A Compiler Framework for Proactive UAV Regulation Enforcement

In the rapidly evolving landscape of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), regulation enforcement is critical. Unfortunately, existing practices are largely manual and reactive in nature. We present Themis
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, a novel compiler-directed approach for automated and proactive regulation enforcement. By expressing regulations through a specification language and integrating their enforcement into the compilation process, Themis enables safe and regulation-compliant UAV flights by enforcing prohibited and restricted areas, avoiding flights over humans, and managing maximum limits of altitude and speed. Our framework features a bidirectional interface that allows the concrete algorithms used for enforcement to be customized. Our evaluation shows Themis-compiled autopilots can adhere to regulatory constraints amidst complex flight conditions, while significantly reducing the burden of UAV operators.