Modular Demonstrator Test Bed for Airborne Sense & Avoid Radar

In manned aviation pilots have to “See and Avoid” other aircraft in order to avoid conflicts. “Sense and Avoid” systems shall enable the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in non-segregated airspace by providing a “See and Avoid” capability. At least for larger aircraft, a Radar sensor is the key element of such a Sense and Avoid system. The standardization of Sense and Avoid systems is still ongoing and the sensor requirements are still subject to changes. In order to facilitate the validation and verification of requirements as well as to evaluate new Radar modes and algorithms, a flexible and modular demonstrator test bed was designed and realized. On the one hand the test bed makes extensive use of state-of-the art hardware technologies such as System-on-Chip devices and GPUs. On the other hand the use of standard interfaces and MATLAB as a high level programming language enable the rapid prototyping of new functionalities. Comprehensive insight into the hardware and software realization is provided. At the current state the integration of the first flight test configuration is about to be finished.