FreeFlight Systems
Co- Principal Investigator and Technical Lead
1 September 2014 – 31 August 2015
Total award $5,000
The Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) ADS-B is a cooperative surveillance technology in which an aircraft determines its position via satellite navigation and periodically broadcasts it, enabling it to be tracked. The information can be received by air traffic control ground stations as a replacement for secondary radar. It can also be received by other aircraft to provide situational awareness and allow self separation. ADS-B is the first core technology within NextGen, the ongoing program to increase the efficiency, capacity and safety of the world’s airspace systems. ADS-B is an Air Traffic Management (ATM) Surveillance system that will replace traditional radar-based systems. It provides greater accuracy and wider coverage to safely allow reduced separation, more efficient routing and other benefits. The Vehicle Systems and Control Laboratory (VSCL) will conduct test and evaluation of the RANGR ADS-B System, to consist of flight tests to collect data and assess suitability of the UAT for use in NextGen airspace and operations.
TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES
- Define image/resolution requirements for a specific precision agriculture application
- Integrate observation/surveillance pod provided by Intuitive Machines into the Pegasus II UAS
- Conduct flight testing of the observation at Texas A&M University’s Riverside Range
- Review and interpret observation data to evaluate effectiveness of sensor pod
Working with me on this program are Research Assistants:
- James Henrickson, Ph.D student
- Douglas Famularo, Ph.D student
- Frank Arthurs, Ph.D student
- Dipanjan Saha, Ph.D. student
- Joshua Harris, Ph.D. student
- Samantha Hansen, B.S. student