What does the term "sense and avoid" refer to in the context of the UAS industry?

The term "sense and avoid" specifically refers to a UAV's capability to detect and avoid other aircraft or obstacles in its flight path. This is a crucial aspect of UAS operations, particularly for ensuring safety in airspace shared with manned aircraft. The concept involves using onboard sensors and technology to identify nearby traffic and, when necessary, take action to prevent collisions.

This capability is essential for the integration of unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System, where they must operate safely without direct pilot oversight. Achieving effective sense and avoid technology is one of the key challenges in UAS development and certification, making it a fundamental concept in discussions about UAV safety and regulation.

In contrast, while communication with other aircraft, navigation skills, and data collection methods are important for UAV operation, they do not specifically define the "sense and avoid" capability. Thus, the focus on a UAV's ability to self-separate from other aircraft as part of a safe operational strategy directly aligns with the essence of the term.