Critical Drone Safety Technology Granted Patent

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Unmanned aerial vehicles’ remote identification (RID) functionality has become one of three technologies, along with command and control (C2), and Detect and Avoid (DAA), critical to enabling safe and secure UAV operations over people and beyond visual line of sight. RID has often been referred to as the “digital license plate” which protects the operator’s anonymity from the public while simultaneously providing for accountability to the regulator and authorities.  This is accomplished by transmission of position information and registration information of both the aircraft and the remote pilot.  While transmission of this data can be accomplished over mobile networks, air-to-air broadcast functionality is critical for delivery of this information in rural areas and as an aid to DAA.

uAvionix, specializing in communications, navigation, and surveillance avionics for unmanned systems, has been granted a new patent critical to safe and secure integration of UAVs into National Airspace Systems.  

The patent addresses the critical need for direct air-to-air transmission of UAV identification information without requiring intermediary infrastructure such as cellular, satellite, or internet connectivity.

According to uasweekly.com, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to publish its final RID rule by the end of 2020. In its draft Notice of Public Rulemaking (NPRM), the FAA requires broadcast RID capability to be a component of the “Standard” RID type, which is required for any UAV which flies greater than 400’ (122 m) in any direction from the control station.