Harris to develop BVLOS network for UAS

Harris Corporation will develop a network to enable beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations for UAS, the company announced on 28 February.

The work will be carried out under a Research North Dakota grant awarded by the North Dakota Centers of Excellence Commission. The University of North Dakota and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site will also work on the project.

The UAS network will be developed to support the full range of aviation-grade services for safe and efficient UAS BVLOS operations.

Under a previous grant work was carried out that included development and a risk and safety assessment of UAS detect-and-avoid technology. Harris is now working to create a regional infrastructure that is scalable to the whole state of North Dakota, and eventually to the entire US. Developing this high-performance networked infrastructure will help accelerate regulatory approval of BVLOS UAS operations.

George Kirov, vice president and general manager, commercial UAS solutions, Harris Electronic Systems, said: 'The use of UAS for business operations – such as remotely monitoring power lines, farms, and rail tracks – represents the future for many organizations.

'Harris is applying the same innovation and expertise that made us a leader in manned aircraft air traffic management solutions to integrate commercial UAS operations into the National Airspace System.'

Harris is looking to partner with end users, such as railroads and electric utility companies in the area, to create UAS test scenarios. As the project continues, Harris expects to test scenarios including railway inspection, roadway inspection, transmission line inspection, precision agriculture, public safety and emergency services, and expanded flight operations.