New Software For Multiple UAV Control Launched

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A new commercial software that enables operators to simultaneously control dozens of unmanned vehicles and conduct information, surveillance and reconnaissance missions called VCSi was unveiled Lockheed Martin this month.

“VCSi is a safe and reliable software platform that can be adapted to any vehicle – from one you can hold in your hand, to a 50,000-pound machine; from a vehicle that flies for a few minutes, to a vehicle that flies for months at a time,” said John Molberg, business development manager, Lockheed Martin CDL Systems. “The user can integrate as many vehicles as required to complete their missions, including boats, quadcopters, fixed-wing aircraft or even high-altitude pseudo satellites. Across commercial or military missions, VCSi is adaptable to the challenge and further extends the power of the human-machine team.”

VCSi’s major enhancements include a multi-vehicle to control interfaces to allow for true 1:n control of dissimilar vehicles anywhere on earth. Lockheed Martin further advanced its fly-by-mouse interface to enable easier training and reduce operator/analyst task loads. It also offers a robust plug-in architecture, which allows for custom content to be added by the user or selected from pre-existing modules.

According to defenseworld.net, VCSi is designed around the NATO Standardization Agreement known as STANAG 4586, which supports unmanned vehicle interoperability. Customers can build attachments or plug-ins beyond 4586 to customize the VCSi software, which also supports multiple languages and non-Latin scripts.