Raytheon and AirMap collaborate on safe drone integration into the national airspace system

[rcdancer]

Raytheon (the company I work for) is going to collaborate with Airmap on integrating drones into the national airspace system

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has signed a strategic agreement with AirMap, the leading global airspace intelligence platform for drones, to collaborate on future projects to safely integrate unmanned aerial systems, commonly referred to as drones, into the national airspace system and unlock the positive economic and social benefits of expanded commercial drone operations.

"AirMap is ushering in a new era in drone aviation," said Matt Gilligan, vice president of Raytheon's Intelligence, Information and Services business. "Drones must safely operate in an already complex ecosystem, which is where our experience matters."

The agreement combines the two companies' expertise:

• Raytheon's Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System, or STARS, is used by air traffic controllers across the U.S. to provide safe and efficient aircraft spacing and sequencing guidance for more than 40,000 departing and arriving aircraft daily at both civilian and military airports.
• AirMap is the leading global provider of airspace intelligence for UAS operations, with over 250,000 registered users. In 2018, the majority of U.S. registered commercial drone pilots used AirMap to request over 45,000 automated authorizations to fly in controlled airspace.

Raytheon: Raytheon and AirMap collaborate on safe drone integration into the national airspace system - Jun 19, 2019

Operates four businesses. Technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world.

raytheon.mediaroom.com

 

[PatR]

So Raytheon has entered an agreement with a DJI subsidiary. What a deal.

That will not get any traction with military agencies, which makes little sense with military agencies being Raytheon’s bread and butter.

 

[LUIS MARTINEZ]

I am still searching for a reason to use Airmap.....

 

[PatR]

Something I’m starting to suspect in the drone industry has a desire for a few big companies to establish control of the industry in one manner or another moving forward. There’s been way too many acquisitions and partnering agreements which bodes ill for the people actually buying and using equipment.

 

[Dave Pitman]

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has signed a strategic agreement with AirMap, the leading global airspace intelligence platform for drones, to collaborate on future projects to safely integrate unmanned aerial systems, commonly referred to as drones, into the national airspace system and unlock the positive economic and social benefits of expanded commercial drone operations.

AirMap generally sucks. I don't know a lot about Raytheon, but I have to wonder why Raytheon leadership thinks they need AirMap if they want to work in this space? Makes me think Raytheon doesn't do their homework.

No offense meant to you at all. Just sayin'

 

[Lensupthere]

So Raytheon has entered an agreement with a DJI subsidiary. What a deal.

DJI dropped AirMap back in 2018 (AirMap was never a part of DJI) DJI Refines Geofencing and Ditches AirMap for PrecisionHawk

 

[Lensupthere]

...I have to wonder why Raytheon leadership thinks they need AirMap if they want to work in this space?

AirMap just appointed Former FCC Chair to their board. Former FCC Chair Tom Wheeler Joins AirMap Board to Help Shape Future Unmanned Airspace Economy

Airmap is actually working to connect all the dots that are needed to make shared airspace happen. Chances are they are able to play better with others where an old huge established Raytheon would scare a bunch of folks/companies off.

Having been to a few of their AUVSI parties, I've met plenty of players/companies/agencies that support AirMap's effort.

It's not going to be easy though, and other efforts (e.g. NASA's UTM) are going far more slowly than they anticipated (talked to them at AUVSI this year about their progress).

 

[PatR]

AirMap has almost always been leveraged by DJI. Had not DJI pumped a whole bunch of money into the company to provide a map service, enabling the development of DJI’s GEO flight limiting software, AirMap would have died on the vine almost three years ago. DJI may have ceased using their map software for something with a reasonable level of accuracy but I’m certain they have not divested themselves of association.

I can see where Raytheon would invest in AirMap to take control of their LAANC services contract. Faster and cheaper that going through the process on their own. There’s going to be a lot of fees collected from drone operators seeking airspace access.

 

[Lensupthere]

DJI may have ceased using their map software for something with a reasonable level of accuracy but I’m certain they have not divested themselves of association.

DJI still uses AirMap for other services, though AirMap is not "a DJI subsidiary".

 

[R.P..R]

DJI still uses AirMap for other services, though AirMap is not "a DJI subsidiary".

You will quickly learn that @PatR does not like DJI [emoji23]

 

[R.P..R]

And you will quickly learn RPR likes to bash![emoji2961]

On Yuneec incompetence, yes. As a construction operator, you should learn about your craft and how it works. I’ve supported Yuneec to the extent that it’s deemed unsafe and I’m done being a consumer beta tester for a dying company.

 

[LUIS MARTINEZ]

 

[PatR]

I’ve never sat down to dinner with DJI management, so no, I don’t get along with them as well as RPR does.

To be crystal clear, DJI makes some great products but, IMHO, their corporate policies and nanny ware suck hind teat. i’ve used their hardware and like it but the other stuff I can do without.

