Establishing baseline requirements for a UAS ground-based sense and avoid system

Abstract

A current focus at the FAA-designated New York Griffiss International Airport Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site is research and development for a robust, next-generation ground-based sense and avoid system (GBSAA) capable of enabling routine UAS operations in terminal area and transition airspace. Griffiss has installed a test range instrumentation system. The initial instrumented UAS test range provides cooperative and noncooperative surveillance of air traffic in Griffiss Class D airspace, extending about 45 NM to the north of the airport and its Class D airspace. The Griffiss UAS test range instrumentation system employs a combination of wide area multilateration, ADS-B, and 3-D primary radar to track air traffic. An extensive data collection system supports the instrumented test range in order to meet needs for data analysis and to support development of the safety case for UAS integration into terminal and transition airspace. The system design incorporates an ability to supplement live air traffic surveillance data with virtual and constructive data, as well as a support for cooperative networked testing with federal test centers in a distributed environment. This paper focuses on baseline requirements for the current Griffiss test range instrumentation system and its evolution as a research UAS GBSAA system. The paper discusses multilateration and the rationale for using wide area multilateration (WAM) as the foundation for a research GBSAA capability, incorporating UAS remote flight crew, command and control, and ATC support functions. A baseline system logical architecture is described. This logical architecture will be used to incorporate and assess use of new GBSAA sensors, displays and controls to support surface, terminal and transition area UAS self-separation and collision avoidance standards and operational practices. Development of the Griffiss UAS range instrumentation system and its logical architecture recognizes that future ground and airborne SAA systems will be integrated, and that, beyond the baseline requirements addressed in this paper, much further work needs to be performed.