MALE UAV selection in interval Type-2 fuzzy sets environment

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Çoban, Sezer^{1; a} | Kiracı, Kasım^{2; b; *} | Akan, Ercan^{3; c} | Uzun, Metin^{4; a}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Airframe and Powerplant Maintenance, Iskenderun Technical University, Türkiye | [b] Department of Aviation Management, Iskenderun Technical University, Türkiye | [c] Department of Maritime Transportation Management Engineering, Iskenderun Technical University, Türkiye

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. Kasım Kiracı, Iskenderun Technical University, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Department of Aviation Management.

Note: [1] E-mail: sezer.coban@iste.edu.tr; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6750-5001.

Note: [2] E-mail: kasim.kiraci@iste.edu.tr; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2061-171X.

Note: [3] E-mail: ercan.akan@iste.edu.tr; ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0383-8290.

Note: [4] E-mail: metin.uzun@iste.edu.tr; ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0744-3491.

Abstract: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used in the military field. Especially in recent years, UAVs have been a very effective instrument in gaining airspace superiority and military success. Many countries compete with each other to develop better UAV technology or improve the technical features of UAVs. Therefore, it is critical to determine which UAV has the best performance, considering technical and operational characteristics, because the vehicles with more advanced performance can provide countries with strategic superiority. The purpose of this study is to investigate the technical, cost, and operational performance of Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAVs (MALE UAVs). In the study, as a result of a wide literature review, we determined a performance criterion for this type of vehicle. The model presented here uses an Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Analytical Hierarch Process (IT2FAHP) and an Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (IT2FTOPSIS) hybrid method. The findings indicate that some MALE UAVs have superior technical and operational performance over others and demonstrate that range, max take-off weight, and payload are important criteria in determining the performance and superiority of these vehicles.

Keywords: MALE UAV selection, AHP, TOPSIS, interval type-2 fuzzy sets

DOI: 10.3233/JIFS-212574

Journal: Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, vol. 43, no. 5, pp. 5567-5594, 2022