Vigilant Aerospace Systems, the leading provider of multi-sensor, standards-compliant detect-and-avoid (DAA) and airspace management systems for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) hosted a live Demonstration Day on December 2, 2022 at Oklahoma State University’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Station near Glencoe, Oklahoma.
Set in the gently rolling hills of north central Oklahoma, the UAFS event showcased the latest capabilities of the company’s flagship product, FlightHorizon COMMANDER, including repeated multi-drone encounters tracked with radar and providing collision avoidance. Visitors included state legislative, governmental, industry and research leadership.
The encounter aircraft were small UAS provided and flown by OSU’s Unmanned Systems Research Institute (now OAIRE), with an altitude safety offset, in addition to the collision avoidance system.
The demonstrated DAA system included the FlightHorizon COMMANDER software running on a laptop, radio connections to telemetry from the “ownship” drone, a portable ground-based radar, and transponder receivers. The system delivered real-time aircraft tracking, trajectory calculations, collision warnings and automatic resolution advisories.
For more detailed information on FlightHorizon, check out the company’s products and services page.
With an impressive turnout and an overwhelmingly positive response, the Demo Day marked a significant milestone for the UAS industry and for Vigilant Aerospace’s mission to educate and inform the aviation and UAS leadership in Oklahoma on advanced use of drone technology and emerging aviation safety technologies.
Real Aircraft Encounters, Real DAA
The highlight of the Vigilant Aerospace Demo Day was the demonstration of FlightHorizon’s capabilities in utilizing radar, telemetry, and ADS-B data inputs to provide a real-time picture of the aircraft in flight. The demonstration involved more than 30 aircraft encounters and continuous radar, telemetry and ADS-B tracking over more than 6 hours, including a lunch break with a system overview presentation and Q&A.
Attendees witnessed firsthand how the system seamlessly integrated these critical data sources, enabling pilots to receive specific avoidance commands where trajectory predictions indicated a potential loss of well-clear safety distances and to make well-informed decisions in real-time. By providing a comprehensive view of the airspace, FlightHorizon equips aviation professionals with the necessary tools to mitigate risks and take appropriate corrective actions early.
Attendance and Positive Reception
The event garnered significant attention, with regional aviation industry executives, drone operators, investors, researchers, and state political leadership attending. Attendees included representatives of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Department, the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority, regional and national venture capital firms, manufacturers of large miliary UAS, operators of small UAS and national leaders of major UAS research programs and centers, including the US Department of Defense Counter-UAS Center of Excellence. The attendance reflected growing public interest in the UAS industry and advanced technology to enable the safe use of drones.
Appreciation and Next Steps
Vigilant Aerospace is deeply grateful to Oklahoma State University and especially to the Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI, now OAIRE), Executive Director Jamey Jacob and the whole USRI team.
Vigilant Aerospace plans another major demonstration event in Oklahoma for late 2023, in addition to numerous events, presentations, partnership events and demonstrations throughout the US in 2023.
About the OSU Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI)
Unmanned vehicles have become a revolutionary technology that is taking the world by storm. The OSU Unmanned Systems Research Institute (now OAIRE) accesses expertise across Oklahoma State University allowing them to combine cutting edge product development with academic knowledge and resources to create unique solutions to critical problems.
Vigilant Aerospace is the leading developer of detect-and-avoid and airspace management software for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS or drones). The company’s product, FlightHorizon, is based on two NASA patents and uses data from multiple sources to display a real-time picture of the air traffic around a UAS and to provide automatic avoidance maneuvers to prevent collisions. The software is designed to meet industry technical standards, to provide automatic safety and to allow UAS to safely fly beyond the sight of the pilot. The software has won multiple industry awards and the company has had contracts and users at NASA, the FAA, the U.S. Department of Defense and with a variety of drone development programs. Visit our website at www.VigilantAerospace.com