Mixed Criticality Communication within an Unmanned Delivery Rotorcraft

TL;DR

This paper presents a communication system for small UAVs that ensures safety-critical functions like flight monitoring are integrated securely, respecting component integrity levels for reliable autonomous delivery operations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel intra-component communication architecture tailored for small UAVs, addressing safety and integrity requirements for autonomous delivery drones.

Findings

Successful hardware and software implementation demonstrated

Enhanced safety and integrity in UAV communication systems

Framework supports integration of safety-critical functions

Abstract

Stand-alone functions additional to a UAV flight-controller, such as safety-relevant flight-path monitoring or payload-monitoring and control, may be SORA-required or advised for specific flight paths of delivery-drones. These functions, articulated as discrete electronic components either internal or external to the main fuselage, can be networked with other on-board electronics systems. Such an integration requires respecting the integrity levels of each component on the network both in terms of function and in terms of power-supply. In this body of work we detail an intra-component communication system for small autonomous and semi-autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs.) We discuss the context and the (conservative) design decisions before detailing the hardware and software interfaces and reporting on a first implementation. We finish by drawing conclusions and proposing future work.