Completed Engineering Food & Agriculture

Astraea ii - sac

Funder InnovateUK (part of UKRI)
Recipient organisation Bae Systems (operations) Limited
Funding £1.3M
Period Jan 2009 — Mar 2013

In plain English

AI plain-English summary

A pilot on the ground takes control of a cargo drone from a control station, using secure communications and onboard sensors to keep it safely away from other aircraft. This project, part of the UK’s ASTRAEA programme, tackles the core technical challenge of flying unmanned aircraft in shared airspace without special restrictions. The problem is straightforward: current rules largely keep drones out of busy skies because no one has proven they can reliably avoid collisions or be controlled securely from a distance. ASTRAEA II – Separation Assurance and Control (SAC) focuses on three linked systems: the human factors of the ground control station, the security and integrity of the data link, and the aircraft’s own sense-and-avoid sensors. The team will demonstrate these technologies and work with the Civil Aviation Authority to help shape future regulations. If successful, the work could enable routine drone deliveries, agricultural surveys, or infrastructure inspections without closing airspace. The same technologies might also improve cockpit awareness for human pilots or eventually allow single-crew operation of large aircraft.

View original technical description
ASTRAEA is a unique programme that aims to open up new aerospace markets. The aim is to: Enable the routine use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in all classes of airspace without the need for restrictive or special conditions of operation Develop and demonstrate key technologies and operating procedures required to open up the airspace Support the development of the regulatory framework for this new class of operation Separation Assurance and Control addresses the particular technologies required to control the flying vehiclefrom the ground control station through the communication system to the sensors of the aircraft to ensure safe separation from other users. It particularly addresses the human factors of the ground control station, the security and integrity of the communication system and the vehicle’s sense and avoid sensor system. These technologies are specifically associated with flying vehicles. The project includes demonstrations and interaction with the CAA regulator. The technologies developed could also find application in manned aircraft. For example, increasing situation awarenessfor pilots or potentially enabling single crew operation of large aircraft.

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Original classification

Large Project

Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.