Aurora Flight Sciences is collaborating with Socionext Inc., a top expert in radar sensor technology, to provide a radar-enabled collision protection system for consumer drones.

The Radar Flight Control Module (RFCM) is comprised of a single-chip 24GHz radar with range measurement software. The radar responds acutely to its surroundings and can detect multiple objects, objects in open spaces, target distance and speed, and more. The RFCM provides distance, warning and braking signals to the flight controller through a simple interface, allowing for integration on a wide range of drone products. When installed, the RFCM acts to prevent head-on collisions with everyday obstacles in the drone's path.

"Aurora's decades of experience in autonomy and systems integration, paired with Socionext's engineering expertise, resulted in the joint development of the Radar Flight Control Module," said John Langford, Aurora CEO. "Preventing collisions is vital for safe drone operation, and this technology is an excellent solution."

"Socionext, a leading expert in radar sensor technology, and Aurora, a world class system integrator in flight sciences, have joint forces to develop and refine the RFCM for a robust radar collision protection system," said Tsutomu Nozaki, CMO at Socionext Inc. "The two companies plan to continue working together to provide the best solutions for a wide range of aircraft Systems used in commercial, surveillance and communication, mission critical, experimental and exploration applications."