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Small UAV Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System Design Considerations and Flight Test ResultsThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Armstrong Flight Research Center Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) project demonstrated several important collision avoidance technologies. First, the SUAV Auto GCAS design included capabilities to take advantage of terrain avoidance maneuvers flying turns to either side as well as straight over terrain. Second, the design also included innovative digital elevation model (DEM) scanning methods. The combination of multi-trajectory options and new scanning methods demonstrated the ability to reduce the nuisance potential of the SUAV while maintaining robust terrain avoidance. Third, the Auto GCAS algorithms were hosted on the processor inside a smartphone, providing a lightweight hardware configuration for use in either the ground control station or on board the test aircraft. Finally, compression of DEM data for the entire Earth and successful hosting of that data on the smartphone was demonstrated. The SUAV Auto GCAS project demonstrated that together these methods and technologies have the potential to dramatically reduce the number of controlled flight into terrain mishaps across a wide range of aviation platforms with similar capabilities including UAVs, general aviation aircraft, helicopters, and model aircraft.
Document ID
20150014106
Acquisition Source
Armstrong Flight Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Sorokowski, Paul
(Air Force Flight Test Center Edwards AFB, CA, United States)
Skoog, Mark
(NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Edwards, CA, United States)
Burrows, Scott
(Air Force Flight Test Center Edwards AFB, CA, United States)
Thomas, SaraKatie
(Air Force Flight Test Center Edwards AFB, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
July 24, 2015
Publication Date
June 1, 2015
Subject Category
Aircraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TM-2015-218732
DFRC-E-DAA-TN20843
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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