Reliable Robotics, an autonomous aircraft system developer, and Daedalean, a machine learning provider for safety critical avionics, have established a partnership to build advanced navigation and situational awareness systems for commercial aircraft operations. The proprietary solution enables onboard pilots and remote pilots to make faster, better informed decisions based on the advanced sensors provided by the system.

During their most recent flight tests last month, Reliable Robotics demonstrated pioneering capabilities of their systems by remotely piloting a Cessna 208 Caravan from a control centre in their headquarters over 50 miles away. In 2019, the company made aviation history operating a remotely piloted Cessna 172 Skyhawk over a populated region with no one on board, and subsequently demonstrated fully automated landing of the larger Cessna 208 in 2020 on the third day of flight testing.

Daedalean has developed unrivaled machine learning applications based on comprehensive situational awareness that meet and surpass aviation safety level standards defined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Their work with EASA examining high performance machine learning algorithms for safety-critical applications resulted in the joint publishing of Concepts of Design Assurance for Neural Networks.

"Reliable Robotics has the most credible system for remote piloted operations with immediate applications for cargo operators," says Dr. Luuk van Dijk, Founder and CEO of Daedalean. "Our team has developed advanced machine learning that can adapt to the inherent uncertainties in airspace and increasing levels of onboard autonomy. Bringing our core competencies together was a logical next step to jointly develop a solution set that makes aircraft safer."

"Both companies have been built on the principle that certification is paramount from day one," says Robert Rose, Co-founder and CEO of Reliable Robotics. "Daedalean is the recognised leader when it comes to developing machine learning systems within the required regulatory framework. This is not a domain where you build something first and then figure out how to certify it later."

Advanced navigation and SA systems will reduce pilot workload, are an enabling technology for many types of remote piloting and provide a clear enhancement beyond existing safety margins. Reliable Robotics and Daedalean are committed to deploying this technology in an incremental manner to enable safer flight operations globally.