Pilot Visual Detection of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Equipped with Strobe Lighting

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

Wallace, Ryan J¹  Loffi, Jon M.²  Jacob, Jamey²  Mitchell, Taylor A²  Vance, Samuel M²  Dunlap, Jared C.² 

[1]Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

[2]Oklahoma State University

关键词: sUAS;    unmanned aircraft system;    mid-air collision avoidance (MACA);    strobe light;    high-intensity xenon lighting;    aircraft lighting;   

DOI  :  10.7771/2159-6670.1177

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Purdue University

【 摘 要 】

When operating under Visual Flight Rules, pilots primarily rely on visual scanning to avoid other aircraft and airborne collision threats. Records from the Federal Aviation Administration indicate that near encounters with unmanned aircraft are on the rise, reaching 1,761 reported unmanned aircraft system (UAS) sightings or near-misses in 2016. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of pilot visual detection of UAS platforms that were equipped with strobe lighting. A sample of 10 pilots flew a general aviation aircraft on a scripted series of five intercepts with a small UAS (sUAS) that was equipped with strobe lighting. Participants were asked to indicate when they visually detected the unmanned aircraft. Geolocation information for both the aircraft and sUAS platform was compared to assess visibility distance. Findings were used to evaluate the efficacy of daytime strobe lighting as a method to enhance pilot sUAS detection, visibility, and collision avoidance. Participants detected the unmanned aircraft during 7.7% of the intercepts. Due to a lack of data points, the authors were unable to conclusively determine if strobe lighting improved UAS visual detection. The authors recommend further research to explore the effectiveness of using sUAS-mounted strobe lights for nighttime visual detection.

【 授权许可】

Free