The U.S. Air Force's innovation-focused business incubator and support program has tapped a Pittsburgh-based aviation startup for a new contract that will aim to create a reliability standard for aircraft that conduct autonomous aerial transport operations.
Near Earth Autonomy Inc., based in the North Side, will build this new standard to help AFWERX, a program office at the Air Force Research Laboratory, address questions relating to reliability metrics as might be defined by regulators, insurers and users of these autonomously-flying unmanned aerial vehicles. Furthermore, Near Earth and AFWERX will look to implement an accreditation process to guarantee assurances that take into consideration the capabilities of these types of aircraft and the environments in which they may operate.
"The upcoming effort with Near Earth Autonomy is incredibly important for informing certification for autonomous capabilities, with significant benefits to both the commercial and government aviation autonomy communities," Lt. Col. Tom Meagher, AFWERX prime programs lead, said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Near Earth declined to disclose the monetary value of the contract award as well as the timeline for its development. Founded in 2012, Near Earth develops technology for uncrewed aircraft so that these vehicles can take off, fly and land autonomously as well as with or without a GPS signal.
"Going forward, we expect that autonomy will be integral to military flight operations, and it will be the way that commercial flight operations will scale," Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Near Earth, said in a statement. "AFWERX has a deep understanding of both the challenge and opportunity at hand. They are bringing all the necessary pieces together to make the widespread use of uncrewed logistics a reality."
