About ASTRAEA

For UASs to be routinely used in place of manned aircraft for common operational missions, autonomous systems technology will require significant development.

The current regulatory framework (as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority) will also need to be re-interpreted to enable UAVs to operate alongside manned aircraft.

ASTRAEA is a three-year programme in its first phase and it is intended that it will pave the way for commercial UASs to operate autonomously in non-segregated airspace within the next decade.

There are numerous potential applications for UASs. There would be obvious benefits for 'blue light' services tasked with patrolling motorways or needing an aerial perspective of major incidents, and also for environmental organisations wanting to monitor systematically coastlines, waterways and large tracts of land.

In fact, autonomous UASs carrying sophisticated imaging or sensing equipment could be used in any situation classed as 'dull, dirty or dangerous,' including air-sea rescue and disaster relief.

The technology being developed by ASTRAEA will address issues such as Ground Operations and Human Interaction; Communications & Air Traffic Control; UAS Handling; Routing; Collision Avoidance; Multiple Air Vehicle Integration; Prognostics & Health Management; and Decision Modelling.

The programme also incorporates 'demonstration' projects which will exhibit the technology: Propulsion & Power; Affordable Technologies including a UAS engine; Logistics; and finally the verification and demonstration of technologies, either singly or as integrated systems.

Click here to view the ASTRAEA Brochure.