Recent news and events:
- 23rd Dec 09 - Static Sense-and-Act Trials Underway
- 17th Dec 09 - Dynamic Detect Sense-and-Act Trials Underway
- 27th Nov 09 - Mobile Operations Centre Commissioned
- 13th Nov 09 - Phase Three Flight Trials Complete
- 3rd Nov 09 - Smart Skies to have large presence at ICAS 2010 Conference
- 3rd Nov 09 - ARCAA Cessna flight test aircraft has twitter
- 21st Oct 09 - Australian Defence Magazine Article on Smart Skies
- 15th Oct 09 - Unmanned heli completes beyond visual range test
- 25th Sep 09 - Smart Skies mentioned in CSIRO Podcast
- 18th Sep 09 - Article on Smart Skies in National Defense Magazine
- 12th Aug 09 - Smart Skies “Hot Topic” at AUVSI North America 2009
- 17th July 09 - Phase Two Flight Trials successfully completed
- 2nd July 09 - Cessna 172 R certified for autonomous flight
- 16th June 09 - UAS successfully controlled using 3G mobile phone network
- 1st May 09 - New Smart Skies UAS platforms arrive
- 8th April 09 - Phase One Flight Trials successfully completed
- 20th Mar 09 - Flight testing of complex collision scenario successful
- 12th Mar 09 - Media Release at 2009 Avalon Airshow
- 11th Mar 09 - Helicopter collision averted!
- 10th Mar 09 - Smart Skies at 2009 Avalon Airshow
- 4th Mar 09 - QUT Unmanned Aircraft completes 100km autonomous flight
- 20th Feb 09 - CSIRO Unmanned Helicopter achieves milestone in autonomy
17th Dec 09 – Static Sense-and-Act Trials Underway
Closing out a very successful 2009, the first of a series of data collection flights have been completed to support the research and development of a sense-and-act system capable of detecting and avoiding static obstacles.
The Static Sense-and-Act (SSA) system, which is being developed by ARCAA researchers, uses an integrated Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) and stereo-camera sensor system to detect ground-based obstacles. The primary flight test platform for the SSA research is the ARCAA CSIRO Unmanned Helicopter, referred to as the CUAS (pictured below approaching a fixed obstacle during the December tests).
ARCAA CUAS with static sense and act payload during data collection flight testsThe aim of the tests was to collect a comprehensive dataset of different 'known' obstacles using different sensor settings and sensor combinations. This data will then be used to refine the detection sensor payload and for the further development of the path planning algorithm. Autonomous close-loop flight testing of the SSA system are scheduled to be completed in February/March 2010. More information:
- Smart Skies Phase Four Flight Trials - Static Sense and Act Flight Trials
- Static Detect Sense and Act
17th Dec 09 – Dynamic Detect Sense-and-Act Trials Underway
The first of a series of data collection flights have been completed as part of ongoing research into the development of a vision-based dynamic sense-and-act (DSA) system.
The DSA payload is an autonomous system that uses an onboard camera, graphics processing hardware and sophisticated image processing algorithms to detect midair collision threats. When a collision scenario is detected, the system will automatically determine the most appropriate avoidance manoeuvre required to maintain a safe separation distance from other aircraft. The completed DSA system can be used to support the safe operation of unmanned aircraft in non-segregated airspace and as a technical aid to pilots of conventional aircraft.
The recently completed tests involved flying two autonomous unmanned aircraft in a range of climbing, descending, passing and head-on conflict scenarios. Vision and aircraft state (position, velocity and attitude) data was collected for both UAVs under a range of lighting conditions.
Pictured below is the ARCAA Flamingo UAV (top) with the DSA data collection payload mounted and the ARCAA Charlie UAV (bottom) which provided the collision target.
