Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol 390 (2013) pp 388-392 Online: 2013-08-30

© (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.390.388

Ergonomic and General Ground Control Station Design for Unmanned

Aerial Vehicles
Liu Aizhi 1,a, Li Baoan 2,b , Xi Anmin 3,c
1,3
College of mechanical engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing
100083, China
2
Institute of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing
100191, China
a
568524492@qq.com, bsuperlba@163.com, cxianmin@ustb.edu.cn

Keywords: UAV; GCS; General; Ergonomic

Abstract. In the view of the existing design for Ground Control Station(GCS) of Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles(UAV) lacking of generality and ergonomics, a kind of ergonomic and general GCS is
designed; the architecture of GCS system, which is general open and distributed, is constructed
based on Gigabit Ethernet; a standard and general hardware platform is designed; software follows
Standard Interface of STANAG 4586; the Shelter and Flight Control Console(FCC) are designed
based on Ergonomics; that is an exploration for the design of GCS.

Introduction
At present, most of GCS can only to control the specific type of UAV, but as both the number and
the kind of UAV are increasing rapidly, lots of equipment and workforce are wasted, bringing the
difficulties in the commanding, the training and the coordinating; at the same time, facing to the
more and more dynamic information, the operator will feel a sudden increase in mental stress and
psychological burden, lacking of ergonomic design brings complicated operation, and human
factors leads to a large number of flight accidents[1]. To solve the above problem, the ergonomic and
general GCS for UAVs badly needed.

General GCS Design

General GCS is a good way to reduce redundant GCS, and the System Architecture always comes
first.
System Architecture. Compared with the existing Architecture[2], we find that the system
architecture of GCS should be general, open, distributed, and based on Gigabit Ethernet, which is
shown in Fig.1.The system is consisted of Gigabit Ethernet, Management Computer, Terrestrial
Link, Satellite Link, Standard Interface Devices and some General FCCs. We can see that one
Terrestrial or Satellite Link is corresponding to one UAV, and one General FCC controls one UAV;
Standard Interface Device turns the Telemetry Data, which is received from Terrestrial Link or
Satellite Link, to standard data, which is followed the STANAG 4586, and turns standard data to
Remote Data for controlling the UAVs. Management Computer processes the standard data for
displaying the Flying State of UAVs on FCCs and controlling the UAVs Flying. The standard data
is transferred on the Gigabit Ethernet. So if you want to control more UAVs, just adds more
Terrestrial Link or Satellite Link, Standard Interface Device, and General FCC on the Gigabit
Ethernet. Because of using Standard Interface Device, the data on Gigabit Ethernet is standard, so
one General FCC can control different kinds of UAVs; at the same time, it is allowed to add more
devices to control more UAVs; Standard Interface Device, General FCC and Management
Computer just connect the Gigabit Ethernet; that means the system architecture of GCS is general,
open and distributed.

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 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 390 389

Fig.1.The system architecture of GCS Fig.2.The component of STANAG 4586

Standard Interface. Standard Interface is the core of General GCS, which makes the
interoperability of the UAVs possible. STANAG 4586 is a kind of Standard Interface, which is a
main reference standard of the United States of America, Israel and NATO countries for developing
GCS.[3] It includes: the Data Link Interface (DLI) between UAV Core Components System (UCS)
and UAV, the Command and Control Interface (CCI) between UCS and of C4I system, the Human
Control Interface between UCS and USER, Vehicle Set Module (VSM), Command and Control
Interface Set Module (CCISM), and Human Control Interface Set Module (HCISM), which is
shown in Fig.2.
In our System Architecture, we simplify and modify the STANAG 4586. Our Standard Interface
not only turns the Telemetry Data from different UAVs to standard data, but also can turn standard
data to Remote Data. It acts as interpreter between UAVs and GCS. At the same time, there is no
needing to modify the specific UAV data link requirements.
General Hardware Platform. General Hardware Platform includes: General Shelter, Computer
Center, Standard Interface Devices, Terrestrial Link, Satellite Link, General FCC and etc, which is
shown in Fig.3. That enhances the versatility and reliability.
The General FCC is the core hardware，including Display Interface, Input Device, Computer
and etc, which is shown in Fig.4. It not only can be applied in Flight Control, but also can be used
as Mission Control Console, Mission Planning Console and Data Link Console. There is no needing
to change hardware of General FCC, just changing the content of each Display Interface. So there is
only one kind of FCC hardware for GCS, and each FCC can be defined as different Console.

