IRIS UxS is an airspace visualization system that provides Unmanned Systems (UxS) operators with real-time situational awareness for BVLOS operations in an integrated UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) airspace.
The system presents users with a single integrated operating picture that includes 2D and 3D map and terrain data; aeronautical information including aerodrome locations, obstacles, and airspaces; and real-time data from sensors, cameras and drone telemetry. IRIS UxS is also integrated with near-time ATM / UTM data sources including the Harris® National ATM feed and LATAS®.
As the Commercial UAS sector matures, the prospect of conducting BVLOS in an integrated UTM airspace is becoming more immediate.
Some commercial enterprises in North America are already conducting BVLOS operations under FAA waivers. The need to effectively visualize all air traffic and navigations in an operational airspace is becoming increasingly acute, and will continue to do so as the volume of unmanned traffic increases.
IRIS UxS is optimized as an edge monitoring display for restricted airspaces – fusing near-time ATM / UTM traffic data with real-time RADAR, ADS-B, and telemetry data. The IRIS UxS system is also fully integrated with the a wide range of autopilots, allowing direct control of a wide range of fixed-wing and rotary wing UAS directly from the IRIS console. The IRIS UAS airspace awareness is built around an innovative, touch-driven user interface that allows operators to easily visualize and manage multiple data feeds.
IRIS UAS includes cloud integration for mission planning, updating and reporting purposes. A cloud-based application provides access to aeronautical data provided by the FAA and NAV Canada for mission planning purposes, and provides an easy way to store a mission file - both as a flight data recorder function and for any Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) analysis by the operator.
While IRIS UxS is most frequently used for managing UAS missions, it is a multi-domain-capable system, and can be used to pilot any combination of aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles. The system can also present operators with a picture displaying marine navigational data, or a bathymetric picture of the underwater environment.
A specialized version of IRIS UxS called MDCS™ has been developed for naval, military, and homeland security missions, and IRIS UxS can be adapted to your particular mission needs and domain environment.
This brief video gives an overview of IRIS UxS.
IRIS UxS is Ground Control Station (GCS) and Autopilot agnostic, and can be deployed on a variety of form factors, depending on the nature of the platform and the operational requirements of the mission. The IRIS UxS system can be deployed on a tablet to augment a handheld GCS for BVLOS operations in the field, or as part of a desktop BVLOS GCS for applications such as emergency response and search and rescue.
For fleet operations, IRIS UxS can be deployed on a tower or rack-mounted server as a component of a full-fledged drone operations centre. IRIS UxS has been deployed in drone delivery operations centers in the United States and Canada.