 

[R.Perry]

I really think you all are missing something here. STARS is used by ATC to control air traffic. Eventually non military UAVs will be integrated into the ATC system. We are eventually going to see UAV aircraft that have extended ranges and can be used for a variety of operations. Today if I want to fly into controlled airspace I need to file a flight plan with ATC, they make sure I can get into or out of that controlled airspace safely.
I think what you will eventually see is ATC being able to send a UAV updated flight plans without interaction with the PIC, that is the only way I can see UAV aircraft working in strictly controlled airspace. The other issue is how much air traffic can ATC handle in a air space that has a high volume of traffic already.
Example, lets say you want to send a UAV to the roof of a building in down town San Francisco from somewhere a hundred or so miles away. The flight if filed with ATC, ATC then gives you a clearance. With that clearance they give you headings, altitudes, and a transponder code. You launch the UAV and send it on it's way. In flight a course change is needed, ATC sends the course change directly to the UAV most likely using the transponder code as access to the UAV flight computer. Yes I can also see potential dangers in that, but I'm sure they can be dealt with.

As for AirMap, if they are hooked up with Ratheon they will become better in the future.

This is purely just an assumption on my part, but I can see where it could become reality. Look at our airline pilots today, they don't fly, the flight computer does.

 

[LUIS MARTINEZ]

I really think you all are missing something here. STARS is used by ATC to control air traffic. Eventually non military UAVs will be integrated into the ATC system. We are eventually going to see UAV aircraft that have extended ranges and can be used for a variety of operations. Today if I want to fly into controlled airspace I need to file a flight plan with ATC, they make sure I can get into or out of that controlled airspace safely.
I think what you will eventually see is ATC being able to send a UAV updated flight plans without interaction with the PIC, that is the only way I can see UAV aircraft working in strictly controlled airspace. The other issue is how much air traffic can ATC handle in a air space that has a high volume of traffic already.
Example, lets say you want to send a UAV to the roof of a building in down town San Francisco from somewhere a hundred or so miles away. The flight if filed with ATC, ATC then gives you a clearance. With that clearance they give you headings, altitudes, and a transponder code. You launch the UAV and send it on it's way. In flight a course change is needed, ATC sends the course change directly to the UAV most likely using the transponder code as access to the UAV flight computer. Yes I can also see potential dangers in that, but I'm sure they can be dealt with.

As for AirMap, if they are hooked up with Ratheon they will become better in the future.

This is purely just an assumption on my part, but I can see where it could become reality. Look at our airline pilots today, they don't fly, the flight computer does.

Look at our airline pilots today, they don't fly, the flight computer does. Ain't that the truth...people have died over this.

 

[R.Perry]

Look at our airline pilots today, they don't fly, the flight computer does. Ain't that the truth...people have died over this.

You want to know the truth, in most cases the flight computer is better than the pilots. The problem is once you becomes so dependent on the flight computers you lose your piloting skills. For instance when I got my flight training we were taught spin recovery, not any more, most CFI will not attempt to teach spin recovery.

 

[LUIS MARTINEZ]

The automated systems are better than the humans...when they work properly. You ever read about the nightmare of Quantas flight 72? Freaking "HAL" took over the Airbus 330 from the pilots and almost kill everyone on board.I just read the book, scary.

We've had serious crashes where the pilots' airmanship sucked because they were used to flying in full automation and lacked basic manual skills (AirFrance 447, for example). But in the Quantas flight the pilots understood the problem but in attempting to recover, the computer actually fought their flight controls inputs. and they couldn't override the comp. Superb airmanship by the crew resulted in a safe landing.

The aviation industry is well aware of the problem of too much automation.

 

[R.Perry]

Superb airmanship by the crew resulted in a safe landing.
The aviation industry is well aware of the problem of too much automation.

I remember that, and far as I know they never did figure out exactly what happened. The problem with the airlines today is they are all fly by wire, monitored by the computer systems, to me that is a bit scary, but that is the reality of today's airline business. A friend told me on the F18 super hornet, if the pilot screws up the carrier approach, the computer takes over and lands, now that is scary.

Want to see something funny, put your average military trained airline pilot in a small Cessna or piper and see how they do. Now I will admit, many have flow general aviation aircraft, but many haven't.

 

[LUIS MARTINEZ]

Can u imagine an aircraft computer system that will fight the freaking pilot? WTF ? Can't they design a simple on/off switch anymore? The Quantas pilot wrote in his book he felt like Dave Bowman in 2001.
"Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
HAL: I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that."

That's when I'd crap my pants...

 

[R.Perry]

The problem is you can't have both, the computer systems in today's airliners are designed not to take control away from the pilot, but they do give loud warnings. You will notice on the new airliners they have a joy stick for elevator and aileron control. So basically when you move the joystick left of right you are saying, "hey computer I would like to turn, will you please have the ailerons initiate a bank and the rudder pedals are doing the same thing, asking the computer to move the rudder. If Hal don't want to move it, it isn't going to move.