Iris Automation has launched Casia 360, the company’s new onboard detect-and-avoid (DAA) solution for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) that features a 360-degree radial field of view and will enable commercial Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
The Casia system combines both hardware and software to provide a sense-and-avoid capability that detects other aircraft in all directions, classifies them with intelligent computer-vision algorithms, decides their threat level, and if necessary triggers an alert to the pilot and activates automated maneuvers to safely avoid collisions. The low-SWaP (size, weight and power) system is based around a self-contained embedded supercomputer that runs advanced machine-vision algorithms, and features two onboard controllers and five long-range optical cameras providing a 360-degree field of view.
Casia has been extensively tested with real-world test flights and mid-air collision scenarios flying various manned aircraft against UAS, with over 12,000 real-world encounters and more than 50,000 simulated encounters. The system is currently being flown by dozens of customers across 12 countries, and holds BVLOS approvals from regulators in the U.S., South Africa, and Canada.
Alexander Harmsen, CEO of Iris Automation, commented: “Casia 360 allows a drone to have a complete sense of its surroundings so it can avoid potential collisions from any direction. We developed this technology based on feedback from our customers and regulatory bodies around the world. It enables drones to be used for an even greater range of long-distance use cases and saves money, increases safety and unlocks applications across multiple industries: railway, energy sector, utility powerline inspections, package delivery, and life-saving search and rescue operations.”
