Eyes in the Domestic Sky: An Assessment of Sense and Avoid Technology for the Army's "Warrior" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

The program manager of the army's unmanned aerial systems (UAS) awarded a contract for the extended range multipurpose (ERMP) unmanned aerial system (UAS) to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI), nicknamed the "Warrior". Given the size, performance, range and endurance of the system, the Warrior system can he reasonably expected to operate within and require access to the National Airspace (NAS) and/or unrestricted airspace of host nations. Therefore, it must have possess an equivalent level of safety to that of a manned aircraft. Our project involves identifying sense and avoid requirements necessary to avoid collisions and potential technologies necessary for the Warrior ERMP to obtain routine access to the NAS. We evaluate SAA requirements and define criteria specific to the Warrior consistent with FAA guidelines. We then show potential technologies to meet SAA requirements specific to the airframe. Finally, our research submits recommendations for the army in its pursuit of effective sense and avoid technology. We used standard systems engineering practices to complete this project for our client