Autonomous Guidance for small UAV Safe Flight Operations in the National Airspace System (NAS) Navy SBIR FY2008.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2008.1 Topic No.: N08-079 Topic Title: Autonomous Guidance for small UAV Safe Flight Operations in the National Airspace System (NAS) Proposal No.: N081-079-1270 Firm: Latitude Engineering 100 West Cushing Street Tucson, Arizona 85701 Contact: Jason Douglas Phone: (520) 792-2006 Web Site: http://www.latitudeengineering.com/ Abstract: Safe flight by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in unrestricted airspace, including the National Airspace, will only be possible with effective and reliable Sense and Avoid technologies and techniques. Several projects, including four Office of Naval Research STTR's, are underway to develop sensors capable of addressing the first aspect. Latitude Engineering, LLC proposes to address the second aspect using modern control methods to design and analyze a collision avoidance control algorithm that will first assure minimum separation distances are maintained, and second, will avoid a collision, should a dangerous situation arise. Our approach uses differential game theory to develop well-defined zones of complete or partial safety to analyze the volume around the UAV and the performance of the control law. The algorithm will be capable of effective avoidance using sensors of different performance characteristics, including those that output only bearing information, such as acoustic or optical sensors, or complete relative position, such as radar or ADS-B. In addition, the control law will be designed so as to balance the requirements of safe flight with needs of the mission. Benefits: The use of Unmanned Aircraft in unregulated airspace, either military or civilian, is currently limited by the inability of the operator to perform Sense and Avoid duties, as required by FAR 91.113 and similar international regulations. Hardware capable of sensing other aircraft or objects in space addresses only half the problem; a method of avoiding the sensed contacts is required. Latitude's proposal will solve this problem by developing a control algorithm and a framework that defines states in which the unmanned aircraft is either safe or unsafe, and in which situations it is or is not guaranteed to avert airspace incursion or collision. This work will lead to a method of control that can be recognized in a regulatory fashion as safe for use in military and civilian situations, thereby opening new markets for unmanned aerial systems. Return