Automation and integration to prevent UAV collisions

Abstract

The design of an automatic air collision avoidance system (Auto ACAS) is intended to prevent air-to-air collisions between air vehicles. The Auto ACAS is not to replace existing designs such as the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) but to accomplish a recovery at the last instant to prevent a collision. TCAS and other systems in use today provide situational awareness and traffic advisories to enable pilots to perform de-confliction and manual avoidance maneuvers and remain several miles apart. In contrast Auto ACAS assumes such de-confliction and manual avoidance attempts have not succeeded and operates in a time span that does not allow for manual pilot reactions, thus it must be highly integrated and automated. Automatic collision avoidance is necessary if UAVs are to "blacken the sky" in massed attacks, accompany manned fighters on combat missions, and transition civil airspace. An automated air collision avoidance system will fulfill a part of this need. It will automatically maneuver an aircraft, at the last instant, to avoid an air-to-air collision. It will function in a manner similar to a pilot avoiding a collision. It is a system that must be reliable, verifiable, and partially redundant, forming the last line of defense against collisions. It must provide nuisance free operation and allow safe interoperability.