The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded USD 12 million to several companies for drone research and testing projects designed to help safely expand drone operations in the National Airspace System.
These awards were made through the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Program. The programme funds companies working with FAA-designated UAS Test Sites to test and evaluate technologies that support safe drone integration.
The awards support the full use of FAA UAS Test Sites to develop, test and scale American drone technologies.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the research supported through this programme will provide the FAA with better data, help it to identify and understand operational challenges, and inform how the agency safely integrates these aircraft into the National Airspace System.
Companies and projects under the programme include:
- General Atomics — ground systems to help drones avoid other aircraft.
- NAVMAR — systems to help large drones fly safely.
- SPS Aerial Remote Sensing — a test of drone visibility technology.
- ANRA Technologies — tools to connect air taxi operations, vertiports and flight procedures.
- Devorto Corporation — long-range cargo drone service.
- ANRA Technologies — tools to give drones a common altitude reference.
- DroneUp LLC — a secure way to verify drone identity and approval to fly.
- SPS Aerial Remote Sensing — a sensor system for drone traffic management and counter-drone operations.
- SPS Aerial Remote Sensing — tools to measure sensor performance.
- OneRadio Corporation — testing passive radar to help drones avoid other aircraft.
- Censys Technologies Corp — testing satellite communications for long-range drone flights.
- Frequentis USA — a drone technology demonstration.
- ANRA Technologies — tools to connect drone traffic systems with traditional air traffic systems at airports.
- ANRA Technologies — AI tools to identify different types of drones.
- Skydweller — onboard systems to help large drones avoid other aircraft.
- Aerial Vantage — tools to manage reserved airspace for drones in cities.
- Lighthouse Avionics Inc. — surveillance tools for long-range drone routes.
- ResilienX, Inc. — software to coordinate drone missions and resources.
- Oklahoma State University — drone visibility technology under the Aero Aware project.
There are currently nine FAA-designated UAS Test Sites: Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration, Alaska; Northern Plains UAS Test Site, North Dakota; New Mexico State University UAS Test Site, New Mexico; State of Nevada UAS Test Site, Nevada; New York UAS Test Site, New York; Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Autonomy Research Institute, Texas; Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, Virginia; Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Oklahoma; and Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Indiana.
For more information
UAS Broad Agency Announcement Program at the FAA
Image: FAA