Westcott Showcase: Accelerating Space Innovation: 19 September 2024
Time: 10am – 5pm
Location: Westcott Venture Park, Near Aylesbury HP18 0PH
Join an exciting event showcasing the future of the UK Space Sector.
This year’s event offers a unique opportunity to listen to informative talks from industry thought leaders, explore cutting-edge on-site capabilities, network with key players in the field, and delve into topics such as UK Space Sector trends, drones and regulation, space sustainability, university collaborations, and inspiring success stories from professionals in the space industry.
CAA CONSULTATION ON SAIL MARK AND RAE-F POLICIES DUE 8 NOV
The CAA has launched its consultation on the proposed RAE(F) and SAIL Mark Policy, for UAS in the Specific Category. These policy proposals are linked to the UK SORA, which is also under consultation, here.
This consultation forms part of the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) ongoing work to enable Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to operate in UK Airspace in the Specific Category, a key component of the CAA Future of Flight Programme.
UP Rating – A new method for judging pilot competency for test flight operations: WATCH AGAIN
When conducting non-routine test flight operations, flying organisations face the challenge of judging what pilot competency is needed for a particular mission. Often, we rely on a review of the experience of that pilot, but this leads to a wide margin of subjectivity. Frazer-Nash Consultancy have developed a novel framework for quantifying the competence of UAS pilots to enable safe and effective operations in these scenarios.
Join us to learn more as we roll out this framework on pilot competency for open use.
About the Speaker:
Zack Seymour, Senior Engineer, Uncrewed Air Systems
Zack is a Senior Engineer in the Frazer-Nash Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) group. Zack has three years’ experience in Systems Integration, with notable projects including the development of UAS hardware and software to meet a specialist military surveying requirement and supporting the development of an automated electrical substation inspection capability.
SAM IS ....
Enhancing Drone as First Responder Programs with uAvionix’s Casia G Nighttime Capability
In recent years, the use of drones in emergency response has revolutionized the way first responders handle critical situations. Among the cutting-edge technologies enabling this transformation is uAvionix’s Casia G. As a key component of Drone as a First Responder (DFR) programs, Casia G detects aircraft flying around drone operations, allowing potential collisions to be avoided. To support the growth of these public safety programs, uAvionix is excited to announce a significant development: the Casia G will soon support nighttime operations, broadening its utility and effectiveness for emergency services.
The applications of Casia G are diverse, including supporting inspections of construction sites and critical infrastructure, as well as monitoring rail yards and solar farms. However, its most impactful use is in DFR programs. When an emergency call is made, having a drone on the scene first provides invaluable situational awareness to police, fire, and emergency services, ensuring a more efficient and safer response.
Casia G is foundational to the enablement of DFR programs, facilitating rapid deployment of drones to emergency scenes. The system alerts operators to nearby aircraft and allows them to safely operate drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) without the need for human visual observers. This means that drone pilots can rapidly launch and control the aircraft from remote locations prior to responders arriving on the scene with full approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Casia G has become a critical piece of infrastructure, enabling organizations to fly BVLOS without human visual observers,” explains Jason Hardy-Smith, VP of Product at uAvionix. “This allows DFR drone pilots to be remote from the UAS during flight and expedites the time from when an emergency call comes in to when a drone is on-site and providing better situational awareness to emergency responders.”
Currently, Casia G operates effectively from half an hour after sunrise to half an hour before sunset. However, recognizing that many emergencies occur at night, uAvionix has prioritized the development of nighttime capability. Drew Swift of the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office elaborates, “Crime doesn’t stop when it gets dark. In fact, a very high percentage of serious crime occurs after the sun sets. UAS are a critical tool in our arsenal to react in an efficient and timely manner to 911 calls, providing us the situational awareness to protect both the public and officers. As such, having DAA [Detect and Avoid] capabilities 24/7 is absolutely necessary.”
The upcoming nighttime functionality, slated for release inOctober 2024, is an exciting advancement. The existing hardware and cameras will be used, leveraging built-in GPS to determine the precise time of dusk at each location. As darkness falls, Casia G will automatically switch to night mode, adjusting camera settings and utilizing a new algorithm designed to detect navigation and anti-collision lights on an aircraft.
As seen in the following video, the algorithm has demonstrated impressive capabilities, with initial performance reports indicating that the detection range at night will be equal to or even surpass that of daytime operations. “All in all, it’s a really exciting development. We found that we’re able to use the same hardware and cameras as our daytime solution,” Hardy-Smith notes. “With just a software update, we’ll be able to bring nighttime detection of aircraft to Casia G customers, and we’ll be delivering it this October.”
