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The demonstration included a full-scale mock up of Denel Seeker 400 that will be entering production in the near future for both a local and an international client and the CSIR Modular Research Unmanned Aircraft (MUAS) that is being used by researchers around the country as a platform to validate UAS technologies
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In early February, the CSIR was the venue for a four-day work session of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Group (UASSG) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The purpose of the session was to finalise a draft ICAO circular on civilian unmanned air systems (UAS).
At the end of the session delegates were treated to a demonstration of unmanned aircraft system technologies led by the CSIR and supported by the Department of Defence and by industry.
The ICAO, the international body that develops the rules, regulations and protocols governing international civil air operation and travel, and which is permanently stationed in Montreal, Canada, met for the first time in South Africa.
Briefing the media at the study group session Zakhele Thwala, Deputy Director General of Aviation of the Department of Transport, said while South Africa had used UAS for the past 24 years for military purposes, there were no regulations for their civil use. "We've got the technology, we've got the capacity, we just need the regulations," he said.
Andy Mamba, South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manager on whose recommendation the study group came to South Africa, said milestones had been achieved at the meeting. He added: "SACAA will finalise a circular giving guidance for the issuance of authorisation for amended aircraft system operations in the national air space system."
UASSG chairperson Holger Matthiesen was upbeat about the meeting and confident that the draft circular would be presented by the relevant ICAO departments during the first half of this year.
Commenting on the outcome of the four days on behalf of the ICAO UASSG he said: "The entire experience, from both a professional and personal level, served to reinforce the urgency, conviction and relevance of the work we are undertaking." Commenting on the CSIR demonstration he added: "We have experienced real-life UAS applications which will certainly serve to provide societal benefits."
CSIR UAS research initiative
South Africa has a well-established and world-competitive UAS industry recognised by government for its importance as a strategic industry and its potential value to society. In recognition of the future role that UAS can play in civil society, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is supporting a research programme on civil UAS technology. A number of CSIR operating units, including Defence Peace Safety and Security (DPSS), Meraka and Material Sciences and Manufacturing (MSM), are conducting research and technology development projects, either as internally-funded or contract-funded projects, as part of this programme.
UAS and civil airspace integration
One of the biggest challenges to civil and commercial use of unmanned aircraft is the safe and seamless integration into the civil air traffic management systems. UAS are disruptive technologies and the civil air traffic management systems world works on a basis of common standards and practices that have evolved over the past 100 years. Just the sheer size and numbers of aircraft and air traffic control centres world wide require that the introduction of new technology needs to be compatible with the existing systems.
The safety implications of introducing unmanned aircraft into the existing air traffic management system are such that experimental systems cannot readily be tested in the actual environment. The alternative is therefore to use a combination of high-fidelity models and actual equipment of the various systems that make up the air traffic management system, including aircraft and human interfaces, in a simulated environment.
The Interoperability Development Environment
The Interoperability Development Environment (IDE) is a research facility that was developed to study and provide answers to the myriad of command and control issues that arise during joint military operations.
The advent of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer tournament required an expanded scope of work to include government departments and services such as the SA Police Services, emergency services and notably civil air traffic management services. Let it suffice to say that interoperability has successfully been achieved and is in place for the tournament. One of the aspects covered was conducting air security operations without significantly impacting on civil aviation operations.
The possibility of integrating UAS operations into the World Cup was considered, but the time available precluded the development of an operational doctrine and standard operating procedures to allow safe and effective integration.
However, the basis has been established for future development and how, by using existing technology, the integration of UAS into both military and civil air traffic management systems may be tackled in the near future.
Demonstration
The unmanned aircraft system technologies demonstrated were works in progress. Most systems demonstrated are still under development for various clients including the SANDF and the Department of Science and Technology.
The demonstration was made possible through the cooperation of the Department of Defence who fund the IDE development, the SA Air Force, a number of industry partners such as Denel UA Systems, ATE, SAAB - Grintek and CSIR DPSS.
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