AFRL demonstrates concept vehicle for bomb damage assessment Published June 18, 2008 By Rex Swenson AFRL Munitions Directorate EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Air Force Research Laboratory researchers conducted successful flight test of Voyeur, a proof-of-concept rotary wing unmanned air vehicle designed for bomb damage assessment (BDA) missions. Lite Machines Corporation developed the coaxial counterrotating helicopter under a Small Business Innovation Research contract. The UAV's compact size and nominal weight, coupled with its unprecedented flight capabilities, represent unparalleled qualifications for the selected mission. BDA entails the reconnaissance activity that occurs following a munition's impact; these missions confirm the weapon's target destruction effectiveness. BDA poses difficulty because strike zones are typically controlled by hostile forces and thus not accessible for close examination. High-altitude photographs taken by satellites and orbiting aircraft often lack timeliness and surface detail resolution. Meanwhile, low-altitude, close-range examination via manned aircraft is often prohibitive due to insufficient room for maneuvering and high probability of hostile fire. The dangerous nature of these obstacles underscores UAVs as a well-suited option for performing BDA, given their capability to supply the clear, concise, close-in sensor data that is ideal for assessment tasks. Voyeur employs two counterrotating coaxial rotors, which provide increased lift and maneuverability while eliminating the need for a tail rotor. An active stability system makes the aircraft both more stable and more maneuverable than traditional rotary wing UAVs, which rely on passive stability supplied by linked rotors. The vehicle's capacity for hovering stability facilitates the operation of onboard sensors from a stationary position, enabling BDA even in cluttered urban environments and providing unquestionable confirmation of target destruction moments after the impact event.