The introduction of nighttime operations for Casia G will significantly enhance the effectiveness of DFR programs, ensuring that drones can provide critical situational awareness regardless of the time of day. This development underscores uAvionix’s commitment to advancing drone technology to meet the evolving needs of emergency services, making communities safer and response times faster.
As we approach the launch of this groundbreaking feature, uAvionix continues to lead the way in integrating innovative solutions into public safety operations. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to October 2024, and witness firsthand how Casia G is transforming DFR programs across the nation.
SAM IS ....
Test Site Requirements for Aviation Innovators: KEY FINDINGS of CAA Consultation
The United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority is looking to facilitate the development of safe and useful RPAS and AAM test sites, where market entrants can test and evaluate their products.
This document is the summary of the key findings of the consultation exercise conducted to understand innovators’ key requirements of test facilities for their novel products.
The CAA aims to support rapid aviation innovation by understanding and addressing the needs of operators and manufacturers during testing. A survey conducted in June 2023 highlighted diverse needs and regulatory barriers faced by the industry.
The CAA has established a Test and Evaluation team, issued new policies for RPAS modifications, and begun collaborating with the Ministry of Defence.
Future Plans: The CAA plans to develop a Pre-defined Risk Assessment for RPAS testing, create a list of test sites, and support hydrogen test sites.
Sky’s the Limit: Revolutionising Business with Drone Technology: Podcast
Join Elliott Parnham and Jonathan Howl, Host of the Green Business Podcast, as Elliott shares his insights on how drones are transforming business operations across various sectors.
Innovative Drone Technology: Elliot Parnham, Founder of Skyfarer, discusses how drones are transforming business operations, from logistics to infrastructure inspection.
Sustainability Benefits: The episode highlights the environmental advantages of using drones, such as reducing carbon footprints and enhancing efficiency
Challenges and Solutions: Elliot shares insights on overcoming regulatory, technological, and operational hurdles in adopting drone technology
Future Potential: The conversation explores the latest advancements and the promising future of drones in various industries
Framework for Future Flight in the UK: Principles from a deliberative Public Dialogue July 2024
The UKRI’s Future Flight Challenge (FFC) aims to position the UK as a leader in aviation by funding research and development of new flight technologies. A public dialogue was conducted to understand public views on Future Flight technologies, including non-passenger-carrying drones, eVTOLs, and electric/hydrogen Regional Air Mobility (RAM).
Alongside a wider programme of social science research funded by the Challenge, UKRI/Innovate UK commissioned this dialogue, which was led by the Future Flight Challenge Social Science Research Director and team based at the University of Birmingham. The dialogue was supported by UKRI’s Sciencewise programme and delivered by Thinks Insight & Strategy.
Principles for Development: Participants developed 14 principles for the roll-out of Future Flight technologies, emphasizing public good, safety, sustainability, accessibility, and affordability.
Concerns and Hopes: Participants expressed concerns about noise, visual pollution, safety, and affordability, but also saw potential benefits in improved connectivity, sustainability, and accessibility.
uAvionix: Pushing the envelope – testing the future of multiple link SATCOM solutions with StarLink
In February 2023, uAvionix began testing the first versions of Starlink’s antennas and connectivity, exploring the possibilities for advanced LEO-satellite-based command and control (C2) communications for small UAS. The Starlink results were encouraging, and we have continued our efforts throughout this past year.
As a leading provider of Command, Navigation, and Surveillance technologies for small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS), we have consistently promoted multi-modal connectivity solutions to support both assured C2 and high-bandwidth payload communications. By integrating various connectivity methods, we provide path and frequency diversity, ensuring reliable operation everywhere.
Today, uAvionix is pleased to highlight a significant step forward in their integration efforts with the successful completion of test flights using Starlink and uAvionix’s muLTElink airborne radio. The integration work continues their commitment to offering the best possible connectivity solutions for small UAS, and the recent flight tests demonstrated unprecedented connectivity for both C2 and payload communications, delivering data rates in the megabits per second with latencies below 100 milliseconds.
This milestone is an extension of our integration with L-band satellite connectivity solutions that have been implemented across various platforms to ensure assured C2 communications. By introducing Starlink to our connectivity suite, we will enhance our capability to provide both assured C2 and high-bandwidth payload communications, such as streaming video or ISR data, back to the operator. This integration further underscores our dedication to multi-modal solutions that combine path and frequency diversity, a principle we have long championed.
The achievement highlights the potential of Starlink to revolutionize UAS C2 communications and payload backhaul solutions, promising a new era of connectivity for uncrewed aerial systems.
Stay tuned for more updates as we delve into the technical details and comparative performance of the varying connectivity options for sUAS communications. This forthcoming analysis will offer deeper insights into the relative strengths and weaknesses of each connectivity type.
