SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is spearheading an ambitious initiative to integrate advanced Sense and Avoid (SAA) or Detect and Avoid Systems (DAAS) into its Tapas and Archer-NG Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). This cutting-edge technology aims to enable these UAVs to navigate safely in complex airspace, autonomously avoiding collisions with other aerial vehicles, birds, buildings, and other obstacles.
By incorporating a sophisticated multi-sensor data fusion processor and a combination of off-the-shelf and novel sensors, ADA is positioning India’s MALE UAVs to operate seamlessly in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace, enhancing their operational safety and versatility.
As UAVs increasingly share airspace with manned aircraft, the risk of mid-air collisions and encounters with obstacles like birds or structures has become a critical concern. Traditional UAV operations often rely on human operators or ground-based systems for collision avoidance, limiting their ability to operate Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). To address this, ADA is developing a DAAS for the Tapas and Archer-NG UAVs, enabling autonomous collision avoidance and compliance with international aviation standards. This system is pivotal for unlocking BVLOS missions, such as surveillance, reconnaissance, and cargo delivery, in national and international airspace.
The DAAS is an integrated sensor system designed to provide comprehensive situational awareness and autonomous decision-making. Its core components include:
Multi-Sensor Suite:
Off-the-Shelf Sensors:
Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS): TCAS monitors nearby aircraft equipped with transponders, issuing Traffic Advisories (TAs) and Resolution Advisories (RAs) to prevent mid-air collisions. TCAS II, compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) ACAS II standards, provides vertical maneuver instructions to pilots or, in this case, the UAV’s autopilot.
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B): ADS-B enables the UAV to broadcast and receive precise GPS-derived position, altitude, and velocity data, enhancing cooperative detection of transponder-equipped aircraft.
Mode-S Transponder: This transponder facilitates cooperative surveillance by responding to ground-based radar and TCAS interrogations, ensuring compatibility with air traffic control (ATC) systems.
Novel Sensors:
Due Regard Radar (DRR): Developed as an air-to-air radar, the DRR uses Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology to detect and track both cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft (those without transponders). Its wide field-of-view and ability to track multiple targets simultaneously make it ideal for ensuring safe navigation in uncontrolled airspace.
Additional Sensors: ADA is exploring the integration of electro-optical (EO) cameras, LIDAR, and vision-based systems to detect non-cooperative obstacles like birds, buildings, or terrain, especially in low-altitude environments.
DAAS Processor:
The DAAS Processor serves as the central hub, collecting and fusing data from all sensors using advanced algorithms, such as the Interacting Multiple Model (IMM) and Variational Bayesian-Interacting Multiple Model (VB-IMM). By analyzing real-time data on position, velocity, and trajectory, the processor employs multi-sensor data fusion to create a comprehensive airspace picture. It then autonomously devises evasive maneuvers, directing the UAV’s flight controller to execute safe flight path corrections. This capability reduces reliance on human operators and enhances the UAV’s ability to respond to dynamic threats.
The DAAS will be integrated into the UAVs’ avionics, potentially within a dedicated Centerline Avionics Bay (CAB), as seen in similar systems. For Tapas, which focuses on surveillance, the system will prioritize situational awareness and cooperative detection. For Archer-NG, with its armed capabilities, the DAAS will also support tactical weather modes to ensure mission success in adverse conditions.
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