Safety Assessment Process for UAS Ground-Based Detect And Avoid

This paper describes a rigorous scientific approach to collect safety data using proven simulation platforms to analyze realistic traffic encounters using NAS archived track data from the FAA RADARs. This type of relevant safety data collection is critical in determining acceptable risk factors associated with UAS operations in the NAS. The simulations described in this paper were used to assess risk for the specific Ground Based Detect And Avoid (GBDAA) system behaviors and airspace encounters for the operational airspace to be used. These robust simulations and subsequent safety assessments ultimately validated acceptable target levels of safety for the UAS operational airspace, intruder aircraft encounters and safe conflict avoidance using the GBDAA alerting algorithms.