Weeding Out A Solution

     A customer has requested a UAV capable of flying and spraying fertilizer for precision crop dusting however, the current design requirements are not being met due to exceeding the maximum weight requirement. The systems engineer must work with the guidance, navigation, control, and payload delivery teams to determine a solution to meet the customer’s needs.

     Multiple paths exist to resolve the issue. Depending on when the UAV must be delivered and remaining budget the quickest resolution would be to modify the spray system due to the fact it would be less complex then having to modify or replace the GNC system. Spray systems are much less complex mechanically and electronically then the system guiding the UAV, also there might be an alternative off the shelf solution requiring little modification. This method allows for a fast turnaround, no safety implications, and potentially maintaining profitability after missing critical design requirements. However if the spray system off the shelf parts are not readily available or the modification will be expensive, researching alternate GNC system options would be recommended. Considering the modular design of the spray system might also be important based on the customers contract. The crop dusting UAS user might require the ability to quickly swap out spray system types if damage occurs without having to send the UAV to the supplier for repair. The customers requirements may also change in the future requiring a new spray type. The systems engineer must decide the advantages of using a modular design or pushing a completely new UAV model if this scenario occurred. Another option if time and budget were not as critical would be to upgrade the propulsion system so neither the guidance or payload systems would need modifications. A slightly more powerful engine after the calculations are verified that would allow the current design to be delivered “as is” while still meeting all requirements. In addition, a slightly more efficient engine might allow for increased flight duration, less fuel consumption, and a decrease in weight which would exceed the customers expectations creating a strong business relationship with the customer for future UAV contracts. The bottom line is for the possibility of a future generation UAV model to be requested the current generation needs to be delivered as requested by the customer.

     The systems engineer must insure a customer’s contract requirements for a product are met or exceeded while maintaining cost, meeting performance, and staying on schedule. Systems engineers are constantly juggling various design integration elements while keeping safety and quality of the product as their top priority while simultaneously maximizing profitability. When design requirements are overlooked early on the product, company reputation, and competence of the systems engineer will suffer. Traceability, gate reviews, risk mitigation plans, and methodical checklists of requirements and specifications through the design process are critical to the successful delivery of a precision high quality product (Loewen, H. 2013).



References


Austin, R. (2010). Unmanned aircraft systems: UAVS design, development,and deployment. Chichester, U.K: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

IBM Corporation, Software Group. (2013). Ten steps to better requirements management. Somers, NY: Author. Retrieved from http://public.dhe.ibm.com/common/ssi/ecm/en/raw14059usen/RAW14059USEN

Loewen, H. (2013). Requirements-based UAV design process explained: A UAV manufacturer’s guide. Micropilot.com. Retrieved from http://www.micropilot.com/pdf/requiremenv. 3ts-based-uav.pdf