Kongsberg Geospatial, the creator of the IRIS Terminal airspace management platform, has joined forces with Iris Automation to enhance the visualization of intruder aircraft detected by its ground-based Detect and Alert system, known as Casia G.
This collaboration significantly aids Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) by equipping remote pilots with crucial situational awareness regarding potential aerial threats.
The Casia G system from Iris Automation is adept at detecting and identifying both cooperative and non-cooperative aviation traffic, seamlessly presenting their trajectories on Kongsberg’s IRIS Terminal.
This integration grants BVLOS UAS operators comprehensive real-time visibility of their operational airspace, thereby alleviating cognitive strain and enhancing decision-making processes.
Upon detecting intruder aircraft, Remote Pilots in Command (RPICs) can navigate their UAS to designated safe zones, ensuring the secure and efficient execution of missions without the need for visual observers. The companies assert that this capability meets the airspace deconfliction standards necessary for drone operators engaged in BVLOS activities.
The second-generation IRIS Terminal has evolved from its military roots to cater to the enterprise UAS sector, focusing on visualizing air traffic and managing uncrewed systems through its Ground Control System (GCS) format.
Within IRIS Terminal, operators can visualize ownship, cooperative, and non-cooperative traffic through various viewing configurations, complemented by features such as DAA sensor footprints, terrain awareness, and potential conflict alerts.
In instances where a single aircraft generates multiple tracks (one for each sensor), the ‘smart correlator’ feature of IRIS Terminal consolidates these tracks into a single depiction, ensuring a streamlined user interface that allows operators to concentrate on their tasks. kongsberg also provides a simplified version, IRIS Lite, which is accessible to Casia G clients through Kongsberg Geospatial.
“Kongsberg Geospatial’s IRIS Terminal stands out as a leading airspace visualization software globally,” remarked Jason Hardy-Smith, VP of Product at Iris Automation. “The integration with Casia G significantly reduces pilots’ workload while delivering essential information for effective decision-making during BVLOS flights.”
“Iris Automation exemplifies a pioneering technology firm addressing the intricate challenges of detection and alert systems,” stated Jordan Freed, President of Kongsberg Geospatial. “Offering a fully integrated solution is vital for advancing the next phase of widespread BVLOS operations.”
