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Automated Sense and Avoid for Due Regard
Navy SBIR 2010.1 - Topic N101-032 NAVAIR - Mrs. Janet McGovern - [email protected] Opens: December 10, 2009 - Closes: January 13, 2010 N101-032 TITLE: Automated Sense and Avoid for Due Regard TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Sensors, Battlespace ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-262, Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems; PMA-266 RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected. OBJECTIVE: Develop an autonomous sense and avoid capability for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operating in the National Air Space (NAS) and in theater. DESCRIPTION: UASs do not have the ability to exercise due regard in a mixed unmanned/manned aircraft environment since they lack an autonomous sense and avoid capability. The Department of Navy, other government agencies and private ventures are in the process of integrating UASs into the NAS. Therefore, there is a need to develop an innovative system applicable to both manned and unmanned aviation that can help identify no-fly zones, predicted flight trajectories (powered and unpowered), automated manned/unmanned separation criteria, and early warnings of predicted collisions to pilots, operators, and controllers. This would help in gaining confidence in range safety procedures, flights over populated areas, and teamed flights with manned aircraft. This is also required for the Navy�s air launch Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) concepts to ensure safe separation of the UAV and manned aircraft. The system concepts must be capable of being applied to all UAS assets, independent of UAV proprietary interfaces and size. Sense and Avoid is even more critical for small UAV which fly in clutter environments with other UAVs and manned aircraft. System must leverage Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) which is planned to be implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the NAS. The proposed system should also address noncompliant ADS-B aircraft. This can be done with on board sensors. System should be less than 2 pounds using minimal space for small and expendable UAVs such as the Navy�s SonoChute Launched UAVs. System should cost less than $3,000 to be affordable for small UAVs. PHASE I: Develop an initial design approach and demonstrate the technical feasibility of the proposed technology. PHASE II: Develop, construct, and demonstrate the operation of a prototype system on a small UAV. PHASE III: Transition the developed technology for fleet and commercial use including airworthiness organizations, Range Safety organizations, and NAS sectors. Provide a detailed supportability plan. PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: This technology could be used by homeland defense as means of protecting against UAS threats. It could be used for UAV commercial ventures such as forest management or agriculture. REFERENCES: 2. Federal Aviation Administration Memorandum AFS-400 UAS Policy 05-01, "Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations in the U.S. National Airspace System � Interim Operational Approval Guidance", September 16, 2005. KEYWORDS: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; National Air Space; Air Space Integration; Airworthiness; Range Safety; Sense and Avoid
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