An Unmanned Aircraft System for Maritime Search and Rescue
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An Unmanned Aircraft System for Maritime Search and Rescue by Andre Paul Meredith Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Prof Thomas Jones Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering March 2011 Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Date: March 2011 Copyright © 2011 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved i Abstract Search and Rescue is an essential service provided by States and Militaries to search for, locate and rescue survivors of accidents and incidents. Civil Search and Rescue utilizes a system of well-trained professionals or volunteers, an effective Search and Rescue organization, supported by industry and other providers of infrastructure and assets. The service is rendered to save the lives of civilian individuals in imminent danger of losing their lives. Military (Combat) Search and Rescue is provided by militaries to save the lives of military practitioners in a similar predicament. In addition, Search and Rescue is performed over land and over the sea. All forms of Search and Rescue rely on capable, specialized assets for efficiency en affectivity. Assets are specified and chosen on the grounds of various factors, amongst others operating environment, operational profile, performance and special abilities. This thesis has determined the need for a Search and Rescue asset, capable of performing effective and efficient Search and Rescue over the entire national maritime Search and Rescue Region, up to the Region extremities. An analysis was performed to prove this deficit, and quantify the key performance and special equipment requirements for such an asset. An analysis was also performed which proves that an Unmanned Aircraft System should be an ideal choice to meet this need. Finally, an Unmanned Aircraft System concept was specified that could potentially meet this need. ii Opsomming Soek en Redding is ‘n essentiële diens wat deur State en militere organisasies gebied word om oorlewendes van ongelukke en insidente te soek, op te spoor en na veiligheid te bring. Siviele Soek en Redding maak gebruik van ‘n stelsel van goed- opgeleide professionele persone, sowel as vrywilligers, asook ‘n effektiewe Soek en Reddingsorganisasie, ondersteun deur die industrie en ander voorsieners van infrastruktuur en toerusting. Derglike dienste word daargestel om die lewens van siviele persone, wie se lewens in gevaar is, te red. Militere Soek en Redding word deur militere organisasies daargetel om die lewens van militere persone, wie in gevaar is, te red. Soek en Redding word oor land sowel as oor die see uitgevoer. Alle vorms van Soek en Redding maak staat op die beskikbaarheid van gespesialiseerde toerusting met gespesialiseerde gebruiksaanwending, vir maksimale effektiwiteit en doeltreffendheid. Toerusting word gekies op grond van verskeie faktore, onder meer die gebruiksomgewing, operasionele profiele, verlangde prestasie en spesiale vermoëns. Hierdie tesis het die behoefte aan ‘n gespesialiseerde Soek en Redding platform, wat die vermoë het om effektiewe en doeltreffende Soek en Redding uit te voer oor die hele nationale Soek en Redding Gebied, tot en met die ekstreme daarvan, vasgestel. ‘n Analise is uitgevoer om hierdie tekortkoming uit te wys, asook om die sleutel prestasie- en gespesialiseerde toerustingbehoeftes vir so ‘n platform te kwantifiseer. ‘n Verdere analise is uitgevoer om te bewys dat ‘n Onbemande Vliegtuig die beste opsie sou wees vir ‘n platform om aan hierdie behoeftes te voldoen. Ten slotte is ‘n konsep vir ‘n Onbemande Vliegtuig Stelsel voorgetsel wat potensieel hierdie behoefte sou kon vervul. iii Acknowledgments I would like to thank the University of Stellenbosch for giving me the opportunity to undertake and complete this thesis. I thank my promoter, Prof Thomas Jones, for inspiring and guiding me, always displaying a positive attitude towards results obtained and believing in the success of this study. I thank my wife, Marlene, for supporting me and believing in the success of this study. I thank the engineering and technical personnel at Denel Dynamics, and in particular Mr Wilhelm Lutz, Mr Dave Jackson, Mr Tobie de Beer and Mr Henk Terblanche, for the provision of essential information and mentoring me in many of the finer technical details employed in this study. I thank the National Ports Authority, and in particular Capt Edward Bremner and Mr Peter Meredith, for providing me with essential information used in this study. I thank the South African Search and Rescue Organisation, and in particular Mr Cassie Carstens, for providing me with essential information used in this study. I thank the SA Naval Engineering Section, and in particular S Lt R. Riekert and Mid J.A. Coetzer, for providing me with essential information used in this study. I thank the Institute for Maritime Technology, and in particular Mr Joe Kramer and Mr Carl Wainman, for providing me with essential information used in this study. I thank the SA Navy Hydrographic Office, and in particular Capt (SAN) Abri Kampfer, for providing me with essential information used in this study. I thank the personnel from the Directorate Air Transport and Maritime Systems, Directorate Helicopter Systems and Directorate Technical Support Services in the SA Air Force for the provision of essential information used in this study. I thank Mr Anton Maneschijn for the use of his book on light aircraft design as reference material for this study. I thank my Heavenly Father for this opportunity and His eternal guidance and wisdom. iv Contents Declaration…………………………………………………………………………i Abstract…………………………………………………………………………….ii Opsomming………………………………………………………………………..iii Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………….iv Contents……………………………………………………………………………v List of Figures…………………………………………………………………….. xiv List of Tables………………………………………………………………………xvii Abbreviations………………………………………………………………………xix Part 1 1. Introduction.............................................................................................1-1 1.1. Aim .....................................................................................................1-2 1.2. Scope .................................................................................................1-2 1.3. Outline................................................................................................1-2 1.3.1. Part 1 ...........................................................................................1-2 1.3.2. Part 2 ...........................................................................................1-3 2. National Oceanographic Characteristics..............................................2-1 2.1. Environmental, Physical and Climatic Characteristics........................2-1 2.1.1. Coastline Length and Limits.........................................................2-1 2.1.2. Coastal Populace.........................................................................2-1 2.1.3. Sea States and Wave Height.......................................................2-2 2.1.4. Wind Speeds ...............................................................................2-2 2.1.5. Oceanic Currents.........................................................................2-2 2.1.6. Tides............................................................................................2-3 2.1.7. Ocean Surface Temperatures......................................................2-3 2.1.8. Air Temperatures .........................................................................2-3 2.1.9. A Case Study: The Marion and Prince Edward Island Group ......2-3 2.2. National Demarcated Maritime Zones (Maritime Claims) ...................2-5 2.2.1. General ........................................................................................2-5 2.2.2. Territorial Waters (TW) ................................................................2-6 2.2.3. Contiguous Zone (CZ) .................................................................2-7 2.2.4. Maritime Cultural Zone (MCZ) .....................................................2-7 2.2.5. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) .................................................2-7 2.2.6. Continental Shelf (CS) .................................................................2-8 2.3. Conclusion..........................................................................................2-9 3. Marine Activity ........................................................................................3-1 3.1. Marine Resources ..............................................................................3-1 3.1.1. Living Resources: Fish and Shellfish ...........................................3-1 3.1.2. Minerals and Energy....................................................................3-3 3.2. Commercial Shipping .........................................................................3-3 3.2.1. Major Ports ..................................................................................3-3 3.2.2. Commercial Shipping Activity ......................................................3-4 3.3. Naval Operations................................................................................3-6