Reliable Robotics Integrates Automated Aircraft into US National Airspace

Reliable Robotics, a leader in safety-enhancing aircraft automation systems, completed a series of simulations and flight tests demonstrating successful integration of remotely piloted aircraft systems into congested airspace.

The trials were part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Urban Air Mobility Airspace Management Demonstration (UAMD).

Funded by the FAA through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), the demonstration included a week-long series of flights in Northern California.

Diana Liang, Enterprise Portfolio Manager at the FAA said: “The flight tests conducted by Reliable Robotics highlighted the ability for new aircraft systems to interact with third-party service providers and seamlessly integrate into future airspace environments, and provided critical data for future operations.”

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The test construct demonstrated Reliable’s ability to execute vectoring, airspeed diverts, and fly under various simulated weather conditions in simulated Class B airspace.

Reliable shared aircraft telemetry through the company’s control center to OneSky, a third-party service provider, who in turn transmitted the data to the FAA’s NextGen Integration & Evaluation Capability (NIEC) research lab.

FAA air traffic controllers participated in the test and provided the FAA NextGen program office with critical validation and insights for its UAM Conops 2.0.

“Collaborating with the FAA on demonstrations like this will help enable the future of mobility and the evolution of our airspace to accommodate new aircraft systems,” said Davis Hackenberg, VP of Government Partnerships at Reliable Robotics.

“Watching our system successfully operate in a live test environment is exciting, and we are proud to help pave the way for future integration of large uncrewed aircraft.”

Reliable’s system will improve aviation safety and prevent common causes of accidents such as controlled flight into terrain, and loss of control, by enabling continuous autopilot engagement through taxi, takeoff and landing. 

In June, the FAA formally accepted Reliable's certification plan.

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