ARCAA Flamingo UAV with DSA payload fitted and ARCAA Charlie UAVARCAA researchers are using the data collected to refine the collision detection and decision algorithms in preparation for autonomous close-loop flight trials to be completed in February 2010. More information:
- Smart Skies Phase Four Flight Trials - Dynamic Sense and Act Collision Avoidance Flight Trials
- Dynamic Detect Sense and Act
27 Nov 09 – Mobile Operations Centre Commissioned
ARCAA researchers have just taken delivery of a custom-designed field operations vehicle. The vehicle, called the Mobile Operations Centre (MOC), is designed to support deployments of personnel to remote flight test locations. The MOC is a four-wheel drive light truck with an air-conditioned body, telescopic antenna mast, pneumatically deployed observation area, onboard generator, and storage for unmanned aircraft and support equipment. The MOC is pictured below on its first deployment to the Kingaroy flight test area. More information:
ARCAA Mobile Operations Centre and Charlie UAV13 Nov 09 – Phase Three Flight Trials Complete
The final flight component of the Phase Three Flight Trials has been completed. The flight tests which took place during the months of November and December continued to explore the performance of an Automated Separation Management System being developed by Boeing researchers. Up to six real and simulated aircraft took part in the testing. More than 8 hours of conflict-experiment data, was collected. The test cases explored a range of conflict variables (e.g., closure speed, geometry, quality of communications links, number and type of aircraft). In addition to these tests, ARCAA researchers completed performance-testing of an existing separation management algorithm. More information:
3 Nov 09 – Smart Skies to have large presence at ICAS 2010
Smart Skies Project has been accepted to present nine papers at the prestigious ICAS 2010 Conference, 19th-24th Sept, in Nice, France. The papers cover all aspects of the project, including: the development of leading-edge research platforms, sense-and-avoid systems, the automated separation management system, the mobile aircraft tracking system, development of simulation capabilities, and research into the development of UAS regulations and risk management. More information:
- 27th Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences
- Research Publications
- History of ICAS (pdf, 190 KB)
3 Nov 09 – ARCAA Cessna ASL on Twitter!
The ARCAA Cessna ASL, a custom-modified flight test aircraft, now has twitter! The ASL autonomously 'twitts' updates whilst flight testing, providing near-realtime updates on the progress of flight testing with the automated separation management system. The ASL advises when it executes a flight plan, captures flight plan waypoints and when it receives and executes recommended separation assurance flight plans issued by the ADAC in United States. More information:
21st Oct 09 – Smart Skies in the October issue of ADM
An article on the Smart Skies Project has been published in the Australian Defence Magazine, October 2009 issue (p.42). The article discusses the upcoming flight trials and other research being conducted by BR&T-US. More information:
- Ziesing,K.(2009) "Swarming with opportunities", Australian Defence Magazine, October, p.42-45. Australian Defence Magazine
- Media Publications
15th Oct 09 – Unmanned heli completes autonomous beyond visual range flight test
The CSIRO Unmanned Helicopter has attained a milestone capability in preparation for Phase Three Flight Testing. On Thursday 15th October the CUAS helicopter performed a number of flight tests demonstrating capabilities necessary to support Beyond Visual Range (BVR) flight tests. These include autonomous ring vortex recovery systems and advanced failsafe capabilities. These capabilities are necessary to support the safe BVR operation of the unmanned helicopter under challenging environmental conditions. More information:
25th Sep 09 – Smart Skies mentioned in CSIRO Podcast
The Smart Skies Project is mentioned in a CSIRO podcast of an interview with Dr Jonathan Roberts, Research Director at the Autonomous Systems Laboratory CSIRO ICT Centre. More information:
18th Sep 09 – Article on Smart Skies in National Defense Magazine
The October issue of the National Defense Magazine will include an article on the Smart Skies Project. More information:
- Technologies to Help Aircraft Avoid Mid-Air Collisions, National Defense Magazine, Oct 2009
- Media Publications
12th Aug 09 – Smart Skies “Hot Topic” at AUVSI North America 2009
Smart Skies personnel were invited to present as a “hot topic” at the AUVSI North America 2009 Conference and Exhibition. The event is the largest in the world dedicated to unmanned systems, with over 5,000 attendees, 325 exhibitors and 112 speakers. The 25 minute Smart Skies presentation described the project and recent results from the phase two flight trials. The presentation generated a lot of interest particularly in the flight testing and operations. More information:
17th July 09 – Phase two flight trials successfully completed
The Smart Skies team has successfully completed the second phase of flight testing. The July trials are the second in a series of eight planned for 2009/2010. The objective of the trial was to build on phase one testing exploring the performance of the automated separation management system across a range of experimental variables (e.g., closure speed, geometry, number and type of aircraft). Up to five simulated and three real flight test aircraft were used in the conflict scenarios. Real flight test aircraft included the ARCAA fixed wing and helicopter unmanned systems, both of which were under full autonomous control of the Automated Dynamic Airspace Controller situated in Palmdale California. The trials also explored the performance of the ARCAA ASL Cessna 172, operating as an optionally piloted vehicle. More information:
2nd July 09 – ARCAA Cessna 172 R certified for autonomous flight
The ARCAA Airborne Systems Laboratory (ASL) is a custom-modified Cessna 172 R which is one of the primary test platforms for the Smart Skies Project (pictures below). In the lead up to Phase Two Flight Trials, the ASL underwent significant modifications to facilitate an optionally piloted mode of operation. Under this mode of operation, the pilots are generally “hands off” with guidance commands being sent from computers in Palmdale California (via iridium and Next G communications) directly into the autopilot onboard the ASL. ARCAA researchers in conjunction with a CAR 35 engineer worked closely with CASA to realise this approval.
