DARPA’s ALIAS completes first flight test
A research effort associated with DARPA’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) programme has conducted flight tests of a plug-and-play system designed to enable aircraft to automatically avoid mid-air collisions, it was announced on 5 April.
During the test, a UAV used the technology for real time detection and tracking of a Cessna 172G aircraft approaching from various horizontal and vertical distances.
The integrated sense and avoid (SAA) system comes with a single optical camera that provides imagery for detection and tracking. The system also includes collision avoidance capabilities as well as features that assess the likelihood of an incoming aircraft intersecting the flight path of its host aircraft.
Dan Patt, program manager, DARPA, said: ‘This successful flight test is a step toward adding external perception to ALIAS’ toolkit for advancing in-flight automation. What pilot wouldn't want to set a box on their dashboard that would provide an additional pair of eyes to alert of potential collisions? This SAA system has the potential to enable a wide range of manned and unmanned systems to safely integrate into an increasingly populated and complex airspace.’
DARPA is planning another effort, which will include funding from the US Air Force Research Laboratory. This follow-on research would further test the ranging and collision-avoidance features; shrink the system size; improve calculations for optimal aircraft trajectories to avert impending collision; and mature additional capabilities of the system such as detecting aircraft below the horizon and in poor light conditions.
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