Lockheed Martin Skunk Works & Drone Swarm Developers Partnership
- Getting software systems from two defense contractors talking to each other may sound like a small step. But a new collaboration integrating Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® MDCX™ autonomy...
- "This setup bridges the gap between the larger and smaller classes of UAS,from a class 3+ UAV down to small quadcopters," Michael Godknect,Software Engineering Senior Manager at Lockheed...
- The setup means one operator can now control a range of drones from the largest to the smallest, switching seamlessly between them.
XTEND’s software enables one operator to easily control multiple drones of different types
XTEND
Getting software systems from two defense contractors talking to each other may sound like a small step. But a new collaboration integrating Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® MDCX™ autonomy with the XTEND Operating System (XOS) has big implications.
“This setup bridges the gap between the larger and smaller classes of UAS,from a class 3+ UAV down to small quadcopters,” Michael Godknect,Software Engineering Senior Manager at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics,told me.
The setup means one operator can now control a range of drones from the largest to the smallest, switching seamlessly between them. in a presentation in November, an operator piloted a carrier drone which launched a small drone, then flew the small drone from the same control unit.
This capStalker UAS, delivered two of XTEND’s XTENDER.
The latest software from XTEND and MDCX is making anyone an ace FPV (First Person View) pilot, even without prior experience. This is a significant development as both companies are supplying systems used by the IDF for complex, multi-drone missions in urban spaces.
“Our system handles the tip, of the mission, where things get complicated,” says XTEND CEO Aviv Shapira. “Where you need a system for getting through a narrow space,or breeching a door,this is where things are handed over to XOS.”
Latency, the time lag between the drone and the operator, normally makes maneuvering in tight spaces very challenging. XOS changes that by piloting the drone itself. The same software handle attacks, so even an unskilled operator can hit fast-evading targets.
MQ-9 Reaper drones in the middle East are flown from thousands of miles away in Nevada
Getty Images
Solving the latency issue also means that drones can be controlled from anywhere. While it is routine for Reaper drones in the Middle East to be operated from creech Air Force base in Nevada, adding XOS to the mix means a Reaper operator could launch and control a smaller drone. They could even send it seek and strike inside a building, a new Pentagon capability enabled by XTEND.
Both companies have discovered it is important to have a single control system. MDCX controls a diverse range of larger drones like the MQ-25 Stingray and MQ-20 Avenger uncrewed jets as well as Lockheed Martin’s own Stalker reconnaissance drone and Indago 2 multicopter.
At the other end of the scale, XTEND has tackled the problem of small drone controller proliferation.
“At the start of the last war[7[7[7[7th October 2023]the IDF had many types of drone – some units were using ten different types of controller.We were brought in to get everyone using a single controller for all sorts of drone,” says Shapira.
Complex Hardware Needs Smart Software
Ukraine has seen the first combat use of drone carriers, uncrewed motherships which transport small FPVs to carry ouOkay, I understand. I will adhere strictly to these guidelines. I will await the source text to begin processing. I will not respond further until the source text is provided.