FAA puts $12 million behind 19 drone research projects
The FAA awarded $12 million to 19 companies and organizations through its UAS Broad Agency Announcement Program, funding real-world testing of detect-and-avoid, long-range communications, cargo and identity verification.
By DroneGeo ·
The Federal Aviation Administration is putting more money into the technologies it believes could help drones safely become a bigger part of US airspace. The agency has announced $12 million in awards for 19 companies and organizations working on drone research and testing projects.
The funding comes through the FAA's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Broad Agency Announcement Program, which supports commercial entities working with FAA-designated UAS Test Sites. The goal is to test technology in real-world conditions, collect better data, and work out what still needs to be solved before more drones can routinely share the National Airspace System with airplanes and other aircraft.
"The UAS Broad Agency Announcement Program gives us another way to directly work with industry and our test site partners on technologies that are critical to safe drone integration," FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said. The research, he added, will help the agency identify operational challenges and inform how drones can be safely integrated into the national airspace.
The projects cover a broad range of problems. General Atomics and OneRadio are working on technologies to help drones detect and avoid other aircraft, while Skydweller is developing onboard systems for large drones to perform similar functions. NAVMAR is working on systems intended to support the safe operation of larger drones.
Long-distance operations are another major theme. Censys Technologies will test satellite communications for long-range flights, Lighthouse Avionics is working on surveillance technology for extended drone routes, and Devorto Corporation is tackling the practical side of long-range cargo drone services.
Several projects focus on knowing exactly what is flying and where. DroneUp is developing a secure method for verifying a drone's identity and whether it has authorization to fly, while SPS Aerial Remote Sensing has multiple projects in the program.