Unmanned Airspace has published coverage of Vigilant Aerospace Systems’ latest radar testing for FlightHorizon PILOT-M, the company’s onboard “detect-and-avoid” (DAA) software for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). The October 2, 2026, article by Kylie Bielby highlights testing focused on radar tracking and filtering under movement and vibration, including successful tracking of multiple Cessna 172-class aircraft at approximately two kilometers.
The article also describes the project’s support from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) and collaboration with Oklahoma State University’s Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE). The testing is part of a $1 million development project supported in part through OCAST’s Industry Innovation Program.
Coverage Highlights Radar Filtering Performance
Unmanned Airspace’s report focuses on a practical challenge for onboard radar: distinguishing aircraft from unwanted returns while the sensor itself is moving. Ground features, vegetation and buildings can produce radar returns that must be filtered without removing actual airborne traffic.
Movement and vibration introduce additional complexity because stationary objects can appear to change position between radar updates. The latest testing evaluated the system’s ability to reject these unwanted tracks while retaining aircraft tracks.
During airborne evaluation, FlightHorizon PILOT-M processed radar data onboard and relayed tracks to a ground display. The tests exercised the sensors, computing, communications, data flow and power systems together under flight conditions.
This work builds on the software’s existing filtering capabilities, extending evaluation across a wider range of motion and vibration conditions. The resulting data supports continued refinement and the next phase of integration and testing on larger fixed-wing UAS.
Onboard Awareness for Mixed Airspace
FlightHorizon PILOT-M uses Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast In (ADS-B In) and onboard radar to monitor cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft. “Cooperative” traffic provides usable electronic position information. Onboard radar adds awareness of aircraft that are not broadcasting that information, addressing a limitation of cooperative surveillance alone.
The software evaluates nearby traffic for potential conflicts and provides avoidance guidance to a remote pilot or integrated autopilot. Its onboard architecture brings traffic awareness and conflict evaluation onto the aircraft, supporting operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
The radar testing builds on earlier FlightHorizon PILOT milestones involving onboard computing, autopilot integration, traffic tracking and ground-station displays. Previous demonstrations included calculating trajectories and issuing alerts and avoidance commands from an onboard single-board computer. The current work concentrates on refining radar performance within that broader DAA capability.
Research and Flight-Testing Collaboration
OAIRE provides engineering support and flight-testing resources for the project at Oklahoma State University’s Uncrewed Aircraft Flight Station. The collaboration continues a multiyear working relationship focused on DAA technology, airspace integration and BVLOS safety.
The broader project supports platform integration and evaluation of onboard safety functions for civilian uncrewed aircraft. Flight-test data helps the partners assess system behavior under operational conditions and refine integration across aircraft platforms.
Read the full article here
About Unmanned Airspace
Unmanned Airspace is an online news and analysis publication covering uncrewed aircraft traffic management, counter-UAS, urban air mobility and space traffic management. Its reporting serves aviation authorities, government agencies, aircraft operators and technology providers. The publication is published and edited by Philip Butterworth-Hayes.
About OCAST
OCAST supports technology development and commercialization in Oklahoma. Its Industry Innovation Program funds company-led projects with potential economic impact in sectors including aerospace, autonomous systems and defense, biotechnology and energy diversification.
About Oklahoma State University’s OAIRE
OAIRE brings together Oklahoma State University researchers, engineers and industry partners to support aerospace research, testing and education. Its areas of work include autonomous systems, advanced air mobility, airspace integration and aerospace sustainment.
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