Army to create universal UAV interface

Troopers with Company E, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, prepare the networking system of an MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system during a logistical demonstration by Companies E and F at West Fort Hood, Texas, Oct. 17. Capable of flying in excess of 20,000 feet, the Gray Eagle provides real-time surveillance, reconnaissance and attack capabilities to aid troopers on the ground and aircraft in the sky.

The Army is developing a common unmanned aerial vehicle UAV interface.

The goal is to create a universal interface for all UAVs, rather than forcing operators to learn a separate interface for individual UAVs such as Shadow or Gray Eagle, according to a United Press International UPI article.

“Training and Doctrine UAS command capability manager Col. Paul Cravey says a universal operator and control interface will be one of the biggest changes to the program,” according to UPIsaid.

“Once qualified on that universal interface, they then can control the assets that are apportioned to the brigade combat team or the ground commander who is being supported in that environment,’” Cravey said during an Association of the U.S. Army event.