Low SWaP-C FAA Compliant UAV Navigation

NASA is responsible for breakthrough research to assure that adding UAS to the US Airspace is safe to both manned and unmanned aircraft. The FAA has made new rules that restrict small consumer and commercial UAS from operating beyond line of sight and over 500 feet in altitude but present day UAS controllers do not enforce these rules in hardware, and manual pilots cannot assure compliance with present day small UAS controls. Furthermore, while many UAS have GPS awareness, they have virtually no awareness of potential collision events. We propose to develop and demonstrate a collision safe and FAA rules enforcing UAS controller technology and make it available widely for consumer UAS licensing for low cost. Small outdoor UAVs for surveillance, small payload transport, and other applications are readily available in the commercial market and are remaking the lower altitude airspace. These units navigate through direct teleoperation within line of sight of the operator and controller. Some units also include GPS navigation so that they can accurately station-keep or move to a predetermined location and altitude. The missing technology for this kind of autonomous operation is obstacle detection and avoidance integrated with controls in a low SWaP-C form factor.

NASA performs aviation research to improve the operation of UAVs in civilian and military airspace. This sensor will provide improved autonomy in both areas. It also will be extended to support ground rovers and air vehicles used in advanced planetary exploration in the future.

To commercialize this technology in the private sector, we will follow a strategy that has proven successful for us in the past. We will start by identifying those parties who have a vested interest in this technology (for instance the Defense Department UAV users community. After identifying interested parties, we will arrange partnerships with one or more of these vendors whereby we will receive royalties on the sale of products incorporating our technology. The licensing arrangements will be strengthened by our existing patents and existing technology. We will also partner with organizations to make a consumer UAV version of the technology for direct sale as commercial uses of FAA compliant UAVs become more common.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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.