By assessing the required technology and operational safety, this research project will ensure a vibrant and productive integration of UAS into our national airspace.
Project Details
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​The airworthiness and operational safety of the existing airborne surveillance systems and equipment approved for use on aircraft are predicated on a pilot on the aircraft to identify failures/faults or anomalous behavior of this type of equipment for providing separation services. The pilot-controller interactions to isolate failures in such equipment may not be sufficient for UAS operations with the same equipment. Sense and avoid systems have significant issues in obtaining operational and airworthiness approval because these systems are new and their intended function needs to be defined in the context of UAS. This research will determine the sufficiency of existing airborne surveillance equipment on manned aircraft (e.g. transponders and/or ADS-B) in providing separation provision and collision avoidance functions for UAS. The research will tackle the question of how should the current technologies be modified to be adaptable for UAS and what novel capabilities are required. Safety evaluation of separation and collision avoidance functions and hazard assessment will be performed supported by airborne surveillance systems and equipment to identify aircraft systems and equipment standards shortcomings to meet NAS operational safety objectives.
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