Unmanned Aircraft System Detect and Avoid ADS-B Technology



Unmanned Aircraft System Detect and Avoid ADS-B Technology
As the number of UAV operations is expected to increase from 33,000 in 2016 to 542,000 in 2020 (FAA,2016), the FAA works toward the integration of UAS in NAS becomes imperative at a time where the agency is still finalizing the implementation of the Next Generation transportation system in the NAS. The integration of the UAS in the controlled and uncontrolled airspace is something that must happen as the engendered benefits of the different applications of UAS in dull, dirty, and dangerous environment outweigh that of the missions employing manned aircraft in the same environment. UAS routine access in the NAS must ensure safety and security come first that technologies, standards, regulations, and procedures must guarantee a “zero tolerance” operations. Among other essential technologies are the “Detect and Avoid” (DAA) mirroring the “See and Avoid” (SAA) performed by manned aircraft pilots executing the 14 CFR 91.113 Right-of-Way rules to create separation and avoid collision with other flying objects. The automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) is among the many to detect and avoid (DAA) technology the author investigates the employment of the automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) in UAV to achieve the DAA functionality.

According to 14 CFR 91. 225, the FAA has required that all aircraft operating in class A, B, and C be equipped with ADS-B by January 1st,2020 (FAA, n.d). 
The ADS-B/out is a performance-based avionic system that allows the aircraft to broadcast its position, velocity, altitude, attitude, and other information to other airplanes and the ground-based facilities/fixed locations such as air traffic services (RTCA, 2004).
 If the aircraft is equipped with the ADS-B/in, the pilot can receive the same information from other surrounding airplanes that possess ADS-B/out. This equipment will enhance the management of the increasing air traffic in the NAS, and the pilots can improve their situation awareness capabilities for a better separation and collision avoidance. Undoubtedly the FAA will extend the same mandate to specific model UAVs that need a regular LOS and BLOS access in the NAS. The ADS-B is cooperative sensors as the Traffic Collision Avoidance (TCAS); consequently, coupling the ADS-B with a non-cooperative sensors technology such as the light detection and ranging (LIDAR), millimetre wave (MMW), visual and thermal camera can enhance the sense and avoid functionality, and will safeguard the separation with vehicle or objects that possess either the non-cooperative sensors or the cooperative sensors. Coupling the ADS-B with other remote sensing technologies has one drawback: the increasing payload. The size weight and power (SWaP) requirement presents a challenge the UAS manufacturer will have to overcome by miniaturizing either technology without impeding the functionality performance. One thing for certain UAV operators should expect the FAA ADS-B mandate that UAS manufacturers must start incorporating this technology in their design. Shen et al., (2017) wrote:
The Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is an important technology to achieve free flight in the future. The primary function of ADS-B is executed through air-to-air and air-to-ground surveillance. The system is composed of many ADS-B ground stations and airborne equipment. This system could achieve the two-way data communication and multi-point monitoring through the network. There is no doubt that ADS-B is the best alternative or supplement to the secondary surveillance radar (SSR).

The assessment of ADS-B performance is no longer an issue because this cooperative will satisfactorily implement the FAA right-of-way rules to ensure separation and avoid the mid-air collision with other air traffics. The ADS-B can also detect other flying objects, avoid collision with objects on the ground and monitor the weather in real-time undoubtedly UAS manufacturers and operators should expect the reinforcement of the FAA mandate before the UAS integration in NAS.

References
    FAA. (n.d.). Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved September 19, 2018, from https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=14:2.0.1.3.10#se14.2.91_1225

RTCA (Firm). SC-186. (2004). Minimum operational performance standards for universal access transceiver (UAT) automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B). Washington, D.C: RTCA.

Shen, Z., Cheng, X., Zhou, S., Tang, X., & Wang, H. (2017). A dynamic airspace planning framework with ADS-B tracks for manned and unmanned aircraft at low-altitude sharing airspace. Paper presented at the 1-7. doi:10.1109/DASC.2017.8102125

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