BOSTON — GE introduced AiRXOS, a new company helping to accelerate the safe, efficient, scalable integration of air and ground space for manned and unmanned vehicles. AiRXOS helps government agencies, regional aviation authorities and private sector operators manage and meet the increasing demand for sophisticated and safe Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations. AiRXOS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GE.
“These transformative, collaborative efforts between states, industry and government will be the foundation for realizing the power of UAS advanced operations”
The recent, steep growth of autonomous vehicle technologies proliferating the National Air Space (NAS) is challenging how to best safely and securely manage current and future unmanned and autonomous vehicles and systems. To manage and control these Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAV) operations, states, municipalities, government and regulatory agencies are responding to the challenges with multiple new programs. AiRXOS has been selected for several programs to develop UTM infrastructures, advanced UAV operations, and certification/waiver automation that will help transform the transportation ecosystem.
“These transformative, collaborative efforts between states, industry and government will be the foundation for realizing the power of UAS advanced operations,” says Kenneth Stewart, General Manager, AiRXOS. “GE already has been using drones and drone technology for some time, what AiRXOS offers is the infrastructure and advanced operations necessary to unlock the emerging markets of autonomous flight. We look forward to working closely with our Ohio, New York, San Diego, Memphis, and Choctaw Nation partners on realizing the potential of the UAV vision.”
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program (UAS IPP)
The Department of Transportation recently announced the UAS IPP to help government agencies, municipalities, regional aviation authorities and private sector operators manage and meet the increasing demand for sophisticated and safe UAS operations. Of the ten pilot programs, AiRXOS was selected as a partner for three: The City of San Diego, the City of Memphis, and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. AiRXOS will work with these program partners in safely demonstrating capabilities such as operations over urban settings, night operations, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), as well as developing overall UTM systems.
DriveOhio – Ohio Department of Transportation
DriveOhio’s UAS Center today announced an investment of $5.9 million for UTM research that will include both air and ground vehicles and will complement DriveOhio’s current efforts for autonomous and connected vehicle testing along the U.S. 33 Smart Mobility Corridor. AiRXOS has been selected as a partner, along with Gryphon Sensors, CAL Analytics, and Ohio State University’s College of Engineering to implement a UTM solution for the U.S. 33 Smart Mobility Corridor.
This UTM solution will outfit the 35-mile stretch of U.S. 33 between Dublin and East Liberty, with sensors and communication equipment to feed UAS detection and tracking data to the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Traffic Management Center (TMC). The Ohio UAS Center will be able to conduct UAS operations such as traffic monitoring and incident response along the corridor safely in a monitored environment. With the UTM system in place, the Corridor will be able to support future UAS and autonomous operations such as package delivery and air taxi services.
Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (NUAIR)
AiRXOS has also formed a collaboration with NUAIR Alliance for an unmanned testing and rating initiative that will combine NUAIR’s new National Unmanned Systems Testing and Rating (NUSTAR) capability with AiRXOS’ Autonomous Service Platform. While NUSTAR will objectively measure UAS performance and test systems against industry consensus standards, AiRXOS will automate the processes used by commercial operators, pilots, organizations, and drone manufacturers to engage in commercial flight operations. To support this effort, AiRXOS plans to open an office in the Syracuse, New York Tech Garden offices.
NASA TCL Testing and LAANC
To keep pace with innovation, NASA’s Technical Capability Level (TCL) testing and the expansion of the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability service program (LAANC) continue to move the industry forward. AiRXOS is a TCL partner and has recently applied for a LAANC application in support of bringing a broad range of UAS operations safely to scale.
“AiRXOS is addressing the rapid changes in autonomous vehicle technology, advanced operations, and in the regulatory environment. In doing so, they are reshaping the transportation ecosystem,” said Alan Caslavka, president of Avionics, GE Aviation. “We’re excited for AiRXOS to help set the standard for autonomous and manned aerial vehicles to share the sky safely.”
As today’s industrial markets fight monumental challenges, GE creates, activates, and builds businesses that transform industries to help the world work better together. AiRXOS combines technology and expertise from GE Aviation, as well as business incubation leadership from GE’s Business Creation team. At the intersection of new ventures, purpose and expertise, GE and AiRXOS are primed to shape the large-scale impact of autonomous innovation.
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