Unmanned drones. Photo: Shutterstock The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $12 million to 19 companies and organizations for research and testing projects aimed at safely expanding drone operations in the U.S. National Airspace System.
The funding was provided through the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Broad Agency Announcement Program, which supports companies working with FAA-designated UAS Test Sites to develop and evaluate technologies for integrating drones into the national airspace.
The awards support the federal government’s efforts to expand the use of American-made drone technology while addressing the challenges involved in operating more unmanned aircraft alongside traditional aviation.
Projects receiving funding cover a wide range of technologies. General Atomics and Skydweller are working on systems designed to help large drones detect and avoid other aircraft, while OneRadio Corporation is testing passive radar for aircraft avoidance.
Other projects focus on drone identification, communications, traffic management and visibility. DroneUp is developing a system to securely verify a drone’s identity and authorization to fly, while Censys Technologies is testing satellite communications for long-range drone operations.
Several projects involving ANRA Technologies will examine how drone traffic systems can interact with air taxi operations, vertiports and conventional air traffic systems.
The company is also working on technology using artificial intelligence to identify different types of drones.
The FAA said the research will provide additional data on drone operations and help regulators better understand operational challenges as they work toward wider integration of unmanned aircraft.
Other funded projects include long-range cargo drone operations, urban airspace management, surveillance of long-range drone routes, drone mission coordination and sensor performance testing.
The FAA currently has nine designated UAS Test Sites located across the United States, in Alaska, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma and Indiana. These sites provide locations for testing and evaluating technologies and operations before they can be considered for broader use in the national airspace.
At the end of August, the FAA announced the launch of Phase 2 of the BEYOND program in a new attempt to safely integrate drones into the National Airspace System.