Becker Avionics has teamed with Iris Automation to develop a system to warn pilots of nearby, potentially threatening aircraft.
The collision avoidance safety system will use computer vision and machine learning to “see” when another aircraft is approaching from outside the pilot’s field of view and poses a risk, issuing 3D audio warnings.
The solution will combine Iris Automation’s patented Casia detect and alert technology with Becker Avionics’ communication and navigation equipment for both manned and unmanned aircraft, company officials explain.
While many general aviation aircraft are equipped with ADS-B, in some airspace traditional ADS-B signals are not available, increasing the workload on a pilot to monitor for incoming aircraft, company officials noted.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 1,450 near mid-air collisions were reported from 2016-2020. Another startling statistic: 82% of mid-air collisions occur from the rear, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Foundation.
The Iris Automation/Becker Avionics opto-electric/audio system will monitor airspace in visual flight conditions independently, onboard the pilot’s aircraft, even if ADS-B or TCAS signals may be unavailable, company officials claim. It supplements a pilot’s situational awareness, whether in the cockpit or remote, officials add.
By providing warnings in time to take appropriate actions to avoid potential collisions, the system is designed to improve safety with minimal impact on pilot workload, according to company officials.
There is a technology called holographic sound which can input direction and proximity to a collision warning system using headphones. This alerts the pilot where to look, just as one can detect an insect flying around one’s head.