uAvionix, a provider of communications, navigation, and surveillance avionics for unmanned systems, announced it has been granted a new patent that aids safe and secure integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into National Airspace Systems (NAS). U.S. Patent 10,991,260, titled “Intelligent Non-Disruptive ADS-B Integration for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)” provides the ability for UAS to take advantage of the safety benefits of ADS-B while minimizing spectrum utilization.
uAvionix first revealed this concept in a 2018 white paper titled “ADS-B Inert and Alert – A Solution to the ADS-B Spectrum Concerns.” The Inert and Alert Concept preserves spectrum by allowing the onboard UAS ADS-B solution to remain “inert” in a non-broadcasting “listen” mode until a safety-critical event such as a C2 lost-link or other aircraft proximity triggers it to begin broadcasting its ADS-B position as an “alert”. Once the conditions are safe again, the system reverts again to its “inert” state.
“uAvionix is a firm believer in the benefits of a cooperative airspace for UAS integration,” said Christian Ramsey, President of uAvionix. “Recognizing the concerns of over-use of the spectrum by regulators – Inert and Alert is a means to leverage ADS-B for collision avoidance while significantly reducing those concerns.”
