uAvionix, a number one supplier of avionics options for uncrewed and crewed plane, introduced in the present day that it has been awarded a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Broad Company Announcement (BAA) contract to scale C-Band frequency administration for Uncrewed Plane Methods (UAS) Command and Management (C2) communications to a regional stage with a number of UAS working in proximity to 1 one other. The efforts mark a major step towards broad commercialization of UAS by permitting a number of UAS, from completely different corporations to function close to each other whereas sustaining dependable and deconflicted communications inside the restricted vary of spectrum out there for UAS operations.
“With the potential of tons of, if not 1000’s, of drones being employed in a area for every thing from medical supply and first response to shopper companies, it’s important that the communications hyperlinks with every plane are dependable and don’t endure efficiency points due to interference or congestion,” said Cyriel Kronenburg of uAvionix. “Unlicensed spectrum has excessive ranges of interference, so licensed spectrum is the reply, however licensed spectrum is proscribed and in the present day we management its use by assigning it to plane by way of a prolonged, handbook course of and that merely gained’t scale.”
UAS utilization of licensed aeronautical spectrum, similar to C-Band, for UAS C2 is presently completed by exception, requiring each Federal Communications Fee (FCC) and FAA approval. With this excessive bar for operation, many UAS flights presently rely solely on unlicensed spectrum, notably that within the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band the place excessive ranges of interference can affect C2 communications efficiency and reliability. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 directed the FAA and FCC to guage varied spectrum allocations for UAS C2, resulting in help for utilizing 5030 to 5091 MHz as licensed and guarded C-Band spectrum. Nonetheless, efficient spectrum administration is significant to make sure the restricted band is persistently and reliably allotted amongst a number of UAS working in the identical area.
Constructing on earlier collaboration with the FAA, uAvionix demonstrated a Dynamic Frequency Administration System (DFMS) for UAS C2 utilizing the protected C-Band spectrum. Beneath this new contract, uAvionix will reveal using DFMS as a Nationwide Airspace C-Band frequency administration utility that meets regulatory coverage and encourages industrial build-out of C2 Communications Service Supplier (C2CSP) infrastructure.
The demonstration will showcase how organizations can dynamically assign out there frequencies inside the protected C-Band spectrum to a number of UAS working close to one another utilizing the SkyLine Platform. These frequency assignments might be deconflicted and time-phased, guaranteeing constant and dependable C2 communications all through every flight.
This contract and the lately awarded FAA BAA for extending BVLOS operations in difficult terrain symbolize important progress within the commercialization of UAS operations and their integration into the Nationwide Airspace System. By way of the FAA and uAvionix collaboration, Past Visible Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations are nearer to being a day by day actuality whereas guaranteeing a safer and extra environment friendly UAS trade.
About uAvionix
uAvionix is a number one supplier of superior avionics options which are light-weight, compact, and designed to fulfill the wants of crewed and uncrewed aviation throughout the globe. Dedicated to security, effectivity, and innovation, uAvionix empowers aviators with the newest expertise, programs, and information to attain their mission in flight.
To be taught extra about uAvionix crewed and uncrewed services, please go to: www.uavionix.com