Cooperative and non-cooperative sense-and-avoid in the CNS+A context: A unified methodology

Subramanian Ramasamy, Roberto Sabatini, Alessandro Gardi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

A unified approach to cooperative and non-cooperative Sense-and-Avoid (SAA) is presented that addresses the technical and regulatory challenges of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) integration into non-segregated airspace. In this paper, state-of-the-art sensor/system technologies for cooperative and non-cooperative SAA are reviewed and a reference system architecture is presented. Automated selection of sensors/systems including passive and active Forward Looking Sensors (FLS), Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) system is performed based on Boolean Decision Logics (BDL) to support trusted autonomous operations during all flight phases. The BDL adoption allows for a dynamic reconfiguration of the SAA architecture, based on the current error estimates of navigation and tracking sensors/systems. The significance of this approach is discussed in the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management and Avionics (CNS+A) context, with a focus on avionics and ATM certification requirements. Additionally, the mathematical models employed in the SAA Unified Method (SUM) to compute the overall uncertainty volume in the airspace surrounding an intruder/obstacle are described. In the presented methodology, navigation and tracking errors affecting the host UAS platform and intruder sensor measurements are translated to unified range and bearing uncertainty descriptors. Simulation case studies are presented to evaluate the performance of the unified approach on a representative UAS host platform and a number of intruder platforms. The results confirm the validity of the proposed unified methodology providing a pathway for certification of SAA systems that typically employ a suite of non-cooperative sensors and/or cooperative systems.

Original languageBritish English
Title of host publication2016 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, ICUAS 2016
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages531-539
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9781467393331
DOIs
StatePublished - 30 Jun 2016
Event2016 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, ICUAS 2016 - Arlington, United States
Duration: 7 Jun 201610 Jun 2016

Publication series

Name2016 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, ICUAS 2016

Conference

Conference2016 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, ICUAS 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityArlington
Period7/06/1610/06/16

Keywords

  • CNS+A framework
  • Cooperative Systems
  • Non-Cooperative Sensors
  • Sense-and-Avoid
  • Trusted Autonomy
  • Unified Approach
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems

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