Mike Wills

Naval Information Warfare Systems Command

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Mike Wills is a researcher specializing in autonomous unmanned systems, with a particular focus on the integration of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). His work centers on developing automated systems that extend the operational capabilities of small vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAVs in demanding real-world environments. Wills is best known for his contributions to the Automated UAV Mission System (AUMS), a forward-thinking platform designed to enable UGVs to serve as mobile launch, landing, and refueling stations for VTOL UAVs. This innovation addresses critical operational challenges in applications such as force protection, perimeter security, and urban surveillance, where UAV endurance and autonomy are essential. His two most-cited works, both published in 2006 — "The Development of a UGV-Mounted Automated Refueling System for VTOL UAVs" (10 citations) and "Automated Launch, Landing and Refueling Technologies for Increased UGV-UAV Effectiveness" (9 citations) — together represent a foundational body of work in cooperative unmanned systems. Though his citation counts are modest, Wills' research tackled forward-looking challenges in autonomous systems at an early stage, contributing practical engineering solutions to a field that has since grown significantly in both military and civilian relevance.