The data collection flights in and around the terminal area of Hollister Municipal Airport (KCVH) in California are intended to guide the FAA and standardization bodies in their quest to safely integrate larger UAS models. The FAA has regulations for small UAS, such as delivery drones, but they do not cover models weighing over 55 pounds.

Reliable Robotics on Tuesday shared details on the flight test campaign, which gauged how a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan equipped with its detect and avoid (DAA) system separated from and avoided collisions with an ?intruder” aircraft. The testing marks the completion of a contract the FAA awarded in 2024.

Reliable’s DAA system is built around the FAA’s ACAS X technology’a more sophisticated version of Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) designed to improve alerting and minimize nuisance alerts. ACAS Xu is the version of the system for uncrewed, fixed-wing models, such as the company’s Caravan testbed.

Combined with Reliable’s air-to-air radar and sensors, the ACAS Xu-based DAA platform helps a remote pilot steer clear of all other aircraft. It receives data from cooperative as well as noncooperative radars, which track aircraft without onboard avionics. That means the system can detect aircraft that are not broadcasting their position. It is designed for IFR operations in all classes of airspace. Traffic, alerting, and guidance are displayed for the remote pilot.

Reliable said it found that the ?behavior and output” of ACAS X changed between en route and terminal airspace, ?confirming an important adjustment that pilots under IFR make to interoperate with VFR aircraft.” The campaign used two aircraft’Reliable’s DAA-equipped Caravan, N927FE, and an instrumented Cessna 182 Skylane.

The Caravan navigated more than 50 scripted ?encounters” with the Skylane on a converging flight path, feigning a loss of safe separation. It was commanded by a remote pilot from about 50 miles away but flew area navigation (RNAV) approaches under ?full control” of Reliable’s automation system, the company said. The remote pilot and intruder pilot coordinated closely to ensure the aircraft did not actually come within an unsafe distance.