The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has publicly released a detailed technical report on Mosaic ATM’s pioneering project, conducted in collaboration with the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (VT MAAP) and the Wireless Research Center of North Carolina (WRC). This twelve-month joint effort marks a significant step toward safely integrating small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS).
The project, funded by the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office (UASIO) under the Broad Agency Announcement program, demonstrated and validated a prototype Detect and Avoid (DAA) system using Remote Identification (RID) technology. The system was designed explicitly for drone-to-drone encounters, making it the first of its kind.
Key highlights of the project include:
- RID-Based DAA Demonstration: The team conducted a six-day flight test at the FAA-designated UAS test site in Virginia, showcasing 36 drone vs. drone encounters that tested a variety of avoidance logics, including ACAS sXu and DO-365, and operational concepts such as automatic execution of resolution advisories (auto RAs) and returns to course (auto RTCs).
- Evidence-Based Small Well Clear (sWC) Recommendations: A high-fidelity, fast-time encounter simulation provided the FAA with data-driven recommendations for defining sWC parameters tailored to sUAS encounters, balancing safety and operational performance.
This research furthers the FAA’s mission to integrate UAS into the NAS by proving the feasibility of RID-based DAA and supporting the expansion of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. The work provides critical tools like risk contour maps that allow the FAA to adapt safety guidelines to specific operational environments.
Mosaic ATM’s leadership in UAS integration builds on two decades of cutting-edge research and innovation in air transportation systems. By combining advanced technology, user-centered design, and operational expertise, Mosaic ATM continues to push the boundaries of aviation safety and efficiency.
The full technical report, which provides a comprehensive overview of this milestone achievement, is now available on the FAA’s website.
Stay tuned as Mosaic ATM continues to lead advancements in UAS technology and safe airspace integration.
