Journal of Computer and Communications, 2016, 4, 67-72
Published Online May 2016 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/jcc
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jcc.2016.45010
How to cite this paper: Heo, J., Kim, S. and Kwon, Y.J. (2016) Design of Ground Control Station for Operation of Multiple
Combat Entities. Journal of Computer and Communications, 4, 67-72. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jcc.2016.45010
Design of Ground Control Station for
Operation of Multiple Combat Entities
Jinyeong Heo1, Suhwan Kim2, Yongjin James K wo n 1*
1Department of Industrial Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
21st Division, 3rd Department, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, South Korea
Received 3 May 2016; accepted 19 May 2016; published 26 May 2016
Abstract
Recently, if you look at the trend of the Unmanned Combat Entities (UCE) on the world that are
actually operational, a large number of personnel per one UCE has been operating the GCS. How-
ever, UCEs to perform the attack/reconnaissance mission are very expensive assets and require a
considerable amount of time to train for UCE operations. Accordingly, the future battlefield envi-
ronment has become important to develop multiple UCE ground control station. In this study, we
developed a multiple UCE GCS that one operator can operate up to four UCEs. The software was
built with a total of 6 displays using a Lockheed Martin Corporation’s prepar3D. Scenario of re-
search takes into account the operation of the South Korea-type future multiple UCEs, to take ad-
vantage of the simulation system, in this paper, we propose for each of the concepts and technolo-
gies.
Keywords
Ground Control Station, Multiple Unmanned Combat Entities, Mission Planning System,
Ergronomics Design, Task Load
1. Introduction
Under future battle environment, UCEs will be utilized as a key element for battlefield in that it will be con-
ducting missions such as striking enemy’s core forces by receiving information on UCE’s location and status,
and transmitting control orders to the UCEs through real-time battlefield data collection and sharing. Recently,
there have been active researches conducted on developing the technology from single UCE, in which one oper-
ator exists for one corresponding UCE, towards multiple UCE system, in which one person operates multiple
UCEs [1]. Therefore, there are a need for a ground control system that can effectively control diverse multiple
UCEs and conduct missions, and for the human interface that can minimize mission assignments for the opera-
tors [2]. Considering such issues, we have established a UCE GCS station which can integrate and control up to
4 UCEs that used to be independently employed. Figure 1 is the overall structure of the GCS station we estab-
lished, and for the detailed factors, there are front image, infrared image display, and for the parts that operators
*
Corresponding author.

J. Heo et al.
68
Figure 1. Mul ti-UCE GCS entire structure.
use, there are UCE selection, status display, activation display, mission plan display and selected UCE informa-
tion display. In this research, we will define the overall structure of the hardware of the GCS station that has
been invented, and secondly suggest detailed technology for the software and the concepts of employment.
2. Design of Hardware and Software
2.1. Hardware Structure
Figure 2 is simply to show the structure of the ground control station implemented in this study. Large display
in front of the operator can see the front image and the infrared image of the UCE. In addition, three displays in
front of the large display is operated in a touch screen method and are able to grasp information UCE, they are
possible to operate by using a UCE Control.
2.2. Mission Planning System and the Design of Display
Mission plan system is a system that facilitates on-ground operators to quickly conduct missions with suffi-
ciently prearranged plans including flight path, time, fuel, arms, tactics, action manual and map. In other words,
it functions as a system to prepare and plan for various issues needed for self-regulated flight operation of UCEs,
and the mission plan system organization that has been designed for this research is based on the organization
diagram in Figure 3.
Firstly, before designing mission plan system, we have conducted the Mission Generator technical research. It
is composed of three modules: Body Behavior Generator that generates paths for UCEs, Effector Behavior Ge-
nerator that generates the behaviors of Effector which is carried in the body when behavior information such as
the angle of the body is determined, and lastly, Mission Binder which links previous two modules and makes
sure they operate properly. It generates the behaviors of Body and Effector based on the data provided from Da-
tabase, and the behaviors that are generated will generate the final mission considering environmental factors
through Mission Binder. Secondly, utilizing the data from GIS (Geographic Information System), it has estab-
lished technology to set restricted air zone, designate Way-point for missions and design events, and set up a
database by transition and application of 2D-3D geographic information data. Lastly, we can categorize the MPS
display composition principle into standardization principle and design differentiation principle, and in this re-
search, we will be following the standardization criterion, as Fig ure 4 shown below, for ergonomic design/tac-
tics object expression/GCS design.
Figure 5 is the basic display designed through the MPS display composition principle which is mentioned
above. This display is composed of mission information, data of each UCE, and other user-selected information.
Basically, the operator can grasp the information of four UCEs at a glance, selectively show or take away in-
formation that the user needs such as electronic map filters, and it shows real-time information such as location,
velocity and orientation of the UCE on MPS Digital Map. In addition, the display can be represented by select-
ing information. For example, Topographic Information, ORB, Vehicle Identifier, Instrument Landing System,
Flight Information Region and so on. Figure 6 and Figure 7 show a screen showing optional information.

