Honeywell Successfully Tests Autonomous Detect-and-Avoid System

The “leap forward in safety” could have far-ranging impacts across aviation, including air taxis.

Wednesday, February 02, 2022 at 04:16 PM ET

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Honeywell said its autonomous radar system kept drones out of danger during the “ultimate game of chicken.” [Courtesy: Honeywell]

Key Takeaways:

Honeywell successfully tested its RDR-84K radar system, which autonomously detected other drones and performed avoidance maneuvers without human intervention.
This achievement significantly advances drone safety, especially for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, by enabling autonomous collision avoidance.
The technology is crucial for the future of pilotless aviation, particularly for autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis, allowing for scalable and efficient operations.

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After a series of drone test flights described as the “ultimate game of chicken,” Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) announced success Wednesday with its autonomous detect-and-avoid (DAA) radar system.

The recent tests, located near Phoenix, Arizona, involved a drone piloted by Honeywell’s IntuVue RDR-84K radar system that repeatedly swerved around other UAVs. The system was able to detect airborne traffic and, on its own, decide on a course of action, Honeywell says. Next, the system took over navigation and piloted the drone to safety using its onboard processor.