Experimentally Scoping the Range of UAS Sense and Avoid Capability
David R. Maroney, Robert H. Bolling, Ravindra A. Athale, Alan D. Christiansen · AIAA Infotech@Aerospace 2007 Conference and Exhibit · 2007
The problem of “sense and avoid” for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is genuinely multi-dimensional: there is a wide range of UAS sizes, speeds, and maneuverability, and the missions for which these UAS will be used. Couple this with the variety of sensors that might be used for sense and avoid, which have widely varying capabilities to measure distance or angle to an obstacle, as well as closing rate and time to collision. Most sensors are not able to provide all required information about the geometry of an encounter. Using a combination of sensors offers one possible solution. We are investigating the concept that there may be a variety of possible sensor solutions for each separate, individual UAS capability or mission. By studying the breadth of UAS types and missions, we are evaluating the limits to the capabilities of sensors and sensor combinations. Correspondingly, there may be particular UAS capabilities (such as very fast but un-maneuverable) for which there is currently no feasible sense and avoid solution. This paper reports on the progress of this multi-dimensional evaluation. We have scoped the dimensions for evaluating UAS capabilities and the capabilities of sensors. We are experimentally evaluating sensor parameters on a variety of aircraft to validate the specified capabilities. We are analyzing the resulting body of knowledge for what kinds of sense and avoid capabilities might be suitable for various types of UAS.