Adaptive Detect and Avoid Interface for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Navy SBIR FY2016.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2016.1 Topic No.: N161-020 Topic Title: Adaptive Detect and Avoid Interface for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Proposal No.: N161-020-0361 Firm: UtopiaCompression, Corporation 11150 W. Olympic Blvd. Suite 820 Los Angeles, California 90064 Contact: Mr.Niyant Krishnamurthi Phone: (310) 473-1500 Web Site: http://www.utopiacompression.com Abstract: Autonomous Detect and Avoid (DAA) is vital for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to be adopted large scale in military and commercial operations. Just as manned aircraft have traffic control and rules followed by pilots, UAS have to follow rules and take guidance. Both sensor input to the human, and control input from the human have inherent communication delay. A holistic DAA capability needs to incorporate human initiated goals with the DAA algorithms. This integration has to keep in mind human factor such as cognitive-load, autonomy reliability, and mission efficiency. The design of the proposed system incorporates exhaustive interaction modalities between the on-board and remote DAA algorithms and the human-in-the-loop. The HCI design will be able to incorporate multiple UAS. The system will provide efficient control for self-separation, as well as collision avoidance. The UI display and controls will be built after empirical human factor design. The system will incorporate DAA algorithms available at UtopiaCompression but will be able to integrate other DAA algorithms as well. The proposed system will address a significant need for reliable collaboration with DAA algorithms by the remote human operator paving the way for UAS operation in a crowded airspace. Benefits: UC's proposed study and design will create a Human-Computer Interface (HCI) for a holistic Detect and Avoid (DAA) system for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) while improving human performance issues and automation reliability. The proposed system will choose the right level of automation and feedback to both the human operator and the DAA algorithms to ensure long-term mission success. The goal is to make sure that neither the human-operator nor the DAA algorithms are misused which might lead to lower reliability during a mission. The systematically designed DAA Interface will allow UAS to safely operate in the National Air Space (NAS). Safe functioning of UAS in NAS is a needed for both military and commercial aviation. If UAS have to operate alongside general aviation, then the trust in the DAA algorithms has to be very high. Since the DAA operate with a human in the loop, an efficient and well-designed interface is critical. Another benefit of this work is that the exact capabilities and limits of the DAA functionality of the UAS will be well understood and documented enabling good regulations for safe operation in an increasing crowded shared airspace. Return