eVTOL safety system faces funding challenge

BALTIMORE — FAA funding support is needed to continue full-scale development of new variant of the next-generation Airborne Collision Avoidance System. The system, referred to as ACAS Xr, is being developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory to support crewed and uncrewed electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) and to integrate them into the airspace. [caption id="attachment_56869138" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Wes Olson (second from right), leader of the Transportation Safety and Resilience group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, at the FAA Drone AAM Symposium 2024 in Baltimore. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] Wes Olson, who leads the MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s Transportation Safety and Resilience Group, said the funding issue is “the biggest challenge” he sees, during a panel discussion on intelligent detection systems at the 2024 FAA Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Symposium on July 31. “The FAA currently does not have a funding plan for FAA funding of a future version, so that is something that I personally believe the industry and FAA need to resolve together.” The upgrade will be part of the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System initiative to modernize the national airspace to support advanced air mobility. History of ACAS X MIT launched the ACAS X concept in 2009 with support from the FAA to replace the conventional Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) used by crewed transport category aircraft, Olson said. MIT has created several versions of ACAS X during the past fifteen years, including: ACAS Xa, the initial replacement system for TCAS; ACAS Xu, which was engineered to execute detect-and-avoid functions for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS); ACAS sXu, the third variant designed for small UAS operating beyond visual line of sight; and ACAS Xr, now in development for rotorcraft and eVTOLs. Future look ACAS Xr will be able to support aircraft with various crewed or uncrewed performance capabilities, enabling them to detect air traffic operating without a transponder, Olson added. The algorithm for the fourth version of ACAS Xr will be completed next year, Fabrice Kunzi, chief product officer at uncrewed aircraft system developer SkyGrid, said. SkyGrid is working to produce ACAS Xr. While the ACAS systems evolve their detect-and-avoid technology for UAVs, other challenges exist when it comes to resolving the safe navigation and integration of air traffic patterns, according to panel moderator Brandon Suarez, vice president of UAS integration at Reliable Robotics. NASA is conducting research about the problem of traffic flows at smaller airports, he said. “It’s actually that same concept of, when I go through a traffic pattern, I’m not just looking to see where all the airplanes are,” Suarez said. “I actually know what people are going to do, or I think I know what people are going to do, and I’m making decisions based on what my perception is of their intent. And that’s the next-level piece that’s pretty difficult.” Reliable Robotics began designing its own detect-and-avoid air-to-air radar system for its autonomous flight program in the fourth quarter of 2023. The autonomous aircraft developer announced in March 2024 that it would serve as a guide for the NASA’s University Leadership Initiative funded research on automated taxi systems. The 30th Cargo Facts Symposium will take place Oct. 14-16 at the Omni Hotel in San Diego. Gain valuable insights, success strategies and networking opportunities at this special anniversary event. Learn more and register today to take advantage of our early-bird sale.

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