Karlsruhe generic agile ground station

The Karlsruhe Generic Agile Ground Station is an adaptable prototype system for managing sensors and mobile sensor platforms. The main task of the ground station is to work as an ergonomic user interface and a data integration hub between multiple sensors mounted on light UAVs and UGVs (unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles), stationary platforms, ad hoc networked sensors, and a superordinated control centre. It consists of two operator workstations with three monitors (one is used by both operators). The workstations feature ergonomic software for supporting operators' tasks: One Operator is responsible for mission planning, and vehicle control. The other operator receives data streams from sensors and is responsible for sensor data interpretation, data fusion, coordination with control centre, report generation, and archiving. The ground station is realized as a modular framework allowing for adaptation to different operational needs. The underlying software architecture has a generic connector for interfacing it with different data sources. The prototype features an architectural framework with a BPMN (business process modelling notation) based representation of the mission. The framework can be used to specify new ground stations using the modular framework and to make simulations about the performance of new systems in different situations.