Iris Automation and uAvionix Partner for Low Altitude Wide Area BVLOS: Integrating Detect and Avoid (DAA) with Command and Control (C2)
For BVLOS flights to scale, regulators must see a reliable solution for ensuring that drones don’t run into drones or manned aircraft. Integrating ground-based detect and avoid technology with command and control could provide an easily accessible solution, providing a comprehensive view of the air traffic and potential obstacles in low altitude airspace.
by DRONELIFE Staff Author Ian M. Crosby
Iris Automation and uAvionix have announced a strategic partnership that may integrate Iris’ Casia G ground-based collision avoidance data into uAvionix’s SkyLine services, leading to combined Command and Control (C2) and Detect and Avoid (DAA) services. This recent integration will provide drone operators with advanced low altitude airspace awareness and leading command and control connectivity at a reasonable price.
“Integration of the Iris’ Casia G data is one other step toward enabling scalable and achievable Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights for UAS operators,” said uAvionix Managing Director Christian Ramsey. “With higher range than the human eye and artificial intelligence (AI) to research the optical image, the system can rapidly detect and classify other aircraft or objects within the air. That data is then ingested and combined with other sensor data, including ADS-B, and displayed for UAS operators within the SkyLine system. It’s the variety of novel integration and approach that we feel is significant for a Command and Control Communications Service Provider (C2CSP) to supply and one which we’ve seen successfully meets the security, efficiency and reliably needs of rapidly evolving UAS operations.”
uAvionix is the leader in cooperative aircraft detection with its ADS-B IN solutions for UAS comparable to pingRX Pro and pingStation3. Meanwhile, its SkyLine software services enable the visualization of air traffic (ADS-B) data through the primary cloud-based C2 network management platform. Together, these solutions grant total optimization of the aircraft’s C2 communications links and enhanced situational awareness for distant UAS operators. The uAvionix SkyLine system inclusive of airborne radios, ground stations, and DAA sensor data is central to 2 FAA BVLOS waivers in addition to the corporate’s recent FAA BVLOS exemption.
“We couldn’t be more excited for this partnership,” said Iris Automation CEO Jon Damush. “uAvionix has long been an industry leader in our space, and their ability to mix multiple technologies to deal with long standing gaps in our market is unmatched. Combining reliable and guarded C2 communications with comprehensive situational awareness just is smart. With the addition of our non-cooperative aircraft detection data, operators will now have a turn-key solution for his or her BVLOS operations.”
Iris Automation’ Casia system relies on computer vision and artificial intelligence to detect non-cooperative intruder aircraft that pose the chance of a ‘near mid-air collision’ (NMAC), giving a drone time to regulate its flight path and grant right-of-way to crewed aircraft. The Casia G system is a ground-based variant offering a big area of coverage that may be expanded infinitely with the deployment of additional ground-based nodes.
The Casia G system’s data will complement the ADS-B data from uAvionix, enabling cooperative aircraft positions to be validated through two independent sensors and rapid identification of non-cooperative aircraft. The combined systems grant a level of comprehensive situational awareness greater than that of existing single-sensor-based systems. Integrating the Casia G data into the uAvionix SkyLine system will allow for multiple and diverse air traffic data points from each cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft to be displayed and utilized by UAS operators for DAA functions. Each firms are actively collaborating on this integration, which is predicted to be available later this 12 months.
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