NASA is getting the drone revolution off the ground.
Its Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management platform makes flying large numbers of drones at low altitude possible.
The technology lets drone operators define flight paths and share that information with others,
creating a system for operating drones safely and efficiently in populated and urban areas.
Several years of field testing concluded in 2019 with trials in Reno, Nevada, and Corpus Christi, Texas.
More than 35 industry and government partners participated in the flight tests.
These activities featured multiple vehicles flying beyond sight of their operators
in the airspace between the ground and 400 feet.
The tests also explored the ability of drones to operate under unexpected conditions.
Flight scenarios included loss of ground communications,
loss of GPS navigation,
adverse weather events,
and first responder emergency operations.
Onboard autonomous systems were also developed
to detect and avoid drones, determine safe landing locations, and improve vehicle-to-vehicle communications.
The Federal Aviation Administration will continue development of the system and implement it over time,
unleashing a world of new opportunities.
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