Fig.3. General Hardware Platform Fig.4. General FCC

390 Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering IV

Ergonomic GCS Design

With the wide application of UAV in the battles, the demand of Ergonomic Design for GCS is
increasing strongly.[4] Ergonomic Design can effectively reduce the mistake of the UAV operator to
ensure the UAV flight safety.
Ergonomic Shelter Environment Design. Designer is always ignoring Shelter Environment,
but focusing on software interface. However, Ergonomic Shelter Environment Design is also very
important. Ergonomic Shelter Environment must be safety, comfortable and convenient, so that
Operators can work more efficiently, precisely and steadily, which is shown in Fig.5.
Ergonomic Shelter Environment refers to illumination, temperature, humidity, air quality, noise,
inner-color, space, layout and etc. In the Ergonomic Shelter, LED which do not dazzle is applied as
illumination, air conditioner system is applied, to keep temperature, humidity and air quality
comfortable, noise reduction material is applied to make more quiet, reseda is used as inner-color to
relieve pressure, woodiness floor is used to prevent slipping and etc.
Operation Mode Selection.There are two modes for UAV Operator: one is Instrument Mode,
anther is Pilot Mode, which is shown in Fig.4. In Instrument Mode, Operator monitors the condition
of UAV and controls the UAV by the Instrument on display.[5] In Pilot Mode, Operator faces to the
flight view scene as a pilot, and the key flight data is projected on the flight view scene, which is
shown in Fig.6.

Fig.5. Ergonomic Shelter Environment Fig.6. Instrument and Pilot Mode

Compared two modes, we find that through the Instrument Mode is simple, but it easily makes
the operator feels boil, dull, irritable, and absent-minded during long time operation, however, the
Pilot Mode makes the operator feels himself likes a pilot, facing to refreshing flight view scene and
updating flight data, strongly immersing in the operation. The Pilot Mode is a kind of
Man-in-the-loop operation mode that can greatly reduce the mistakes of operating and improve
system reliability and safety.
Ergonomic FCC Design. FCC is the core hardware of GCS. It is the main hardware for operator
to monitor and control UAV. So Ergonomic Design for FCC is very important.
Shape Design. According to the metrology data of human body, the Reference Design for
Control Console has been given out by Ergonomic theory, which is shown in Fig.7. Ergonomic
FCC Shape design is based on this Reference Design.
Layout Design. According to the Reference Design, there are Main Display Area and Minor
Display Area[6]. Virtual Vision and Virtual Instrument is main reference of monitoring and
controlling UAV for Operator, so they are placed on Main Display Area; 3D Flight Path is assistant
reference for Operator, so it is put on the Minor Display Area.
According to Ergonomic theory[7], human vision character is that the top left is the best view,
and then in order, the top right, the lower left, and the lower right. The Virtual Instrument Layout is
based on human vision character. Engine and Alarming Virtual Instrument is at the top left, because
Engine is the core component and Alarming must be disposed immediately. Attitude Direction
Indicator (ADI) is placed in the middle and under the Virtual Vision Display, because it is easy to
reference ADI for Operator, just looking down. 2D Flight Path is placed at the top right, because it
is convenient to monitor the UAV flight path.The Shape and Layout of Ergonomic FCC is shown in
Fig.8.
 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 390 391

Fig.7. Reference Design for Control Console Fig.8. Shape and Layout of Ergonomic FCC
Man-machine Software Interface Design. D Flight Path and Virtual Vision Design. 3D
Flight Path and Virtual Vision is developed by Vega Prime[8], 3D terrain is built by real Dem data.
We can watch the 3D Flight Path and the situation from every view point on the 3D Flight Path
Display, which is shown in Fig.9. Virtual Vision is from Pilot View, Operator will feel like a Pilot
to control a UAV in front of Virtual Vision Display, that gives a strong immerse to Operator. At the
same time, key flight data, such as airspeed, altitude, heading, roll, pitch and etc, is projected on the
Virtual Vision, updating and refreshing with time, which is shown in Fig.10.

Fig.9. 3D Flight Path Display Fig.10. Virtual Vision Display

Virtual Instrument Design. Virtual Instrument is developed by GL Studio[9], and Man-machine
Software Interface is very friendly. Large amounts of information used to be displayed on
Traditional Instrument, and it brings troubles to operator. Now, there are Two Level Menus
designed in Virtual Instrument. The key data is displayed on Primary interface, and the less
important information is displayed on secondary interface.
Virtual Instrument is designed to improve the immersion of operator by visual, auditory and
touch. If GCS receives the alarming signals from UAV, alarming menus will give a red glow and
alarm as the same time to warn the operator. The touch-panel is used as display screen, so operator
can monitor the flight data by touch the display screen.
Attitude Direction Indicator (ADI) Display is used to let the Operator know the degree of Pitch,
Roll and Head, Air Speed, Attitude and etc, the UAV is currently in, which is shown in Fig.11(a).
2D Flight Path Display is used to let the Operator know Longitude, Latitude, Attitude, Head and
Flight Path the UAV is currently in, which is shown in Fig.11(b).
Engine State Display is used to let the Operator know the information of Engine the UAV is
currently in, which is shown in Fig.11(c). Alarm information is designed by VC++, using the form
of dialog box[10].
392 Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering IV

a. Attitude Direction Indicator b. 2D Flight Path c. Engine State

Fig.11. Virtual Instrument

Conclusion
In order to develop a kind of ergonomic and general GCS for UAV, general system architecture is
built, standard interface is researched, general hardware platform is designed, Pilot Mode is selected
as operating mode, ergonomic shelter environment and ergonomic FCC are detailed designed, and
friendly Man-machine Software Interface is introduced. The reliability and performance of the
whole system are validated through flight experiment.

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Ergonomic and General Ground Control Station Design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.390.388