Detect-and-Avoid Drone Collision Avoidance System

Iris Automation is a pioneering developer of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) and drone collision avoidance technology. Our Casia detect-and-avoid system enables Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operation for industrial UAVs, unlocking safer and more efficient extended-range flight.

The Casia collision avoidance system has been extensively tested with over 12,000 real-world encounters and more than 50,000 simulated encounters involving manned aircraft against UAVs. The system is currently fielded by dozens of customers across 12 countries, and holds BVLOS approvals from regulators in the U.S., South Africa, and Canada.

Casia UAV Collision Avoidance System

Combined hardware and software for UAV situational awareness

Casia is a computer vision-based UAV detect-and-avoid system that enables safe and reliable BVLOS operation. The combined hardware and software solution utilises state-of-the-art industrial cameras to provide full situational awareness to sense and detect obstacles and other aircraft. A sophisticated computing platform, based around the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 and our proprietary intelligent algorithms, makes rapid real-time decisions and determines the safest course of action to avoid collisions.

Our latest variant, Casia 360, is the first commercially available 360-degree radial computer vision Detect-and-Avoid system for drones.

Drone collision avoidance technology

Casia’s UAV obstacle detection technology uses three core pillars to equip drones with collision avoidance and vision capabilities that are even better than a human pilot:

• Modelling of human perception and principles based on traditional aviation
• Powerful, efficient software at the core of the system
• Robust AI layered on deterministic systems.

Platform-agnostic for easy integration

Casia is a flexible, self-contained system with seamless plug-and-play capabilities that can be integrated into almost any UAV platform, including custom and COTS multirotor, fixed-wing, rotorcraft and hybrid drones. It is compatible with a wide range of UAV autopilots, including PX4, ArduPilot, and Cloud Cap Technology.

The system, featuring an ultra-low SWaP (size, weight and power) footprint, is modular and easily upgradeable, with configurable camera modules and a wide range of power inputs.

Casia features multiple methods of integration, including bare-board and software-only options for maximum flexibility.

Ongoing development for maximum possible performance

We constantly strive to improve and upgrade Casia’s capabilities, performing over 20 hours of field testing every week on a variety of UAV airframes. We also perform additional validation and deep-learning testing on a specially developed state-of-the-art in-house simulator, which includes true 3D flight simulation built from real-world GIS mapping and stitching.

The rugged system also undergoes ongoing environmental testing under the most extreme conditions. Casia is housed in a tough anodized aluminium enclosure, with a robust build that puts it above the level of consumer electronics.

Casia is available in three variants: Standard, Long-Range, and a 360-degree field of view five-camera solution for maximal situational awareness: