The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory is working with flight automation system developer Merlin on plans to implement new collision avoidance technology. In an agreement announced in April, the organizations will explore the commercialization of the Airborne Collision Avoidance System Xu on uncrewed aircraft.
Initially, the collaboration will focus on implementing the ACAS Xu’s RTCA DO-368 software standard with the Merlin Pilot automation system Merlin is developing for use on existing aircraft. The Xu system being developed by MIT is an uncrewed air systems version of the ACAS X technology that MIT is developing for other aircraft with funding from the FAA. It is intended to meet the U.S. air safety agency’s requirements for new-generation airspace procedures.
“Collision avoidance decision making systems are accepted by the FAA, and their outputs are critical to helping pilots and unmanned aircraft maneuver safely in the shared airspace,” said Merlin’s chief technology officer, Alexander Naiman. “Integrating a next-generation system like ACAS Xu with the Merlin Pilot enhances the safety of our system while supporting the development of advanced automation capabilities to spur an autonomous future.”