IEEE Launches Working Group to Structure Aerial Communications, Networking Standards

Technical organization IEEE and the IEEE Standards Association have launched the IEEE Aerial Network Communications Working Group to structure standards for aircraft systems.

Group members will work to establish the IEEE P1920.1 project designed to develop standards for air-to-air communications in an ad hoc aerial network and situational awareness for commercial, civil manned and unmanned aircraft systems, IEEE Standards Association said Wednesday.

“The growing utilization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles is driving a need to ensure safety through increased situational awareness and direct air-to-air communications for all types of aircraft,” said Kamesh Namuduri, IEEE Aerial Network Communications Working Group chair.

He added that the standards will help to coordinate UAV usage during emergencies or natural disasters, facilitate commercial and civil aircraft tracking and enhance safety during operations with collision avoidance data sharing between aircrafts.

The new working group is sponsored by the IEEE Communications Society Standards Development Board and will have its first meeting in September 2016.