Ramona Adams
General Atomics‘ aeronautical systems unit and the Customs and Border Protection agency have tested a detect-and-avoid system that includes the company’s Due Regard Radar anti-collision system onboard CBP’s Guardian unmanned aircraft system.
The company said Wednesday the DAA system also features a Honeywell traffic alert and collision avoidance tool and sensor tracker as it works to provide air traffic imagery for remotely piloted aircraft GA says is similar to a manned aircraft’s cockpit view.
David Alexander, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems president of aircraft systems, said the test with CBP marks the first integration and evaluation of DRR on an operational UAS.
Alexander added CBP’s use of DAA system in domestic and international airspace will build on the Federal Aviation Administration and NASA‘s efforts to introduce RPA into the National Airspace System for civilian aircraft.
The test involved scenarios that flew aircraft such as Cessna C-210 and UH-60 Black Hawk close to Guardian as DAA worked to provide alerts and guidance to the pilot’s traffic display and support separation between the UAS and the “intruder” aircraft, GA noted.
The company added the initial overland testing was launched at GA-ASI’s Gray Butte Flight Operations facility on March 10 and ended on April 25 over the Pacific Ocean.
CBP operates nine GA-ASI-built Predator B and Guardian aircraft.
