Ohio leading the way with uncrewed aircraft tracking system

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As the number of drones grow, so do concerns about how to keep airspace safe for both crewed and uncrewed aircraft. Ohio is pioneering technology to do just that.

At low altitudes, detecting manned air traffic with traditional radar is much more difficult due to the presence of ground obstructions such as trees, houses, cars, and other low-flying objects such as birds and insect swarms. Since 2018, the Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Statewide Planning and Research has been working with The Ohio State University, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DriveOhio/FlyOhio, the Ohio Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Center and industry to develop and deploy a  “detect and avoid” system to track drones, as a public service, and keep them from colliding with aircraft that operate at lower altitudes like medical helicopters or crop dusters. This is a first in an urban setting.

Drone hovering over stage auto accident

“The future is now, and this is just the latest chapter in Ohio’s storied history of pioneering flight technology,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “We have the ability, the knowledge, and the resources to be the top destination for this industry to thrive.”

“Efforts to develop the right kind of infrastructure for drone technology through this cutting-edge system will promote safe practices and innovation in the sky, solidifying Ohio’s place as a leader in the advanced air mobility space,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted.

The Uncrewed Traffic Management system includes three ground-based radar locations in central Ohio. A drone operator requests clearance to fly, much like an aircraft pilot would, and is given permission to use the airspace from the FAA. Both drone pilots and manned aircraft pilots would be able to see each other and safely share the airspace.

“It gives drones an understanding of where they are in the airspace, who’s around them, and what they can do to essentially safely navigate from A to B all while giving manned traffic the priority,” said Matt McCrink, lead scientist for Ohio State’s research team based at the Aerospace Research Center.

Matt McCrink (head shot)
McCrink

As of May 2022, there are more than 854,000 drones registered with the FAA. Currently, the FAA requires all unmanned aircraft be operated within sight of the operator.

“The promise of drone deliveries has been around for some time, but that key infrastructure to support that has not existed and so ODOT is at the forefront of essentially establishing what that infrastructure looks like, how we can scale it, grow it, and incorporate it with the existing manned traffic control systems as well,” McCrink added.

The development of this system will provide affordable and reliable needed protections against airborne hazards for operators to safely fly beyond visual line-of-sight without ground observers, allowing drone technology to grow in Ohio.

“The last mile package delivery is what the future holds. The FedExs, UPSs, Amazons - that 2-hour delivery that they guarantee, this technology will support that,” said Richard Fox, airspace manager for the Ohio UAS Center.

Aside from product deliveries, drones can also provide valuable information to emergency crews at a crash scene. The system was recently used as part of a multi-jurisdictional incident management training operation using drones, believed to be the first in the world. The exercise simulated a crash involving a semi-truck in Logan County. The drones provided airspace support by transmitting live video to emergency dispatchers, first responders, and the ODOT Traffic Management Center in Columbus giving them an “eye in the sky.” However, when a medical helicopter was called to the scene to shuttle a victim to the hospital, the system was able to alert the drone operators so they could clear the airspace.

“ODOT’s mission is to provide safe and easy movement of people and goods from place to place and that isn’t limited to ground level,” said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. “From researchers to drone pilots and aviation experts, our employees work hard each day to ensure that Ohio is the premier place to develop and grow this quickly emerging industry.”

Drone radar system at Aerospace Research Center
One of three locations of the ground-based drone radar detection systems sits atop the red and white towers at Ohio State's Aerospace Research Center.

Advanced air mobility, which uses electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to easily move people and cargo, is another next major step in drone technology. An economic impact study found that over the next 25 years, advanced air mobility could benefit the Ohio economy to the tune of $13 billion, 15,000 additional jobs, and $2.5 billion in tax revenues.

“I think as we learn how to do the smaller operations and manage the lower altitude airspace safe and efficiently for UAS, you’re going to see the industry grow,” said CAL Analytics Managing Director Sean Calhoun. “Everything from disaster response, package delivery to cargo and eventually air taxis is where we’re heading, which will revolutionize the transportation and logistics industries.”

Calhoun adds that Ohio has certainly positioned itself in the right place to remain a leader in this emerging technology.

The project has also provided opportunities for Ohio State student involvement.

“One of the key missions is the education of our student population,” shared McCrink.

“Throughout this entire program we’ve been able to support students at the undergraduate and masters level to really look at individual pieces of this extraordinarily complex puzzle, and develop new and enabling technologies to essentially give us better understanding of what that airspace looks like.”

“Our students have been at the forefront of developing what those new techniques and technologies are going to look like, which will make this possible over the wider state."
 

MEDIA: Interviews and B-roll video of the demonstration can be downloaded here.

Original release published by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Category: Research