Data Gathering Will Help Develop Future UAS Traffic Systems

Reliable Robotics snagged a new contract with NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) to take on demo flights with their automated C-208B Caravan.

Reliable’s flight tests have already been gathering plenty of data for their own internal purposes, but now that data can be put to work at even higher level. Flight testing their contingency management procedures falls right in line with the push for improved handling for uncrewed aircraft. The FAA’s push to create better UAS-compatible ATC systems will benefit greatly from Reliable’s data, since they’re using a certificated aircraft design already in use in the real world. 

The contract was sighted with NASA, but the data generated and delivered will pass through to the FAA and similar Standards Development Organizations as part of a wider effort to create workable UAS performance standards. Reliable’s certainly got a pretty unique offering in their hands: Who else has a full-sized aircraft for remote piloting in 2026? There are numerous multirotor designs in the agri-space, but it’s hard to find fault with a trusty workhorse like the Cessna 208B. Lessons learned from a fixed-wing, aircraft will naturally be different from those gleaned from an eVTOL drone, after all.

Reliable’s flights will help stakeholders create the kind of framework needed for UAS operations. Air traffic is somewhat simple when everything is going well, but any emergency can quickly spiral out of control, especially when we have fewer humans in the loop. Software has to be very robust and well-planned in order to be trusted in the air. The UAS traffic system must design fallbacks and workflows for every possible failure point, deciding how everything in the airport environment reacts to emergent changes on the fly. 

Missions have to be reported and tracked almost the same way as crewed aircraft do, so this deal gives NASA a good guinea pig: Reliable’s test flights will play the part of a regional air cargo operator in the terminal area, doing maneuvers, procedures, and even doing visual approaches by remote pilots.The final flight demo will be done in accordance with Reliable’s previous FAA authorizations, which means no pilot aboard. Reliable’s documentation will help with the development and validation of Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS), Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards (MASPS), and even future standards for large UAS.

“This testing campaign comes at a unique moment in time, when safety-enhancing aircraft autonomy is rapidly nearing FAA certification and entry into service for regional air cargo and military use cases. Efforts like this are how we continue to advance the necessary public policy ecosystem,” said Robert Rose, CEO and co-founder, Reliable Robotics. “We deeply value the continued partnership with NASA to conduct testing that will advance industry-wide efforts to expand remotely piloted aircraft operations at airports.”

FMI: www.reliable.co