Reliable Robotics, a leader in autonomous aircraft systems, today announced a contract with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to execute data collection flights of its Detect and Avoid (DAA) system in and around airport environments. Reliable is developing an industry-leading DAA system, including an advanced Air-to-Air Radar (ATAR). Reliable was selected for this contract based on the Technical Readiness Level of its system.

This contract will demonstrate Reliable’s comprehensive DAA solution for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) in controlled and uncontrolled airspace in compliance with FAA-accepted standards. In 2017, the FAA published Technical Standard Orders (TSO) detailing how DAA systems, including ATAR, can be certified. The Reliable DAA system on board a UAS is designed to maintain a safe distance from other aircraft by performing both Remain Well Clear (RWC) and Collision Avoidance (CA) against cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft. During test flights, as part of the contract, Reliable will evaluate the system’s ability to provide alerts and maneuvering guidance for remote pilots during in-air conflicts. The data collected will be shared with RTCA Special Committee 228 (SC-228) and Special Committee 147 (SC-147) to inform the validation of the next set of standards for advanced DAA systems.

“Compliance to consensus-based technical standards is critical to reducing certification risk and ensuring interoperability,” said Juerg Frefel, Co-founder and CTO at Reliable Robotics.

Reliable will collaborate with one of the FAA’s UAS Test Sites, the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP). MAAP has a track record of success with test planning efforts and the provision of data to the FAA to inform UAS integration. Flight tests will begin in 2025.

In 2023, Reliable demonstrated UAS operations of a Cessna C208B Caravan without a pilot on board, and earlier that year flew that same aircraft as part of the FAA Urban Air Mobility Airspace Management Demonstration project.