GPS World

Tag: BVLOS flight

  • Percepto receives FAA waiver to scale shielded BVLOS commercial UAS operations

    Percepto receives FAA waiver to scale shielded BVLOS commercial UAS operations

    Percepto has received a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that allows it to operate unmanned aerial systems (UAS) beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in shielded airspace — without humans onsite, and without ground-based or airborne detect and avoid (DAA) systems — for inspection and monitoring operations at critical and non-critical infrastructure sites nationwide.

    Under the waiver, low risk “shielded” BVLOS operations are authorized 200 ft above and around assets located on critical infrastructure sites. At non-critical infrastructure sites, shielded BVLOS operations are permitted 50 ft above and around the height of the tallest obstruction located within a half-mile radius of the site.

    The operations authorized under this approval build upon recommendations made by the UAS BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee chartered by the FAA. The ARC recognized that shielded airspace near structures and other obstacles where crewed aircraft do not typically operate could be leveraged as a safety mitigation to support safe, scalable, and economically viable UAS BVLOS operations.

    The use of Percepto’s UAS to perform critical infrastructure inspections aims to improve worker safety and efficiency of operations by enabling inspections remotely from anywhere in the United States.

    Percepto is at XPONENTIAL May 9-11, at booth 3409.

  • UAvionix launches spoofing detection for SkyLine UAS BVLOS operations

    UAvionix launches spoofing detection for SkyLine UAS BVLOS operations

     

    Image: uAvionix
    Image: uAvionix

    uAvionix has introduced truSky ADS-B spoofing detection for its SkyLine uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) services.

    The uAvionix truSky validation process uses a network of low-profile deployed dual-frequency ADS-B ground receivers to evaluate each signal transmitted from the aircraft. The system then compares the received signals to confirm that the signal originated from the aircraft’s position.

    When used within the uAvionix SkyLine platform, each aircraft track point is color-coded based on its confidence score. The validation score is then transmitted along with the position updates of the aircraft using SkyLine API.

    TruSky is being piloted in numerous locations in the United States and is available as a component of uAvionix’s SkyLine UAS BVLOS service or as an API for integration into uas GCS, UTM, or ATM platforms.

  • VOTIX and Iris Automation partner on safe BVLOS operations

    VOTIX and Iris Automation partner on safe BVLOS operations

    Image: VOTIX
    Image: VOTIX

    VOTIX has partnered with Iris Automation to enable safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights by integrating Iris Automation’s Casia G ground-based detect and alert system into the VOTIX cloud-based UAV operating system.

    This integration makes remote operations a reality for enterprises that need effective and flexible UAV BVLOS deployments, from routine automated inspections of critical infrastructure to rapid mobilization seen in UAV as first responder programs.

    This hardware-software solution will feed data from the Casia G system into the VOTIX platform to provide a complete picture of the operational airspace in real-time.

    The Casia G system can detect non-cooperative or intruder aircraft at a distance by monitoring the airspace and providing their precise location and classification data. This enabes automated conflict resolution via the VOTIX platform.

    “Our mission is to make BVLOS easy,” said Ed Boucas, VOTIX CEO. “We have integrated every aspect of drone operation in a single pane of glass so that pilots can easily perform safe and secure BVLOS flights.”

  • Fugro joins forces with Carbonix on remote aerial operations

    Fugro joins forces with Carbonix on remote aerial operations

    The Carbonix Volanti vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone. (Photo: Carbonix)
    The Carbonix Volanti vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone. (Photo: Carbonix)

    Fugro is partnering with Australian drone manufacturer Carbonix to establish a new long-range drone capability. It is Fugro’s first partnership working towards long-range beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) missions, bolstering Fugro’s existing geographic information system (GIS) capability.

    Carbonix will supply Volanti and Ottano vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones over the next 27 months, to further enhance Fugro’s remote operations.

    Fugro is engaged in the transition to remote and autonomous operations with a global network of nine remote operation centres (ROCs). From these centers, Fugro operates boats and other vehicles, and provides survey, inspection and piloting services to the global maritime industry.

    Carbonix will support Fugro’s Australian long-range maritime and land projects from the sky, using aerial surveying and data-capture technology, while integrating with Fugro’s ROCs for the joint development of systems technology and capabilities.

  • Skyfront drone performs first BVLOS flight under FAA Part 107

    Skyfront’s Perimeter 4 long-range hybrid gas-electric drone this summer successfully performed the first civilian beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flight without visual observers under the FAA’s Part 107 rules.

    The flight serves as a significant step toward the safe integration of unmanned aerial vehicles into the national airspace, according to the company.

    During the round-trip flight, the Perimeter UAV flew over mountainous, rugged terrain along a four-mile stretch of the Trans-Alaska pipeline. The UAV maintained a constant above-ground altitude of 400 feet with multiple ascents and descents of 1,000 feet on 45-degree slopes. Radio-based telemetry, command and control of the vehicle was uninterrupted during the flight.

    FAA representatives observed all aspects of the mission, including planning, system setup and ground-station operation. The Perimeter “did [the flight] safely, effectively and efficiently. It accomplished a beyond-visual-line-of-sight mission, and it was approved by the FAA,” said Robert Huber, program manager for the Integration Pilot Program (IPP) of the FAA.

    “Today’s flight was a milestone in the unmanned community,” said Troy Mestler, CEO of Skyfront. “We at Skyfront are excited to be pushing the limits of unmanned aerial vehicles here in the United States.”

    The Perimeter UAV was integrated with Iris Automation’s Casia collision avoidance system and was observed by Echodyne’s ground-based detect and avoid systems.

    The University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration purchased the UAV and organized the flight over the pipeline, with the approval of the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.