Systems theoretic process analysis Applied to manned-unmanned teaming

Abstract

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has identified autonomy as one of three game changing technologies for the future, along with hypersonic vehicles and directed energy weapons. One common application of autonomy that has been explored by numerous laboratories and research centers internationally is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). AFRL is hoping to develop a UAV that will act as wingman in the traditional role of fighter pilots. Autonomous UAVs have several advantages over manned aircraft. First, they can operate in extreme environments with abnormal conditions where traditional fighter aircraft cannot maneuver. Second, autonomous UAVs can operate without human input where boring tasks like searching or monitoring would fall short due to lack of situational awareness. Finally, UAVs eliminate the risk of having Air Force personnel within firing range of an enemy. However, manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) is a relatively new concept that has limited operational use. One of the challenges is designing safety into a system where automation can make decisions. The growth of MUM-T operations is primarily limited due to skeptical concerns about its safety and security. The Air Force maintains large amounts of classified data, and that information is transferred across several networks. If an enemy gained access to imagery or communications, a mission would fail and the enemy could prepare a counterattack. Prior attempts to perform a safety or security analysis of an autonomous UAV have focused on reliability as opposed to safety. FMEA and FTA calculate the probability of a component failure which is different from preventing a hazard. By following STPA, the requirements generated are directly traced back to hazards and losses, and the analysis will include interactions among components as opposed to strictly component failures.