ASTRAEA

Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation & Assessment (ASTRAEA) is a project to develop UAVs to fly in civil airspace.[1][2] Both UK government agencies and companies such as AOS Group, BAE Systems, Qinetiq, Rolls-Royce plc, Cassidian, Cobham plc, EADS and Thales UK are involved.[1] The project began in 2006.[3][1][4]

Currently UAVs can only operate in UK airspace under restricted conditions.[3]

ParcAberporth has a centre dedicated to ASTRAEA.[4] Permission has been sought for a permanent segregated airspace around ParcAberporth for testing UAVs over land.[5][6]

Concerns about safety, privacy and noise were raised during consultative sessions.[7]

Test Flights

Test flights are scheduled to run from May to September 2012 over the Irish Sea.[2] A Jetstream aircraft is being as a UAV and a Piper Seneca as an 'intruder' to test the sense and avoid systems.[2][1]

In April 2013 the first unmanned flight over British airspace was successfully completed when BAE Systems flew a Jetstream 31 from Warton, Fylde near Preston to Inverness in Scotland. The aircraft, described as the "flying test bed" was controlled by a pilot at Warton using advanced sensors and on-board robotic systems. The flight was not strictly “unmanned” as two pilots flew in the cockpit as a precaution but they were required only to monitor the flight and not to actively engage in any flying. ASTRAEA programme director Lambert Dopping-Hepenstal said: the work being done " will likely impact all of us in the next five, 10, 20 years as unmanned aircraft and associated technology develop and become a part of everyday life". The governments Business and energy minister Michael Fallon said: "We welcome this pioneering flight at the end of the ASTRAEA programme. ASTRAEA has made significant achievements, placing the UK industry in a good position globally on unmanned aircraft and the development of regulations for their civil use."[8]

References
  1. Robinson, Tim (15 September 2011). "Drones of Peace". Royal Aeronautical Society. Archived from the original on 4 December 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  2. Milmo, Dan (7 May 2012). "Pilotless planes project begins test flights over Irish Sea". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  3. Haines, Lester (30 August 2006). "UK examines civilian use of UAVs". The Register. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  4. "ASTRAEA Centre to be established at ParcAberporth". Welsh Government. 7 July 2006. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012.
  5. "Airspace testing". Tivyside Advertiser. 1 July 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  6. "Air testing plans". Tivyside Advertiser. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  7. "UAV consultative sessions". Tivyside Advertiser. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  8. "First unmanned flight completed". itv.com. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
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