Nichols Martin
A NASA-owned unmanned aircraft system that flew Tuesday was equipped with a detect-and-avoid avionics system from General Atomics‘ aeronautical systems business.
General Atomics said Tuesday Ikhana, a modified version of the Predator B/MQ-9 UAS platform, used the DAA system that features a collision avoidance technology built to help pilots “see and avoid” other airspace users.
NASA’s Ikhana took off Tuesday from southern California as part of a flight test.
Linden Blue, CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., said the flight reflected GA-ASI’s collaboration with NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, the Federal Aviation Administration and Honeywell to produce a standard for UAS operation in national airspace.
The DAA system is equipped with an airborne radar, Honeywell-made Traffic Collision Avoidance System II and tracking equipment, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In/Out and a Conflict Prediction and Display System.
