Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion controls UAS

6th October 2014 - 16:30 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion has demonstrated its capacity to act as a ground control station for unmanned aerial system (UAS) applications, with a series of successful experimental flights recently conducted using the Pro Line Fusion integrated avionics system.

During testing, conducted out of the University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) in Iowa City, the system was integrated with the UAS Control and Non-Payload Communications (CNPC) data link currently in development by Rockwell Collins to enable UAS to safely operate in the national airspace.

A distributed FMS allowed controllers on the ground to reach into the optionally piloted aircraft to control the aircraft remotely, with a safety pilot on board during the flights. By combining the CNPC data link and distributed FMS Rockwell Collins hopes to pave the way to a certified solution for UAS.

John Borghese, vice president of the Advanced Technology Center, Rockwell Collins, said: ‘Our company brings these two capabilities together for one solution that can enable UAS to safely, routinely and efficiently operate in the national airspace.

‘Our vast experience in certifying avionics for manned vehicles gives us the expertise to apply the same principles to UAS. The purpose of these tests was to show how certified production systems may be used to meet the certification requirements being formulated by the Federal Aviation Administration.’

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