AeroVironment has introduced Crysalis, a next-generation ground control system (GCS) for the company’s unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their payloads. The new GCS has been designed to provide an intuitive user experience and provides complete interchangeability, either as modular elements or turnkey systems, to meet specific mission requirements.
Crysalis is cross-platform compatible with Android, Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. The new GCS is available in multiple configurations, ranging from lightweight and wearable to mobile and command center systems that are modular and scalable. It standardizes the user experience across all AeroVironment small UAS platforms, simplifying the training requirements and operation of Puma, Raven and Wasp.
The Crysalis Control app has been designed to reduce cognitive load and training burden while enhancing situational awareness and battlefield collaboration. Users can plan and execute flight missions as well as navigate and control UAS assets and payloads with one-click access to critical information, modes and telemetry metadata. Users at remote video terminals can access telemetry and downlink data, and capture data directly on their devices.
The Crysalis GCS scalable hardware configurations include Crysalis Ultralight GCS, which provides full control of UAS and payloads through virtual control or tactile joysticks on a wearable smartphone configuration, and Crysalis Command GCS, a command center configuration featuring a ruggedized laptop. Every Crysalis GCS configuration is natively compatible with AeroVironment’s Digital Data Link (DDL) radios and antennas, is designed for plug-and-play compatibility with Nett Warrior, and can integrate with both third party command and control and battlefield management applications.
Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment’s president and chief executive officer, commented: “With the introduction of Crysalis, we are streamlining command and control of our small UAS and empowering warfighters with actionable intelligence at the speed of war to increase their tactical decision making. Crysalis can be integrated into our portfolio of intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems and deliver easy-to-use, yet powerful new capabilities that enable our customers to succeed in full spectrum operations.”
Tom Vaneck, AeroVironment’s vice president of solution strategy, said: “As a software-based ecosystem, Crysalis will continue to develop and evolve based on customer needs and front-line user feedback with expanded aircraft command and control capabilities, software features and IoBT compatible functionality.”
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