Securing drone traffic

One S&T-supported counter-drone system in development, the Urban Counter-UAS Operational Prototype (UCOP), will be connected to UTM via the aforementioned DHS USS. The UCOP USS software processes flight information and notes any drones not identified as registered in UTM.

“If you have eleven drones in the air, but UTM only has ten of them registered, we can look further at what the eleventh drone is doing,” said Jeff Randorf, an S&T engineering advisor. “We’ll be able to query who is flying and find out specifics that support the interests of Homeland Security and the rest of the homeland security enterprise.”

Through the Low Altitude Authorization Notification Capability (LAANC) drone operators can get authorization(s) in near real-time to operate in controlled airspace, eliminating a sometimes days- or months-long manual process. UTM USS’s that are integrated with LAANC will communicate with each other over the Internet while operators connect to a USS via mobile devices, wired internet, or other electronic means.  Core features of a USS interface will be automated communication with FAA information systems, notification of events in airspace, and sharing of operational plans to de-conflict flights. Other services may be offered by a USS or other data providers and may include monitoring of weather and terrain data.

S&T’s USS and UCOP systems will work to ensure drones that are not authenticated receive special attention while flying in the national airspace.

Flying forward
NASA’s UTM system can serve as a resource to help counter any illicit drone activity arising from a higher volume of drone traffic, and the DHS USS, paired with UCOP and other tools like it is a step further in that effort.

Drone demonstrations and trials through S&T’s Robotic Aircraft Sensor Program (RASP) will provide DHS and suppliers of drone technologies a picture of how law enforcement drones will function in the national airspace, UCOP and other counter-UAS systems connected to UTM will help DHS, Department of Defense (DoD) and First Responders keep the national airspace safe.

“The community of stakeholders around small aircraft in lower altitudes has kicked up,” said Joseph Rios, Chief Engineer of the NASA UTM project. “UTM will create a system for enabling safe, efficient access to low-altitude airspace.”

S&T notes that UTM began as a NASA concept and evolved to a NASA research project that continues today.  This research is building the theoretical foundation for getting drones operating in airspace not typically controlled by FAA Air Traffic Control. “Through S&T’s work with DoD, NASA and the FAA, there is a pathway to support a stronger security posture in our nation’s skies,” S&T says.