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Chip-Based ADS-B for High Density, Low Altitude UAV Operations
Completed
TRL 7 (started at 5, targeting 7)
Description
KalScott proposes to complete the development of a chip-based ADS-B for high-density, low-altitude UAV operations in the national airspace. This effort will consist of designing and fabricating a multi-band transceiver chip that can provide ADS-B functionality. In addition, the chip will also have the ability to port vehicle data into other formats for dissemination over multiple bands to enable integration into multi-vehicle missions. In Phase II, the components of this chip will be developed and tested individually, and then integrated into a final design as a single chip. This will be tested in the lab, on the ground in a moving vehicle, and finally in flight on KalScott's small UAV.
Benefits
The ADS-B chip can be integrated into several NASA UTM projects underway, aimed at the safe integration of UAVs into the national airspace. Discussions with the NASA COTR have identified insertion points for this technology. An interesting feature is the ability of this chip to serve as a bridge between ADS-B and other emerging IoT messaging protocols. This would enable exchange of information between aerial vehicles, ground vehicles, fixed nodes, etc. to support multi-node robotic/automated operations.
The ADS-B chip is aimed at the manufacturers and operators of civilian UAVs, specially small UAVs operated in dense urban environments. It can also be adapted for larger UAVs to enable ADS-B In/Out for longer range operations.
Details
| Technology area | Flight Vehicle Systems > Aeroscience > Aeroacoustics |
| Program | Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR) |
| Lead organization | KALSCOTT Engineering, Inc., Lawrence, KS |
| Start date | 2020-07-15 |
| End date | 2024-03-30 |
Project contacts
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
How to get involved
This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.