Dual Electronics and Arclarity Collaborate on Drone Sense-and-Avoid Solution

Dual Electronics Corporation, a manufacturer of aviation GPS and ADS-B receivers, has announced that it has been working with Arclarity LLC, a developer of 3D augmented reality aviation systems, to develop a sense-and-avoid solution for autonomously flying drones operating in the US airspace. The solution combines Dual’s aviation products, which are used globally by military, commercial and private pilots, with Arclarity’s expertise in aerial navigation and collision avoidance.

Targeted at commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the solution utilizes GPS position data, current aviation chart data, plus air traffic and temporary flight restriction (TFR) notifications broadcast from the FAA’s ADS-B network. The solution, built into the drone, continually monitors the flight path and makes real-time adjustments in order to maintain separation from air traffic, prevent collisions with obstacles and avoid restricted airspaces.

“A drone is likely to encounter low-flying traffic as well as restricted airspaces. So it is critical that it can identify these obstacles and adjust its flight path in real time,” said Greg Lukins, Vice President, Business Development, Dual Electronics. “The solution we are developing with Arclarity complements the existing short-range sensor systems that a drone may employ for precision navigation around close obstacles,” added Lukins.

“The airspace is a dynamic environment, so safety is paramount in the solution we are creating in partnership with Dual,” said J. Brian Scott, Principal, Arclarity, LLC. “We’re trying to make drones react to situations the same way experienced pilots would,” added Scott.

The solution, which encompasses hardware and software components, is intended to be integrated into drones, and the first demonstration is scheduled for the second half of 2015.