Reliable Robotics partners with NASA to test remotely piloted aircraft

Reliable Robotics and NASA have entered a partnership under a Space Act Agreement to support the integration of large uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) into the US National Airspace System. The collaboration, announced from Mountain View, California, involves joint testing and research to explore how autonomous aircraft can be safely scaled for cargo and air transport operations.

Under the agreement, Reliable Robotics will team up with NASA to carry out three simulation activities: systems that help avoid collisions with humans, situations where the aircraft loses communication control, and how aircraft interact when entering and leaving airports. The research aims to assess the automation needed to integrate large volumes of UAS into the airspace system.

“This collaboration underscores both Reliable Robotics’ and NASA’s commitment to advancing autonomous aviation safety and efficiency,” said Shivanjli Sharma, Air Traffic Management – eXploration Project Manager at NASA’s Ames Research Centre.

The partnership builds on earlier DAA flight testing between Reliable and NASA, where surveillance radar systems were used to detect and avoid aircraft. It also supports NASA’s broader work on Advanced Air Mobility and aligns with ongoing efforts by Reliable to demonstrate a comprehensive DAA system with the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Our joint work with NASA brings us closer to a future where autonomous aircraft integrate seamlessly with, and provide safety benefits to, the national airspace system,” said Robert Rose, CEO and co-founder of Reliable Robotics.

The collaboration will include data sharing, standards development, test planning, and system integration. Reliable Robotics, founded in 2017, is developing remote operation systems for various aircraft types and is based in Mountain View, California.