drone

Nasa is planning to develop a tracking system for low-altitude drones to deliver crucial information to the operators.

The agency is exploring ways to communicate data to the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in flight, such as dynamic geo-fences or virtual barriers, which will provide operators with real-time information, including areas to be avoided, as well as other vehicles trying to operate in the same airspace.

Nasa safe autonomous systems operations project manager Parimal Kopardekar said: "The sky could become increasingly crowded as personal and commercial uses of UAS, commonly called drones, become more popular."

Nasa is leading the development of the cloud-based UAS traffic management (UTM) system based on its expertise aeronautics research, air traffic management, and collaborations with government, industry, and academic partners.

The UTM will bring together commercial innovation and Nasa’s air traffic management research, providing access to more technology for UTM applications.

Various companies in the UAS industry are working on different concepts to manage drone operations.

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The technologies being developed include systems to check UAS battery life and surrounding terrain, databases to keep UAS away from private residences, and prototypes for low-altitude tracking and avoidance systems.

" The sky could become increasingly crowded as personal and commercial uses of UAS become more popular."

More than 100 large and small organisations are working on the proposed low-altitude UTM.

Nasa said: "Still, there are research needs. Nasa continues to look for additional collaborators to address those needs."

The agency is currently evaluating use of cellphone tower technology to track both commercial and civilian aircraft.

Kopardekar added: "While these are only examples of the innovative commercial technologies being developed by companies that are working with Nasa, the secret to effective collaboration is individuality."

Image: Nasa is considering a new traffic management system for low-altitude airspace. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.