Detecting Cooperative and Noncooperative Drones: Iris Automation and Sagetech Avionics Partner

Iris Automation and Sagetech Avionics Partner for Cooperative/Noncooperative Detection

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M Crosby

Iris Automation and Sagetech Avionics have announced a partnership in order to establish a turnkey solution for cooperative and noncooperative detection that will integrate detection systems from the two companies.

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Iris Automation’s Casia Detect and Avoid (DAA) system has secured several approvals from the FAA due to the safety its noncooperative detection provides. Sagetech Avionics’ Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) for smaller UAVs (sXu) allows the aircraft to autonomously perform evasive actions in response to detecting intruder aircraft. Combining Casia with Sagetech’s MXS ADS-B transponder via Sagetech’s ACAS X sensor fusion and collision avoidance module results in a comprehensive DAA air risk mitigation solution. This configuration provides Sagetech Avionics with the ability to create a certifiable ACAS X-based avoidance system that can include multiple forms of noncooperative detection in addition to Sagetech’s recently certified ADS-B in/out system.

As per FAA regulations, UAV operators require the means with which to detect and avoid both cooperative aircraft (which broadcast their location via transponders) and noncooperative traffic (aircraft not broadcasting their location). A sizable amount of air traffic in the US is noncooperative, resulting in the necessity of noncooperative aircraft detection. The integration of Casia’s noncooperative traffic detection functionality with Sagetech’s cooperative surveillance and avoidance module results in a more effective suite of avoidance options for safer BVLOS operations.

“This is a tremendous combination of Sagetech Avionics’ cooperative surveillance and Iris Automation’s noncooperative detection that enables a holistic DAA/SAA system that is one step closer to unlocking the potential of BVLOS operations,” said Rudy Johnson, Director of Technical Business Development at Sagetech Avionics.

“This partnership really jumpstarts both of our abilities to offer a superior safety solution through real time determination of the optimal conflict resolution when noncooperative air traffic is encountered,” said Jason Hardy-Smith, VP of Product at Iris Automation.

Read more about Iris Automation and Sagetech Avionics:

• Sagetech on Dawn of Drones This Week: the Best of 2021
• Iris Automation Casia G: Ground-Based Detect and Avoid Technology
• TruWeather and Iris Automation: Weather Data for Drone Operations
• Iris Automation BVLOS Approval for City of Reno Fire Department
• Doosan Partners with Iris Automation and Drone America for BVLOS Flight: Long-Endurance Aircraft, Real-Time Obstacle Avoidance

Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.