Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System

The Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) team was awarded the 2018 Collier Trophy for the design-integration and flight testing in the F-35, marking the year's greatest achievement in aeronautics. The Auto-GCAS team includes the Air Force Research Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, the F-35 Joint Program Office, the Defense Safety Oversight Council, and NASA.[1] Auto-GCAS technology enhances safety by mitigating controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents. [2]

Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System
Auto-GCAS USAF F-35

Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System

The Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System uses inputs from terrain mapping, aircraft location, and automation to avoid ground collisions. The Auto-GCAS system detects imminent ground contact and warns the pilot. If there is no pilot response, the Auto-GCAS takes control, maneuvering to avoid ground contact. When on a safe trajectory, with pilot awareness, control returns to the pilot.[3]

Pilot unresponsiveness can be attributed to many factors including: distraction, task saturation, incapacitation, and unconsciousness. The Auto-GCAS system successfully reduced the leading cause of F-16 pilot fatalities. [3] The Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System was first developed at the Lockheed Martin [3]Skunk Works and NASA. NASA publications site working on Auto-GCAS starting in 1997.  [4] In July 2019, seven years ahead of schedule, Lockheed Martin started integration of Auto-GCAS into the F-35 fleet. [5]

See also

References
  1. "Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System Team to Receive the 2018 Robert J. Collier Trophy" (PDF) (Press release). NAA. April 5, 2019.
  2. "AFRL - Automatic Collision Avoidance Technology (ACAT)". wpafb.af.mil. WPAFB. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  4. "NASA-Pioneered Automatic Ground-Collision Avoidance System Operational". NASA.gov. NASA. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  5. "Lockheed Martin integrates ground collision avoidance system in F-35A". airforce-technology.com. airforce-technology.com. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
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