AAI's On-the-Move Command and Control software achieves TRL 7; enables seamless handoff of unmanned aircraft

AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that it successfully demonstrated its new On-the-Move Command and Control (OMCC) software during an Aerosonde® Mark 4.7 unmanned aircraft system flight at Fort Pickett in Virginia. AAI's OMCC software achieved technology readiness level, or TRL, 7 during this exercise by demonstrating its system-level operational capabilities in a full flight environment. OMCC was utilized by operators for pre-flight checks, automatic launch, executing mission plans and auto-recovery operations.

Building on the success of AAI's field-proven One System® Remote Video Terminal (OSRVT) and mission planning elements from Kutta Technologies, Inc., the OMCC software enables seamless handoff of in-flight aircraft between ground control station operators and dismounted warfighters. It enables command of both the aircraft and payload from a small portable terminal within a dynamic tactical environment.

AAI's OMCC provides NATO standardization agreement (STANAG) 4586 level of interoperability (LOI) 5 control of the unmanned aircraft, meaning that it enables aircraft control and monitoring, as well as automates launch and recovery functions. It also provides users STANAG 4586 LOI 3 control of mission payloads, which is direct control of the payload itself, as well as the ability to directly receive other data. OMCC technology can be utilized by stationary platforms and any moving land, sea or air vehicle, enabling LOI 4 manned unmanned, or MUM, teaming capability.

"Next-generation unmanned aircraft technologies must provide tremendous flexibility, seamless interoperability with other assets and participants in the battlespace, and above all, ease of use for the operator," says Vice President of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Steven Reid of AAI. "On-the-Move Command and Control is our most recent example of how we apply our decades of unmanned systems expertise and experience to create directly relevant capabilities for warfighters."