Reconnaissance with mobile and stationary Sensors in a combined System

Use of groups of heterogeneous sensors and mobile systems.

Complex reconnaissance and surveillance tasks often cannot be solved with stationary sensors alone or with just one mobile sensor carrier (e.g., a drone). If several mobile systems are used simultaneously in a scenario, conventional individual applications quickly reach their limits. On the one hand, each mobile system requires its own monitoring, control and appropriately trained operators; on the other hand, it is difficult to link the sensor and status data of the individual systems and evaluate or archive them synchronously.

AMFIS control station
© Fraunhofer IOSB
AMFIS control station
Mobile AMFIS-Kontrollstation (integriert in einen Sprinter).
© Fraunhofer IOSB
Mobile AMFIS-Kontrollstation (integriert in einen Sprinter).
Simulation eines UAV-Einsatzes bei einem Brand.
© Fraunhofer IOSB
Simulation eines UAV-Einsatzes bei einem Brand.

To solve such problems, Fraunhofer IOSB developed the integration platform AMFIS, which can manage groups of heterogeneous mobile systems and quickly provide a comprehensive situation picture in a complex environment using multiple stationary and mobile sensors. By means of the generic control station of AMFIS, various air, land and water vehicles (sensor carriers), as well as stationary ad-hoc sensor networks and heterogeneous sensors can be uniformly controlled and coordinated.

Due to the generic approach, the system is multi-sensor capable and can be equipped with electro-optical or thermal imaging cameras, with motion detectors, acoustic, chemical, radio or radiation sensors, etc., depending on the mission objective. It does not matter whether the sensors are mounted on mobile sensor carriers or installed stationary.

AMFIS has a modular design and can be scaled as required and adapted to application-specific requirements by selecting suitable modules or integrating new ones.

Open interfaces, based on standards, ensure that further system types are interoperable and easy to integrate, and that the collected data can be delivered to command or evaluation systems in real time (even while the mobile systems are in motion).

AMFIS functionalities (excerpt):

  • Automated planning and execution of even complex reconnaissance and surveillance missions
  • Mission-based automatic control of multiple systems with rule-based reactions and using AI
  • Simple, standardized commissioning and control (card-based or direct)
  • Message creation; archiving, filtering and needs-based interoperable distribution of the data and information obtained
  • Support of different sensors, sensor carrier platforms (UAV, UGV, AUV, ...) and information systems/standards (e.g. STANAGs)
  • Easy connection to existing monitoring systems and operations control centers
  • Support for real and simulated sensors and sensor carriers

The simulation of scenarios with AMFIS is integrated into the AMFIS control station in such a way that, in terms of control technology, there is no difference between real and simulated sensors and sensor carriers - they are seamlessly interchangeable.

  • Education and training of personnel
  • Exploration of different sensors and sensor carriers
  • Sensor deployment planning 

Examples of application areas for AMFIS

  • Investigation and monitoring of properties and areas
  • Rapid clarification of major emergencies
  • Mass events
  • Personensuche
  • Traffic monitoring
  • Data archiving for the preservation of evidence
 

ALBACOPTER

Scalable concept for autonomous flying transport drones

 

Department IAS of Fraunhofer IOSB

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