The integration of
unmanned aerial systems (UASs) into national airspace (NAS) has been an ongoing
process that is slowly but surely making small steps to a future filled with
UASs. There are multiple facets that make integrating UASs into NAS a
complicated process. Questions that deal with aircraft registration, operator
training, ethical responsibility, hacking and lost link procedures are all on
the table when it comes to integration into NAS. One topic that has been at the
front and center of the integration process is sense and avoid standards and responsibilities
for UASs. Companies like Amazon, Google, and Intel are all working solutions to
this challenge, but the Military and government entities like NASA are also
looking for solutions to getting more robust sense and avoid technology into
the skies fast.
Currently in Part 91.113
of the federal aviation regulation, it lays out the rules of the sky in terms
of right of way for all aircraft. One key verbiage used is that aircraft must “see
and avoid”. This does not include the ability to sense and avoid, which is the
method by which a UAS would accomplish this same task. Due to this, these
regulations are very limiting to UAS operation. For military UAS this means
that we must have visual observers that are trained and qualified observing the
aircraft at all times while operating in NAS. This creates a huge logistical addition
to typical training missions and is a cumbersome task to accomplish when it
comes to personnel and crew management. It is reported that the FAA is
attempting to alter Part 91.113 this year in order to include sense and avoid
technology as a legal substitute for see and avoid (Carey, 2013).
The Army specifically has
been working with a ground based sense and avoid system (GBSAA) to augment
their ability to fly in NAS. I have worked with this technology during my time
as a UAS commander in the Army and have seen how beneficial proper
implementation could be for units stationed in the US. GBSAA works very similarly
to ground based ATC radar systems, the only difference is that it is completely
dedicated to a particular UAS mission. The radar picture of both participating
and non-participating aircraft is collected via LSTAR ground sensors and
overlaid on the ground control station’s display and moving map that is utilized
by the operator to navigate the UAS (SRC Inc., 2016). When fully functional and
approved by the FAA, this system would allow the Army to fly large UASs through
Military Operations Airspace (MOA). For locations like Fort Campbell, Kentucky,
this would greatly expand the operational area for the multiple UAS units
stationed there.
Depiction of Ground Based Sense and Avoid System by SRC Inc.
In the civilian sector,
there is a greater focus on autonomous sense and avoid capabilities. This technology
will allow for smaller UASs to go further and farther than ever before. For
companies like Amazon, who want to be able to deliver merchandise via UAS, it
will be imperative that they can utilize autonomous drones that will legally be
authorized to travel beyond line of sight as long as they are equipped with autonomous
sense and avoid technology (Popper, 2016).
Regulators are attempting
to find a perfect answer to the sense and avoid issue, but the technology is
currently very good, but not perfect. Some argue that the technology needs to
be better, while others argue that aviation has always been about risk mitigation
and not risk avoidance. Companies like Intel have produced sense and avoid
systems that could reduce risk nearly to zero, but not promise a perfect solution
to every scenario (Popper, 2016). Many feel that the same risk acceptance
levels applied to manned aviation should be carried over to unmanned aviation rather
than attempting to create a more stringent and difficult standard to achieve.
What do you think is the best way forward? Please feel free to respond in the
comments section below.
References:
Carey, B. (2013, July 22).
FAA Plans Unmanned 'Sense and Avoid' Rule in 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016,
from http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2013-07-22/faa-plans-unmanned-sense-and-avoid-rule-2016
FAA. (2004). Part 91
GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULE. Retrieved August 17, 2016, from http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/0/934f0a02e17e7de086256eeb005192fc!OpenDocument
Popper, B. (2016, January
16). What's really standing in the way of drone delivery? Retrieved August 17,
2016, from http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/16/10777144/delivery-drones-regulations-safety-faa-autonomous-flight
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