HENSOLDT develops radar system for uncontrolled airspace

The sensor solution provider HENSOLDT has developed a compact and interference-resistant radar system for uncontrolled airspace together with several partners. The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) has tested the radar system in flight trials with several drones and a research helicopter. The tests have shown that the system is capable of monitoring uncontrolled airspace above urban areas. Further analyses are currently being carried out to assess the reliable and safe detection of aircraft.

The flight tests at the DLR's National Experimental Test Centre for Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Cochstedt marked the conclusion of the ‘MIMO Air’ project. Under the leadership of HENSOLDT, several project participants developed and validated the research prototype of an ‘Air Traffic Monitoring and Management System’ (ATMMS). Several main components were newly developed. These include a MIMO radar sensor, a radar post-processor, a ground control station and a data link.

The MIMO radar sensor from HENSOLDT and the radar post-processor are collectively referred to as the MIMO radar system. The cognitive MIMO radar system monitors the close range of the flying platform, warns of obstacles and simultaneously serves as a navigation and landing aid. In general, a cognitive MIMO radar system is characterised by the fact that it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to react dynamically to changing environmental conditions and also takes its limited hardware and software resources into account in an appropriate manner. ‘MIMO’ stands for “multiple-input and multiple-output” and enables the radar sensor to “virtually” increase its signal reception aperture without physically changing the size of its receiving antenna. This capability is essential if the weight and size of the radar sensor is to be kept as small as possible.

“The flight test has shown that air traffic participants in the uncontrolled airspace G over urban areas can be monitored reliably and safely,” said Maurice Tennigkeit, Project Manager Airborne & Space Radars. “The project is an important milestone for integrating air taxis into German airspace in the future, for example.”

HENSOLDT led the ‘MIMO Air’ project. The DLR (Institute of Flight Guidance and Systems Engineering for Future Mobility, Flight Experiments), the Fraunhofer Institute FHR, Humatects GmbH and DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH were also involved in the development and verification.