Detecting Small Unmanned Aircraft in Controlled Airspace with Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have become increasingly prominent in the everyday life of the American whether it be for commercial use or for recreational use. According to the FAA's 2016 Aerospace Forecast, the number of UAS registered in the United States is expected to rise to seven million by 2020. In order to allow the safe integration of small UAS (sUAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS), an operational system to detect and identify sUAS must be in place. Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADSB) is thought to be a solution to identifying and detecting sUAS in the NAS; however, ADSB was initially designed for much larger aircraft. Due to the potential erratic movement of sUAS and delays in real-time transmitter/receiver updates, it is essential to determine the accuracy of ADSB coupled with sUAS aircraft. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott is in the process of simulating and testing ADSB equipped sUAS. Over the course of this semester, test flights will be performed on two separate occasions in order to determine the track accuracy and response rates of ADSB equipped sUAS in order to determine if ADSB should be used as an effective tool for tracking and detecting sUAS in controlled airspace. Finding solutions to effectively and safely detect unmanned aircraft into controlled airspace will help to advance the sUAS integration process.Poster Presentation