ARCAA Airborne Systems Laboratory
ASL custom pilot display and FMSFor more information:
16th June 09 – UAS Successfully controlled using 3G mobile data network
Flight testing, which took place in May 2009, successfully demonstrated the command and control of UAS using the Telstra 3G network. Believed to be one of the first demonstrations of its kind in the world, the team of researchers demonstrated reliable and real time command, tasking and control of the Flamingo UAS platform using the Tesltra Next G (TM) network. More information:
- 16 June 2009 - Pilotless plane controlled by 3G Network (pdf 30kb)
- Media Page
- Phase Two Flight Trials
1st May 09 – ARCAA takes delivery of three fixed wing UAS platforms
ARCAA has taken delivery of three fixed wing UAS platforms. The larger and more capable platforms (pictured below) will be used to support Phase Three Flight Testing. The flight tests, scheduled for December 2009, aim to characterise the performance of dynamic sense and avoid systems currently under development by the Smart Skies team.
Systems integration, engine, and weight and balance flight testing of the new pltaforms is scheduled to begin in August 2009.
- Wingspan: 5.2m
- Est Maximum Takeoff Weight: 80kg
- Est Maximum Endurance: 6 hours
- Engine: 250cc IC, twin cylinder two-stroke
New Smart Skies UAS Research PlatformFor more information:
8th April 09 – Phase one flight testing successfully completed
Phase One Flight Trials have been successfully completed after two weeks of extensive flight testing. The flight testing, which took place in Burrandowan, Queensland, entailed 48 controlled collision scenarios between manned, unmanned and simulated aircraft utilising two different communications systems. The objective of the flight trials was to demonstrate and validate the performance of an automated separation assurance system. More information:
20th Mar 09 – Initial flight testing of complex collision scenario successful
On the 20th of March 2009 the automated separation management system successfully averted a complex collision scenario between the conventionally-piloted Cessna 172, an unmanned helicopter and a number of simulated aircraft. The successful scenario was one of a number of system integration tests being conducted as part of preparations for Phase One Flight Trials (April 2009). The tests used both the Iridium and the Telstra NextG communications networks. More information:
12th Mar 09 – Smart Skies issues media release at 2009 Avalon Airshow
A media release detailing results from recent flight testing was issued at the 2009 Avalon Airshow. More information:
- 11 March 2009 Avalon Airshow(pdf 51kb)
- Media Page
11th Mar 09 – Midair collision averted!
The first flight test of the automated separation management system a success!
On the 12th of March 2009, the Smart Skies Project held the first of a series of flight tests aimed at characterising the performance of an automated separation management system currently under development by researchers at Boeing Research & Technology. The flight test, which took place near the township of Kingaroy, Queensland, comprised a number of controlled collision scenarios between an unmanned helicopter and multiple simulated aircraft. In each scenario, the automated separation management system detected the impending collision and issued resolutions (avoidance trajectories) to maintain safe separation between the aircraft. The test utilised the Telstra NextGTM mobile network. More information:
10th Mar 09 – Smart Skies attends 2009 Avalon Airshow
Smart Skies personnel will be on hand all week at the Avalon Airshow to discuss aspects of the research program with members from industry and the public. You can find them in the exhibition hall at the Queensland University of Technology booth, situated on the Queensland Government Stand (Stand 1H3 ).
4th Mar 09 – ARCAA unmanned aircraft completes 100km autonomous flight
The ARCAA fixed wing unmanned aircraft completed a 100km autonomous flight on Wednesday the 4th March 2009. The flight, which was completed in just under an hour, was one of a number of tuning and integration test flights being conducted at Burrandowan, Queensland. The QUAS-08 Flamingo, with Micropilot autopilot and Telstra NextG(TM) communications and computing payloads onboard, accumulated more than 4 hours of autonomous flight over the two days of testing. More information:
QUAS-08 Flamingo, ready for takeoff20th Feb 09 – ARCAA unmanned helicopter achieves milestone in autonomy
On the 20th of February 09, researchers from CSIRO attained a key milestone in the development of an autonomous Unmanned Helicopter. During flight testing the helicopter successfully demonstrated an autonomous hover with attitude, heading and altitude hold capabilities.
CSIRO Flight Controller Dr Torsten Merz demonstrates the CSIRO unmanned helicopter (pictured in background) with autonomous hover capabilityThe ARCAA Unmanned Helicopter is based on the Vario Gasser small helicopter platform. The system comprises a GPS/INS/barometric sensor, onboard real-time Linux system running control code, a telemetry link and an integrated ground station. More information:
