On March 5-9, 2018, the Institute of Aviation delegation participated in tests of the ILX-32 MOSUPS unmanned system in Nevada, USA. The maneuvers were observed by representatives of the Nevada Institute For Autonomous Systems (NIAS), NASA, Switch, Drone America, AiRXOS, Citadel and ANRA Technologies.
The ILX-32 MOSUPS is an experimental unmanned aircraft in a in a configuration of joined wings developed under the supervision of professor Cezary Galiński by a consortium consisting of the Institute of Aviation, Warsaw University of Technology, the Air Force Institute of Technology and the MSP company. The project was financed by the National Centre for Research and Development.
The aim of the operation set in the desert at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains was to test flying systems in difficult conditions, at a high base altitude (over 1500 m), while flying together with many different unmanned systems and other manned aircraft.
The tests in Nevada included the performance of flights at distances up to several kilometers along the planned route in the designated area and the transfer of telemetry data to the UTM system (UAS Traffic Management) along with real-time preview on the console. The IoA team implemented test scenarios for potential problems that may occur during UAV flights and simulated scenarios related to the interaction with UTM.
American representation which participated in the maneuvers was led by NIAS, with which the Institute of Aviation signed an agreement on scientific cooperation in October 2017. As part of this cooperation, a Joint Center of Excellence was established for research and development projects in the field of UAV technology development. The signed agreement enables the Institute of Aviation to participate in joint international projects, staff development and technology transfer between institutions.
The tests in Nevada, made possible by the cooperation undertaken with NIAS, provided an opportunity to gain experience in integration with air management systems (unmanned aerial vehicles and manned aircraft) with a high level of sophistication and in the operation of advanced UTM systems.
Unmanned systems in the Nevada desert were also tested by the most significant American institutions and companies dealing in the subject of unmanned aerial vehicles. The invitation for joint maneuvers was accepted by representatives of NASA, Switch, Drone America, AiRXOS, Citadel and ANRA Technologies.
A team of engineers from the Institute of Aviation who participated in the tests in Nevada:
- Krzysztof Łowczycki (project leader, responsible for the coordination and IT integration of MOSUPS),
- Michał Szczodrowski (IoA contractor, main pilot),
- Łukasz Konarski (IT integration with UTM),
- Anna Juda (electronics, IT integration, GCS operator),
- Tomasz Pogorzelski (data manager, mechanical designs),
- Wiktor Zimiński (mechanical and electrical preparation of the MOSUPS aircraft, reserve pilot),
- Jarosław Siwirski (mechanical and electrical preparation of the MOSUPS aircraft),
supported from the country by:
- Cezary Galiński (substantive support for MOSUPS),
- Dawid Hess (project manager),
- Martyna Dębowska (administrative support).
From the NIAS participated:
- Chris Walach – Director of all FAA-designated Nevada UAS Test Sites, NUANCE Center & Senior Director of the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems,
- Paweł Pietrasieński – Director of Special Projects, Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development,
- Brett Kanda – Director of Business Development, Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems,
- Dean Keck – Deputy Director of all FAA-designated Nevada UAS Test Sites,
- Blair Smith – Flight Operations and Technical Manager (contractor), Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems, On Behalf of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development,
- Chris Herle – Liaison/Operations Manager to the Polish Institute of Aviation (ILOT), Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems.
In preparations, the Institute of Aviation was supported by MSP (uav.com.pl) and uAvionics (uavionics.com.pl) companies as well as by operators and owners of airports and airstrips in Radom, Konstancin-Jeziorna and Brzeska Wola.
For more information please contact:
Krzysztof Łowczycki, MSc. Eng.
Institute of Aviation
phone: (+48) 22 188 36 84
e-mail: krzysztof.lowczycki@ilot.edu.pl
