FlightHorizon PILOT-M
The Problem
Military uncrewed aircraft systems operate in mixed, dynamic airspace where crewed aircraft and other UAS can create collision risk. Visual see-and-avoid does not scale for BVLOS missions, and ground infrastructure is not always available. Programs need an onboard capability that can detect nearby traffic and provide clear guidance quickly.
The Solution
FlightHorizon PILOT-M is an onboard detect-and-avoid (DAA) software module built for military UAS integration. It combines cooperative and non-cooperative sensor inputs into a unified air picture, continuously evaluates separation, and generates prioritized resolution advisories for remote pilots or integrated flight control systems.
Aircraft and drone positions on one live map
Get a near real-time 3D air picture that tracks surrounding traffic and visualizes relative position and traffic movement.
Detect, Track, and Avoid
Standards-compliant automatic detection, tracking and avoidance commands, and resolutions advisories for onboard autopilot or remote pilots
Generate Resolution Advisories
Get live information on airspeed, altitude, heading, and automatic resolution advisories.
Onboard System
System allows UAS to carry their own onboard DAA system
Platform Agnostic
Works on any aircraft capable of carrying non-cooperative air traffic sensors; Highly compact system, low-power DAA computer thats configurable to most airframes
Product Highlights
"Safety-As-A-Service"
- Industry leading experience in design, development, installation, and validation of DAA systems.
- Applies across multiple aircraft types and operational profiles.
- Reduces integration complexity, delivery risk, and total project cost.
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Platform Agnostic
- Uses a highly compact form factor.
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Runs on a low-power DAA computer.
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Configurable across most airframes and operational environments.
Plug-And-Play Integration
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Supports ADS-B In receivers and compatible transponders.
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Integrates via Ethernet and/or USB, depending on hardware configuration.
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Enables rapid, flexible integration across platforms.
Core Capabilities
- Multi-sensor data inputs. Correlates platform telemetry, ADS-B in, and radar tracks into a unified air picture.
- Near real-time conflict detection. Evaluates proximity and closure rates against configurable thresholds.
- Resolution advisories. Provides avoidance guidance to a remote pilot interface or an integrated flight control system.
- Autopilot integration support. Enables automated deconfliction pathways when integrated and authorized.
- Logging and traceability. Supports post-mission review, safety analysis, and test reporting.
Selected Projects
Air Force Research Lab Project
FlightHorizon PILOT was used in an Air Force Research Laboratory SBIR program to build and test an onboard detect-and-avoid capability for long-endurance UAS, combining multiple radars to track nearby aircraft in real time and generate automatic avoidance guidance under real-world conditions.
Technical Information
- Single-board aviation computer with connections via onboard network to autopilot and radars; Flexible autopilot and GCS integration
- Economical SWaP-C, suitable for Group III, IV & V platforms
- Aviation-grade hardware components including installation to MIL-STD-810 or RTCA DO-160 compliant equipment
- Modern, enterprise-grade software components including enterprise-class onboard database, real-time data parsing and queueing engine, best-in-class alerting and warning algorithms with dynamic prioritization
- Onboard data logging for all telemetry, sensor, transponder and DAA feeds
- Rapid integration of new autopilots & sensors with modular software add-on
- Uses DAIDALUS II algorithms for support of ACAS X, Xu and sXu and RTCA DO-365C Change 1 technical standards; Designed to be ASTM F3442-25 Detect-and-Avoid technical standard compliant
- Full standards compliance may depend on hardware and configuration
Mission Applications
- Test and training ranges. Supports mixed crewed and uncrewed traffic environments.
- Operational BVLOS missions. Provides onboard separation support where ground infrastructure is limited.
- Manned-unmanned teaming. Improves deconfliction for multi-asset operations.
- Autonomy risk reduction. Supports safety cases for advanced concepts of operation (CONOPS).
Integration And Deployment
FlightHorizon PILOT-M is designed for integration on military UAS platforms.
Connectivity supports onboard networks and common telemetry architectures.
Inputs can include cooperative surveillance and non-cooperative sensing.
Vigilant Aerospace Systems supports integration, configuration, and flight test validation.