Acoustic sense & avoid for UAV's.

Based on successful results obtained from a laboratory prototype and real-world experiments, this paper discusses an innovative technique for providing small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with 360 degree field of view sense and avoid capability. The proposed approach allows an aircraft equipped with appropriate acoustic sensors and processing to detect and accurately track other aircraft, manned or unmanned, in their proximity, determine whether or not they pose a threat, and, if necessary, take appropriate autonomous, quick-reaction measures to avoid them. The prototype is based on reliable, low-cost hardware that is platform independent, omni-directional, passive and draws little power. The technology is equally effective in day and night time conditions and also offers the prospect of retrofit to manned aircraft to provide them with a similar capacity to detect and avoid UAVs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]