NASA Tests a Prototype Radio for UAS 

Photo courtesy NASA

 

By Holly Gonzalez



Communication experts at NASA are flight testing a prototype radio for unmanned aircraft built under an agreement with Rockwell Collins for the purpose of integrating civil and commercial UAS into the National Airspace System. The radio aims to enhance communication between UAS pilots on the ground and remotely piloted vehicles that could be continents away. 



The radio prototype acts a platform to test operations at frequencies with specific radio waveforms unique to a task. Currently, unmanned aircraft are restricted to fly only when and where the Federal Aviation Administration has approved. Radio waves are affected by leafy trees, snow, ice, mountains, oceans, weather conditions, urban sprawl and skyscrapers. 



NASA Glenn Research Center project engineer Jim Griner says, "There are some pretty good limitations on those operations, but the work we’re doing to develop a new command-and-control radio for the UAS to use will help go beyond that." 



In December, channel characterization flights of the NASA S-3 Viking twin-engine jet and a deployable antenna were completed to understand the way in which radio frequencies act at specific bandwidths. The prototype radio was delivered to NASA on 28 Feb. and put through paces on a laboratory test bench; then flight tests were completed in May with Viking twin-engine jet that will continue this month. They will focus on channel characterization flight tests and prototype radio tests in a visit to California this month to obtain data on coastal features. 



NASA plans to use the information gained from this radio prototype to develop a second-generation test radio for delivery in September, and after additional testing a final prototype should be created between 2015 and 2016.