Air Vehicles News and Accomplishments

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January 2008 --  Cooperative Operations in UrbaN TERrain (COUNTER) project reaches important flight test milestone


AFRL scientists recently completed a successful flight test as part of the COUNTER program.

During the test, conducted at the US Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., three UAVs were sent to inspect potential threat targets that had been hidden previously in the facility's urban landscape. The UAVs collected video telemetry that was then sent back to the operator controlling the Vigilant Spirit Control Station.

The test was an important milestone for the COUNTER program. This final major flight test for the COUNTER program represented the first time three micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) flew simultaneously at 75, 100, and 125 foot altitudes respectively, under the control of one operator.

Additionally, Automated Decision Logic was tested for the first time with three UAVs in flight. Automated Decision Logic enables the operator to instantly revisit a particular threat target given a set of predetermined conditions, such as fuel remaining. Automated search patterns and automated wind compensation were also tested successfully.

In order to demonstrate other applications of the COUNTER system, the researchers also performed missions in perimeter surveillance and missions involving multiple vehicles orbiting a single point.

The flight test successfully brought together all the technologies being developed under the COUNTER program over the last three years. As a result of the test, the COUNTER team collected over 41 gigabytes of video, telemetry, still photos, and other critical data.

AF Special Operations Command was also invited to provide operational insight into the COUNTER system. AC-130 Gunship sensor operators were given a chance to operate and evaluate the multiple UAV sensor video streams. During each of the operators' time in the seat, they had a chance to utilize the available tools to locate targets in the urban areas. 

Fourteen researchers were involved in the successful test, including personnel from the AFRL Air Vehicles and Human Effectiveness Directorates, General Dynamics, Applied Research Associates, and Air Force Special Operations Command. 

The COUNTER project is an effort designed to provide situational awareness to special operations forces in an urban environment. The COUNTER team uses small and micro Unmanned Air Vehicles to perform surveillance and collect video telemetry to detect possible threat targets in an urban environment.


Dr. David Pratt named Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) Fellow


AFRL engineer Dr. David Pratt was recently named a 2008 Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, the highest grade attainable in the organization.

Dr. Pratt serves as the Air Vehicles Directorate's senior technical advisor for the Structures Division. In this role, Dr. Pratt serves as the primary technical authority for all research and development efforts in structures, thermal management, and structural design methods for AFRL. To date, he has authored or co-authored over 60 technical publications and had been invited to speak or present papers at numerous technical conferences.

Dr. Pratt began his AFRL career in 1989 as a research engineer in the Flight Dynamics Directorate (now the Air Vehicles Directorate). In 1996, he became the technical advisor for the directorate's Mechanical and Thermal Systems Branch, and in 1999 he was named to his current position.

The recipient of many awards for his work in AFRL, Dr. Pratt has most recently been honored with the Department of the Air Force Performance Award (for the years 1990 through 2005), the Valued Service Award Certificate from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2003), and the Air Vehicles Directorate's Benjamin D. Foulois Award for Excellence in Research (1998).

Dr. Pratt graduated in 1989 with a bachelor's degree from Wright State University in systems engineering with a mechanical engineering option. He also holds a master's degree (1991) and doctoral degree (1996) from the University of Dayton, both in mechanical engineering.

Fellowship in the RAeS is granted to professionals who have demonstrated outstanding contributions, a high degree of responsibility, and/or a long experience of high quality in the field of aeronautics.

The RAeS is the only professional organization that serves the entire aerospace community. Members of the society come from many different professional disciplines within the aerospace industry worldwide. The RAeS serves as a leader within the aerospace community and often serves in an advisory role to leaders in government, academia, and industry.



Sherer, Carter named 2008 AIAA Associate Fellows


AFRL Air Vehicles engineers Dr. Scott Sherer and Mr. Dennis Carter have recently been named AIAA Associate Fellows for their outstanding contributions to the arts, sciences, or technology of aeronautics and astronautics.

Dr. Sherer, an aerospace engineer in the Computational Sciences Branch, performs research in the field of computational fluid dynamics. His research in the area of high-order numerical interpolation techniques resulted in the greatly-enhanced capability of the computer code FDL3DI. The enhancement to this fundamental CFD software allowed researchers the ability to carry out direct numerical and large-eddy simulation computations on geometrically-complex configurations. Additionally, Dr. Sherer has also made significant contributions in the technical areas of aero-acoustics and aero-optics.

Mr. Carter, an aerospace engineer in the Aerodynamic Configuration Branch, has provided significant contributions in the area of air vehicle ground and flight tests. During his 29-year tenure in AFRL, he has participated in the most complex wind tunnel test ever completed in an AFRL wind tunnel, the Commercial Aircraft Hardening Program (CAHP). Additionally, Mr. Carter has also supported many flight test projects, including the NF-16D Variable-stability, In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA), the F 15 STOL Maneuvering Technology Demonstrator (SMTD), the X 29 Forward Swept Wing, the F 111 Mission Adaptive Wing, and the SkyTote unmanned aerial vehicle.

The AIAA has been the premiere society for aerospace engineers and scientists for over 70 years. It is the world's largest professional society dedicated to the progress of engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. Associate Fellows are peer-nominated and elected and must have 12 years of professional experience to be considered for this honor. The AIAA will recognize these individuals at the Associate Fellows Dinner held in conjunction with the 46th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit in January 2008.



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