World-leading UK research programme paves the way
for future civil unmanned aviation
The first flight demonstrating
how an unmanned aircraft can operate in all UK airspace has taken
place.
In April 2013, a Jetstream research aircraft completed a
500-mile flight through UK airspace while under the command of a
ground-based pilot and control of NATS air traffic controllers.
The return journey1, which was staged in conjunction
with NATS, used advanced sensors and on-board robotic systems to
control the aircraft once in the air.
Cobham is part of a consortium of seven major companies
leading the £62m project and is developing an automatic in-flight
refuelling system that could allow unmanned aircraft to operate
for extended periods of time, for example while undertaking SAR
operations far out at sea.
ASTRAEA Video
The flight is one of a number of significant technology
demonstrations2 conducted in recent weeks by ASTRAEA, a
world-leading UK research programme into the future of civilian
unmanned aircraft. Others include a pilot simultaneously
co-ordinating two small, unmanned aircraft in a simulated search
and rescue (SAR) mission; a team of specially equipped vehicles
replicating the demands of a secure and robust communications
network whilst driving through remote and mountainous Welsh
countryside; work to develop an automatic in-flight refuelling
system that could allow unmanned aircraft to operate for extended
periods of time for example while undertaking SAR operations far
out at sea; and the conversion of an engine test bed into an
intelligent and integrated power systems rig, successfully
demonstrating the complete autonomous operation of an unmanned
aircraft's propulsion and electrical system from start up to
shut down, including 'self-healing' to ensure the safety of the
aircraft.
Automatic in-flight refuelling
Unmanned Air-to-Air Refuelling
Read more about Cobham's
Autonomous Air-to-Air Refuelling development.
A key focal point in programme has been the development of a
Detect and Avoid (DAA) capability3 for unmanned aircraft
that is able to reliably perform both separation provision &
collision avoidance functions. A prototype system has been
developed in cognisance of the overarching requirement for unmanned
aircraft to operate in accordance with the rules and obligations
that apply to manned aircraft. The system architecture has
benefited from significant input from air safety experts as well as
the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
These tests, a result of seven years research, will in future
help British aerospace companies compete in the emerging civilian
unmanned aircraft market.
ASTRAEA (Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne
Evaluation & Assessment) was created in 2006 to research and
demonstrate how an unmanned aircraft could safely integrate itself
into airspace shared with other aircraft. It is unique in its
holistic approach to the problem, addressing the human-side of the
equation (legislation and the operational control of unmanned
aircraft), not just the technical challenges4.
Indeed, it is likely that many emerging technologies could be
used to make current manned aircraft operations even safer.

Image courtesy of BAE Systems
A consortium of seven major companies led the £62m project: AOS,
BAE Systems, Cassidian, Cobham, QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce and
Thales. The UK government through the Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills has provided grant support - encouraging both
industry and the regulatory authorities (the CAA) to ensure that
the new technologies and processes realise their potential and
demonstrate at least equivalence with manned aircraft safety
standards.
To date more than 100 companies and universities have
contributed to, and benefited from, the programme, including many
small to medium sized enterprises5. ASTRAEA has filed 12
multi-faceted patents and earned four prestigious industry awards
including the Institute of Engineering & Technology's Award for
Innovation in Telecommunications.
Commenting on the programme to date Business and Energy Minister
Michael Fallon said,
"We welcome this pioneering flight at the end of the ASTRAEA
programme. ASTRAEA has made significant achievements, placing the
UK industry in a good position globally on unmanned aircraft and
the development of regulations for their civil use."
Speaking to the way forward Simon Jewell, ASTRAEA Steering Board
chairman said,
"In order to build on the momentum generated by ASTRAEA over the
last seven years and preserve the unitary approach to supporting
the evolving regulatory environment in this important area, the
ASTRAEA consortium intend to continue to work closely with the
regulatory authorities in the UK, Europe and globally."
The Flying Testbed

Image courtesy of BAE
Systems
The BAE Systems' Jetstream, known as 'The Flying Testbed', is an
aerial laboratory. It's a unique aircraft which has been developed
to be flown by pilots or as an Uninhabited Air Vehicle (UAV). Racks
of computers and control systems in the rear of the aircraft,
together with satellite communications, mean it can fly as if it
were a UAV without any input from the pilots. This year it will
trial a range of new technologies to be developed under the ASTRAEA
programme, including what is believed to be the world's first
autonomous weather avoidance system, in addition to 'sense and
avoid' technologies and an autonomous emergency landing system.
[ENDS]
For more information, interviews and imagery contact:
Richard Knight
richard.knight@mettlpr.com
+44 (0) 7725 996 625
Jules Tipler
jules.tipler@mettlepr.com
+44 (0) 7811 166 796
For more information about Cobham's technology development for
ASTRAEA contact:
Richard Bourne
+44 (0)1202 857553
richard.bourne@cobham.com
Greg Caires
+1 703 414 5310
greg.caires@cobham.com
Notes
1
The return journey from Preston, North West England, to
Inverness, Scotland, was staged in conjunction with NATS (the UK's
En-Route Air Traffic Control Service provider), with the pilot,
based at Warton, Lancashire, using advanced sensors and on-board
robotic systems to control the aircraft once in the air
2
11 aircraft have flown more than 80 flights and recorded in
excess of 380 flight hours in the UK and mainland Europe. 800
miles have been flown by small unmanned aircraft.
3
Extensive DAA trials have been undertaken using prototype
equipment installed on both fixed and rotary wing aircraft to
exercise performance against representative 'intruder' types and
demanding encounter geometries. The DAA surrogate aircraft
flights were conducted both in the UK and the Netherlands using a
Metroliner trials platform provided by the Netherlands Research
Laboratories (NLR). Trials data has de-risked development of a
pre-production system for future trials.
4
ASTRAEA has generated a range of innovations that may find
application not only in unmanned aircraft but also in manned
aviation, and other sectors. These include autonomous 'detect
and avoid' systems capable of tracking up to 20,000 objects
simultaneously to prevent collisions with other aircraft, terrain
or man-made structures and intelligent power management systems
that can 'self-heal' to ensure the safety of the
aircraft.
5
AOS, the SME partner in the consortium, is now working with
Statoil ASA of Norway, the world's third-largest oil company, to
introduce intelligent and autonomous systems into their offshore
operations. The first target is offshore drilling, where current
systems are highly human-centric. Statoil's exposure to ASTRAEA
through AOS, including the work on autonomy and collaboration with
the regulator, has influenced Statoil's thinking in this area,
clearly demonstrating the spin-off benefits from the programme.