Why Radar is a Trusted Key Electronic Observer
As drone technology continues to evolve, understanding the regulations and technological advancements that enable safe and efficient drone operations is crucial. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides guidelines for visual observation of drones while in flight.
While there are specific unique requirements for UAS of certain size and weight, this article covers essential concepts such as the role of visual observers, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, and the emerging importance of electronic observers and advanced detection and avoidance systems.
Maintaining Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS)
According to the FAA’s guidelines for piloting a drone, either the drone pilot or a visual observer must maintain visual line-of-sight without using vision-enhancing tools (like binoculars). This means the drone must not be flown beyond the point where the pilot or visual observer can no longer see it directly. While the FAA does not require a secondary visual observer, maintaining visual contact with the drone during flight is essential for safety and compliance.
Visual Observer (VO) Requirements for Drones
A Visual Observer (VO) is an individual who assists the remote pilot in command (RPIC) by maintaining visual contact with the drone and scanning the airspace for potential collision hazards. Having a visual observer allows a drone pilot to move the UAS in a broader area and to navigate around visual obstructions. The RPIC must ensure that the visual observer can see the unmanned aircraft as specified in § 107.31. The visual observer continuously communicates with the RPIC about what they are seeing near and around the drone.
The Basics of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)
With special consideration, the FAA may grant specific or limited authorization to fly drones beyond visual line of sight. Recently, the FAA granted BVLOS approval to four companies. These approvals allow these companies to operate drones without a visual observer, a significant advancement for the drone industry. Two of these companies will use BVLOS approvals for drone package deliveries, a major milestone for the industry. One of them has already been conducting BVLOS flights safely in other countries and has worked closely with the FAA to meet rigorous safety standards. This approval marks a crucial step towards integrating autonomous drones into U.S. airspace, making drone delivery scalable and affordable.
These approvals come with certain limitations, such as altitude restrictions and prohibitions on flying in densely populated areas. However, they represent a significant step forward, allowing these companies to conduct long-range operations without visual observers and setting the stage for broader adoption of BVLOS capabilities. Advocates within the UAS industry are hopeful that future BVLOS operations may be broadly enabled by use of detect and avoid (DAA) systems onboard drones in flight or by using ground-based electronic observer solutions.
Maintaining Detect and Avoid (DAA) Competency
DAA systems enable pilots to operate UAS assured that the UAS will detect and avoid other aircraft and obstacles autonomously in flight and adjust their flight pattern to avoid the conflict. These systems use sensors, such as radar, an ADS-B receiver, and cameras to detect and avoid obstacles in the airspace.
The requirement for detect and avoid technology is particularly important for BVLOS operations, where the pilot cannot see the drone directly. Advanced DAA systems help mitigate the risk of mid-air collisions, which is essential for integrating drones into the busy and complex National Airspace System. BVLOS approval by the FAA is anchored on the presence of a proven reliable detect and avoid system.
Electronic Observer (EO) Defined
The term electronic observer first took hold amongst the scientific community. As security and airspace applications embrace new technology – drones - the term is finding a new life. While DAA systems comprise electronic sensors specifically designed to detect and avoid obstacles autonomously, electronic observers refer to a broader range of technologies used for monitoring and surveillance. In the case of drones, the electronic observer component of airspace deconfliction is a sensor or a stack of electronic sensors that replace the human visual scout to provide data that aids in DAA maneuvering.
The Case for Electronic Observers
Electronic sensors perform the same functions as a visual observer would by maintaining awareness of the drone's position and scanning for potential hazards. However, electronic observers go beyond what a human observer can achieve, especially in BVLOS operations since calibrated sensors are not impeded by human frailties such as limited sight range, the sun blinding their view, or an inability to calculate an object’s exact position in space.
Electronic observers may revolutionize drone capabilities, enhancing security, logistics, and public safety and lending efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness to drone operations.
Extended Drone Flight Applications:
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Security & Maintenance: Drones equipped with electronic observers can patrol larger areas, providing enhanced surveillance and security coverage without the need for multiple human observers.
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Deliveries: In logistics, electronic observers enable drones to deliver packages over greater distances, reaching remote or rural areas that are otherwise difficult to access.
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Public Safety: For emergency response via drone as first responder (DFR) programs, drones can quickly reach remote disaster zones or areas with hazardous conditions, providing real-time data and support to first responders.
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Reducing Manpower Burden:
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Efficiency: Organizations can operate more drones simultaneously with fewer personnel, increasing operational efficiency and reducing labor costs.
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Scalability: In some cases, electronic observers can enable drone operations to expand without proportionally increasing the human workforce to support the effort.
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Cost-Effective: For organizations with limited resources, electronic observers provide a cost-effective solution to maintain high levels of safety and compliance without the need for extensive human oversight or costly shiftwork coverage.
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4 Reasons Why Radar is a Trusted Electronic Observer for DAA and BVLOS
Radar systems are renowned for their ability to detect a wide range of objects, both in the air and on the ground. This capability is crucial in environments where multiple types of threats and activities need monitoring. For this reason, UAS players like Kongsberg Geospatial turn to high-performance radar as an electronic aid for BVLOS.
Depending on the BVLOS application, radar can be deployed on-board the drone or on the ground. In either case, precision radar data of objects in the air around the drone informs detect and avoid maneuvering.
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Ground-Based and Airborne Surveillance:
Radar with a wide field of view capably monitors airspace activity from a ground position. Unlike other visual surveillance methods that can be obstructed by environmental factors such as fog or darkness, radar systems like EchoGuard provide consistent and reliable detection under various conditions. Ground-based radar as electronic observers are a good fit for establishing flight corridors in which UAS will transit. High-performance, ultra-low size, weight and power (SWaP) radar, like EchoFlight, are ideal for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) applications requiring detect and avoid sensing onboard the UAS.
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High-Fidelity, Real-Time Data:
One of the most significant advantages of modern radar systems is their ability to provide high-fidelity, real-time data. This data is crucial for driving system decisions quickly. Precision data from advanced radar systems allows for the immediate detection and tracking of multiple objects. For instance, Echodyne’s software-defined MESA radar generates precise object tracking data for multiple UAS, simultaneously and leverages an ultra-fast data exchange capability to inform rapid maneuvering with minimal disruption.
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Seamless Integration with Other Sensors and Systems:
To achieve comprehensive situational awareness, it is essential that radar systems integrate seamlessly with other sensors and systems. This supports sensor fusion, where data from radar is combined with inputs from other sensors for comprehensive airspace deconfliction. Modern, high-performance radar designed for this application have industry-standard physical connection and open-architecture software.
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Robust and Reliable Operation:
Radar systems are designed to operate in various environmental conditions and provide consistent performance over time. High-performance radars, for example, are low SWaP with a solid-state form factor and no moving parts. This design supports ground or airborne DAA and ensures high reliability and minimal maintenance, even in extreme temperatures and adverse weather conditions.
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The Future of Drone Operations with Electronic Observers
Throughout this article, we have explored the vital role of Vos and the FAA's guidelines for maintaining visual line-of-sight (VLOS) during drone operations. Additionally, we examined the significant advancements in BVLOS operations and the crucial DAA systems required for safe BVLOS flights. These systems, which include sophisticated technologies such as radar and ADS-B receivers, ensure safer and more reliable drone operations.
