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UAV Factory’s Portable Ground Control Station
            As a leading developer of Unmanned Aerial Systems, as well as appropriate subsystems and accessories, UAV Factory produces a Portable Ground Control Station for use on a wide variety of unmanned airframes (UAV Factory, 2017). This system boasts a universal design, to be used with not only products developed and sold by UAV Factory, but also maintains a capability to be used off the shelf with practically any commercial/civilian unmanned aircraft. It is designed as a portable system, based around the Panasonic CF-31Toughbook with carry handles, wheels, and shoulder straps. The rugged design allows this system to be loaded up in the back of a truck or other vehicle, and taken on site anywhere that may be needed. As a visual interface, the ground control station utilizes two ultra-bright touch screen displays, one 17 inches and integrated into the system, and the other 13 inches and attached to a separate, not included, Toughbook computer. To maintain positive control throughout the flight, the system features a 10-32 VDC power cable, as well as two swappable batteries for areas where an outlet is unavailable. For data link connectivity, the system hosts two 12-volt outputs protected by fuses that are easily accessible to the user (UAV Factory, 2017).
Human Factor Issues
Standardization
A major human factor found within this particular ground control station is actually designed to be an overall strength within the system. That is, the complete customizability found in the off the shelf model. While this can be extremely useful in producing a single product that can be marketed to a wide variety of users, products, and applications, a lack of standardization amongst Ground Control Stations attributes to nearly 25% of human factor related UAS mishaps (Waraich, 2013). UAV Factory’s Portable Ground Control Station can be set up to utilize any combination of touch screen controls, joysticks, game controllers, touchpads, or a myriad of other input systems. This means that varying operators may be accustomed to control using a certain method on another control system, potentially hindering their operation as they move to a different GCS. Any moment of hesitation or confusion on the operator’s part in any aviation operation could quickly be the cause of a mishap. According to a study conducted by Dr. Waraich, standardization of the input and output methods of ground control stations, to include the increased use of automation. May reduce ergonomic human factors, and in turn potentially reduce the number of unmanned aerial system mishaps.
Spatial Disorientation

            Spatial Disorientation occurs when a pilot or operator fails to accurately sense the aircraft’s motion, attitude, or position as it relates to the Earth’s surface (Self, Ercoline, Olson, & Tvaryanas, 2006). As with all unmanned aerial systems, operators using UAV Factory’s Ground Control Station have a distinct disadvantage in regards to spatial orientation in that they are not physically located in the aircraft. This means that the operator must rely solely on video feeds, readings, and other indications displayed on the control station. While stationary, the operator must translate these data feeds into motion in order to properly determine spatial orientation of the aircraft. Since this is a completely portable ground control station, there is the potential of an even greater degree of difficulty placed on the operator if the system is utilized on a moving craft, such as a chase vehicle, ship, manned aircraft, etc. In this case, the operator is physically receiving motion sensations upon their body that may be counterproductive to those that the UAS is experiencing. In order to reduce spatial disorientation, flight plans should be modified to avoid outside stimuli (Self, Ercoline, Olson, & Tvaryanas, 2006). In addition, the use of 3D maps, Heads Up Displays, and other egocentric display methods can assist in reducing spatial disorientation (Self, Ercoline, Olson, & Tvaryanas, 2006), as well as increased training and higher levels of automation.

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