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Computer Science Colloquia

For the past 30 years the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC has been involved in cutting edge technology development for small and micro scale unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) for scientific, commercial and military applications. The primary advantage of these small and micro UAVs is the ability to perform tasks that are too dull, dirty, dangerous, remote or too expensive for other manned and unmanned assets. NRL research covers all aspects of small and micro UAV technology including low Reynolds number aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics, propulsion, composite structures, energy storage, avionics, payloads, autonomy and simultaneous operation of multiple systems. Mr. Foch will present an overview of these technologies as well as details of research and operational vehicles developed and tested by NRL. Predictions of future trends and next generation developments will also be presented.

RICHARD J. FOCH graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1979. Following graduation, Mr. Foch joined NRL as an aerospace engineer. From 1980 through 1985, Mr. Foch attended the University of Notre Dame and the University of Maryland and received a M.S. degree in aerospace engineering. His thesis work focused on low Reynolds number aerodynamics at transonic speeds.

Since 1985, Mr. Foch has been the head of NRL's Vehicle Research Section. During this period, the Section has developed numerous unmanned aircraft, including the Low Altitude/Airspeed Unmanned Research Aircraft (LAURA), the Self-Navigating Drone, Expendable/ Recoverable (SENDER), and the Navy's Micro Tactical Expendable (MITE) micro air vehicle. Since earning his pilot's license in 1976, Mr. Foch has been involved with the design and construction of several homebuilt general aviation aircraft. Also, he has been an avid enthusiast of radio controlled model airplanes for 31 years.

During 1999, Mr. Foch was the Science and Technology Deputy for Autonomous Operations at the Office of Naval Research, where he helped establish unmanned autonomous systems as a major thrust area for future Navy technology demonstration programs. He is also a key team member of the design and development team for NASA Mars Airplane concepts, which will one day enable the exploration of the Martian surface by sensors carried aboard an autonomous, unmanned aircraft.

To date, he has published over 75 research papers and journal articles on small UAVs and their technologies. In August 2002, Mr. Foch was awarded the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Navy to a civilian, in recognition of his career-long scientific and technical contributions to the Fleet.