J. Heo et al.
69
Figure 2. Multi-UCE GCS.
Figure 3. Mission planning system diagram.
Figure 4. MPS display conceptual config uration principles.

J. Heo et al.
70
Figure 5. MPS main display.
Figure 6. MPS user optional information display example (Topographic Information).
Figure 7. Ex amp le (ORB, Vehicle Identifier, Instrument Landing System, Flight Information Region).

J. Heo et al.
71
2.3. UCE Status Information
Figure 8 shows status information for up to four UCEs, and enables the operators to select the UCE that he/she
is willing to activate and see the status of each UCE at a glance. We can employ the UCEs appropriately for the
given mission conditions by selecting operational modes such as air-to-air, air-to-ground or tactical reconnais-
sance, and the activated UCE can enhance the mission effectiveness by letting the operator select information
for the extra information display. The extra information display’s composition is as shown in Figure 9, and we
can check information including meter, radar, arm status, oil pressure and power.
2.4. Selected UCE Information
In selected UCE information display (Fig ure 10), it shows the actual location on the map where the selected
UCE is flying at the moment. This can be zoomed in and out, and has advantages to efficiently utilize informa-
tion such as geographic, flight and tactical data.
Figure 8. Multi-UCE status display example (main display).
Figure 9. Multi-UCE status display example (additional display) main display.

J. Heo et al.
72
Figure 10. Selected UCE moving map information.
3. Conclusion
In this research, by designing a ground control station that controls up to 4 UCEs, we have invented a multiple
UCE GCS, which enables us to more effectively conduct missions regarding the employment of multiple UCEs.
Since the ground control software design, through information display of multiple UCEs, can let the operators
choose a certain UCE that he/she wants to activate, grasp the status of each UCE at a glance, operate the UCEs
appropriately for mission conditions by assigning employment modes to each UCE such as air-to-air, air-to-
ground and tactical reconnaissance, and let the operator select information to display for the extra information
display, we expect the mission effectiveness to be raised through this.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) under the Contract No. UD140066CD.
The authors wish to express sincere gratitude for the financial support.
References
[1] Shin, Y.H., Cho, S.W., Jo, S. B., Kim, S.H., Lyu , C.K. and Choi, K. (2012) Development of Ground Control Software
for Operation of Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Journal of The Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Sci-
ences, 40, 542 -547. http://dx.doi.org/10.5139/JKSAS.2012.40.6.542
[2] Ryu, C.H. and Ra, S.W. (2005) Mission Planning and Control Analysis Algorithms for the Safe Flight of an Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle. Journal of The Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences, 33, 71-77.
http://www.dbpia.co.kr/Article/NODE01102209
http://dx.doi.org/10.5139/JKSAS.2005.33.3.071