Drone Expos interviewed Vigilant Aerospace Systems CEO Kraettli L. Epperson about the company’s work on a “detect-and-avoid” (DAA) project for a new long-endurance uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) under development for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The effort is funded through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract and centers on integrating Vigilant Aerospace’s FlightHorizon PILOT system as a standards-compliant, onboard DAA capability for Group V UAS platforms.
In the article, Drone Expos describes the technical focus of the project as follows:
“The program is focused on integrating multiple onboard sensors with FlightHorizon PILOT to provide real-time traffic awareness and automated collision avoidance without reliance on ground infrastructure. The goal is to support long-endurance missions where onboard detect-and-avoid performance is essential for safe integration into shared airspace.”
The article outlines how the project applies multi-sensor data fusion and integrated DAA system design to address a key capability gap for long-endurance military and civil UAS programs. The discussion also addressed the broader operational and regulatory implications of scaling autonomous DAA capabilities as long-endurance military and civil UAS missions expand.
Read the full article in Drone Expos.
About Drone Expos
Drone Expos is an industry publication covering UAS, advanced air mobility, autonomy, and emerging aerospace technologies. The outlet focuses on technical developments, operational use cases, and regulatory issues affecting commercial, military, and public-sector drone operations.
About the Air Force Research Laboratory
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the United States Air Force and Space Force. AFRL conducts foundational and applied research across air, space, and cyber domains to advance next-generation capabilities for national defense.
Vigilant Aerospace is the leading developer of multi-sensor 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