Project "Gold Dragon" - airborne detect-and-avoid for BVLOS drones enabling integration with new aviation systems

该项目的主要目标是加速开发和测试基于微型雷达的机载探测和规避解决方案，用于小型/轻型无人机，使其能够与新的航空系统集成。我们的目标是在未来飞行挑战赛第二阶段结束前获得在非隔离空域进行超视距（BVLOS）操作的批准，以便我们能够为第三阶段做出更广泛的贡献，并期待开始商业无人机服务。Snowdonia Aerospace将与SwiftFlight Avionics合作，我们最近作为一个团队合作，拥有重要的BVLOS经验。Snowdonia Aerospace和SwiftFlight Avionics最近展示了卫星支持的通信和导航系统如何为小型无人机提供多冗余，故障安全的航空电子架构，解决常规和常规操作所需的许多BVLOS问题。该研究在Snowdonia航空航天中心（SAC）与威尔士救护车服务合作在隔离空域进行了成功的BVLOS演示，展示了通过无人机向偏远/农村地区提供微型除颤器的概念验证，这些地区很难及时到达救护车。为了解决在非隔离空域运行所需的额外监视要求，我们进一步确定了一种微型探测和规避雷达，它代表了小型/轻型无人机探测和规避的最新技术，在英国环境和监管环境中测试任何一种都将是一项重大创新。我们已经调整了我们的航空电子架构，以适应雷达，并确定了一个稍大的双引擎无人机的设计方案，这将为我们的下一阶段测试提供更大的有效载荷灵活性。该团队将利用制造商提供的先前的检测和规避模拟数据，并将在SAC进行验证和验证飞行测试，最初使用超视距危险区域，以确保试验可以在安全、受控和具有操作代表性的环境中进行。SAC还将提供通用航空（GA）资产作为“入侵者”飞机，以测试检测和避免能力。我们已经通过最近的演示活动与威尔士救护车服务建立了成功的关系，并将继续优先考虑偏远和农村社区的医疗服务，作为该项目的一部分，沿着更广泛的NHS威尔士网络。在SAC提供的操作环境中进行飞行测试也将使我们能够让其他潜在的应急响应利益相关者参与进来-例如警察，消防，警卫搜索和救援，山地救援等。- 我们已经开始接触，以满足他们的关键需求。

The primary objective for this project is to accelerate development and testing of a micro radar-based airborne detect-and-avoid solution for small/light drones enabling integration with new aviation systems. Our aim is to achieve approval for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations in non-segregated airspace by the end of Future Flight Challenge Phase 2 so we can contribute more widely to Phase 3 and also look to start commercial drone services. Snowdonia Aerospace will be partnered by SwiftFlight Avionics and we have significant recent BVLOS experience working together as a team.Snowdonia Aerospace and SwiftFlight Avionics have recently shown how satellite-enabled communication and navigation systems can contribute to a multiple redundant, fail-safe avionics architecture for a small drone that addresses many of the BVLOS issues required for regular and routine operation. The study concluded in a successful BVLOS demonstration in segregated airspace at the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre (SAC) in partnership with the Welsh Ambulance Service that showed proof-of-concept for delivery of a mini-defibrillator via drone to a remote/rural location that would be difficult to reach with an ambulance in a timely fashion. To address the additional surveillance requirements needed for operating in non-segregated airspace, we have further identified a micro detect-and-avoid radar that represents the state-of-the-art in small/light drone detect-and-avoid and testing either one in a UK environment and regulatory context will be a major innovation. We have adapted our avionics architecture to accommodate a radar and identified design options for a slightly larger twin-engine drone that will give us greater payload flexibility for the next phase of testing.The team will draw upon previous detect-and-avoid simulation data provided by the manufacturer and will conduct verification and validation flight testing at SAC, initially using the BVLOS Danger Area to ensure that testing can be conducted in a safe, controlled and operationally representative environment. SAC will also provide general aviation (GA) assets as "intruder" aircraft to test the detect-and-avoid capability.We have already built a successful relationship with the Welsh Ambulance Service via our recent demonstration activities and will continue to prioritise health services in remote and rural communities as part of this project along with the wider NHS Wales network. Flight testing in the operational environment provided at SAC will also allow us to involve other potential emergency response stakeholders - _e.g._ Police, Fire, Coastguard Search and Rescue, Mountain Rescue _etc_. - and we have already begun engagements to capture their key requirements.