isn't.

Swarm is real and is done now...the issues are interesting:

- The tyranny of distance. I write this all the time but most small UAS are battery powered with little endurance: So you will in many cases not get the swarm to the fight.

- UAS Control. We care, no one else does. The decision to engage is a constant issue.

- Logistics. "Thousands" of anything means a supply chain, especially if batteries and ordinance is on the table. Not easy and, as important, the other folks can be watching with intent...the Marines want zero supply problems, they want to make parts in the field.

- Payload. We have a Congressional plus-up for next year to arm one of our UAS. Again, most countries don't care, we have to where ordinance is concerned. The rules and guidance, especially if you are ship based, are very difficult. Small UAS have payload issues, sensor issues, comm issues.

Big world out there for UAS, especially commercially. Tether is the next wave and we are one it like Bazza.

911boost · 911boost's Garage

Super interesting as always Paul!

In my field we have been using drones for a few years but a lot of the laws/rules in the US make it more difficult than in Mexico for example.

There are some pretty cool technologies, drones that check fence lines for breaks etc., k-9 robots with all kinds of sensors (what the army is doing with those is nightmare inducing...). This is from 2023 at a trade show.

I have seen some tethered systems as well, I think I have only every seen one put into practice where the drone was tethered to a Polaris Ranger.

All cool stuff and I anticipate the innovations will continue at a rapid pace.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

We never give the really good stuff to anyone else.

I suspect our capabilities are greater than you would imagine or our resident expert is at liberty to say.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 10-10-2024, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I have been on the phone all day talking this very thing. Swarm is actually easy, making the small UAS a threat isn't.

Swarm is real and is done now...the issues are interesting:

- The tyranny of distance. I write this all the time but most small UAS are battery powered with little endurance: So you will in many cases not get the swarm to the fight.

- UAS Control. We care, no one else does. The decision to engage is a constant issue.

- Logistics. "Thousands" of anything means a supply chain, especially if batteries and ordinance is on the table. Not easy and, as important, the other folks can be watching with intent...the Marines want zero supply problems, they want to make parts in the field.

- Payload. We have a Congressional plus-up for next year to arm one of our UAS. Again, most countries don't care, we have to where ordinance is concerned. The rules and guidance, especially if you are ship based, are very difficult. Small UAS have payload issues, sensor issues, comm issues.

Big world out there for UAS, especially commercially. Tether is the next wave and we are one it like Bazza.

What were the cons discussed for a C-130(s) to drop several armored boxes full of drones, no chutes for freefall, boxes open automatically at a particular height, drones swarm out and attack? A few engagements will dial in how and when they will be confronted by the enemy, and then drop and open heights can be modified.

It wouldn't be unrealistic to have to drop box itself have air to surface missiles to frustrate the enemy. Drone swarm plus infantry plus air support, timed in concert, seems like a winning strategy.

The supply chain, to me, is just a funding issue.

other issues are more complicated but can be worked out.

Seahawk · 10-10-2024, 12:39 PM

It is all being worked.

Stores and separation from any aircraft is a huge issue. Then transition to flight after release.

A C-130 is a grape, btw, not the best delivery vehicle in certain tactical circumstances.

I’ll screen shoot some slides tomorrow morning. We have designed and flown a Canister Launched UAS that is flown to the fight on the wing of a jet.

The future depends on comms as well. Fun stuff.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 10-10-2024, 12:50 PM

looking forward to them, thank you!

honestly, getting the drones to the destination seems like the easy part, comms being more complicated but a few thousand shoe box satellites would help solve that challenge. But then the drop boxes themselves should be the comms hub eliminating a complicated worldwide comms network.

Missiles could certainly deploy drones both in air to ground to air and air to air deployment

Seahawk · 10-11-2024, 06:13 AM

We always do work flows for commercial and military UAS applications - These are old charts to illustrate:

The key is making UAS imagery/information/etc. actionable either in revenue (civilian) o tactical implications for the military.

We can break each individual part of the flow elements (which change, the above is a photogammetry flow) into discrete segments for each customer needs.

Next charts will be military efforts/

Seahawk · 10-11-2024, 06:20 AM

We are working four distinct UAS projects and are teamed with manufacturers and sensor providers.

This is Cannister Launched UAS, CLU as well as swarm: Lots to look at on these old slides, but we are moving forward. I have a meeting with RTX this afternoon for work split.

Seahawk · 10-11-2024, 06:23 AM

This concept was developed for the Army under an SBIR. The missile is a LM GMLRS. We are hoping we stay in the 2025 budget under a SBIR 2.5

We designed the carry mechanisms and folding quads that will get 90 miles downreange at Mach. It is all about delivery.

cockerpunk · 10-11-2024, 06:26 AM

actually working on a project for drones right now as well. can't say much, until the patents come through, but interesting stuff.

for a long time the only market for us, was consumer, and consumers dont care mostly about cost. now that the DoD is involved, cost is no issue lol.

Seahawk · 10-11-2024, 06:29 AM

Last post.

Watchman is getting a lot of attention. We fly it almost every day. Think in terms of unlimited endurance at the border, political events, etc. due to the tether which has power and fiber...no need to take the sensors flying other than antennas and some nodes. Processing is done on the host vehicle.

The tethered Watchman can swarm the untethered vehicles for command and control

Last pic: Whisper Rather than Shout

The above is a depiction of a Naval Exercise we flew in...jamming. The beauty of an expendable CLU is that is can get very close and jam at very low power and keep liots out of harms way.

If there s interest, I can go through armed UAS scenarios.

Seahawk · 10-11-2024, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

actually working on a project for drones right now as well. can't say much, until the patents come through, but interesting stuff.

SBIR data rights really help us. That and we have specific IP we never share...especially on Watchman.

Again, the slides are faily old and I washed them pretty well!

red 928 · 10-11-2024, 10:07 AM

astrochex · 10-11-2024, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

If theres interest, I can go through armed UAS scenarios.

Of course, duh.

Do you do any mission level many-on-many simulations to demonstrate effectiveness?

Seahawk · 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrochex

Of course, duh.

Do you do any mission level many-on-many simulations to demonstrate effectiveness?

Generally the requirements come from the fleet and we get an opportunity to discuss their needs.

We do m on m analysis when asked. The scenarios, initially called Operational Views (OVs) get complicated quickly.

In the civilian market we get hired to do analysis of UAS effectively all the time.

We just finished an analysis for the Forest Service. Thei results were surprising.