Description: A means to independently validate Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) was implemented using the 1030MHz interrogations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) secondary surveillance radar (SRR) systems and in flight Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS). During the phase two NASA contract, R Cubed Engineering (R3E) discovered that the key to increasingly accurate ADS-B validations (<500ft) lie within the timestamping of the incoming radio frequency signals that is derived from a trusted time source. The Army has invested significant matching funds to proceed with the implementation of validated ADS-B using a trusted time source into commercial and military avionics with our manufacturing partners uAvionix, WebSec and Viasat. The Phase II E matching funds will be expended on the following tasks: (1) System Requirements Review, (2) Software and firmware conversion into the transponder processing system, (3) Validated ADS-B Critical Design Review, (4) System Integration and Demonstration, and (5) System Certification.

Benefits: Validated ADS-B represents a quantum leap in aircraft safety providing a simple means to trust shared positional information for flight critical systems. NASA's innovations have led the way forward in developing technology that helps improve the efficiency and maintain the highest levels of safety of the National Airspace System and abroad. NASA's Aeronautics divisions at Ames, Langley, Armstrong and Glenn could help shape how the rule making committees validate ADS-B by consensus using technology implemented under this SBIR effort.

Trusting ADS-B through independent validation enables increased awareness and safety enhancements in the modern aviation world. Autonomous collision avoidance using ADS-B is the 99% solution for unfettered access and safe airspace operations. This technology will be implemented into commercial and military transponders with the help of our USA manufacturing partners uAvionix, Websec and Viasat.