Master’s Thesis

UAV Guidance & Alerting Algorithms · Detect-and-Avoid Systems

Overview

My Master’s thesis focuses on the design, implementation, and evaluation of guidance and alerting algorithms for Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), with application to Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) systems enabling safe Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.

The project is being undertaken in collaboration with Revolution Aerospace as part of an industry-based placement, and forms part of a broader effort to mature autonomous collision-avoidance capabilities for operational UAV platforms.

Thesis Focus

UAV Guidance & Alerting Algorithm Development

The thesis investigates algorithmic approaches to airborne collision avoidance, with emphasis on adapting and evaluating ACAS-Xu–based guidance and alerting logic for unmanned aircraft operating in shared airspace.

Work is primarily simulation-driven and examines system-level behaviour, including alert timing, guidance effectiveness, and trade-offs between safety, operational efficiency, and nuisance alerting.

Emphasises autonomy, aviation safety, and system-level evaluation rather than platform-specific hardware implementation.

Methodology

Confidentiality & Availability

Due to intellectual property and confidentiality constraints associated with industry collaboration, implementation details, source code, and proprietary data are not publicly available.

Public material is therefore limited to high-level system descriptions, methodology, and non-sensitive performance discussion.

Status

Status: Ongoing
Degree: Master of Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace)
Institution: The University of Queensland
Industry Partner: Revolution Aerospace