Analysis of the UAVCAN standard with regard to the SORA process for UAS

Abstract

This work analyses the UAVCAN standard in context of the SORA. The certified category for Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operation requires operators to perform a SORA. The risk of an operation defines the technical and operational requirements for the UAS. The increasing complexity of operations and avionic systems require for distributed avionic systems. This demand can be satisfied by communication standards based on shared mediums like a data bus. UAVCAN meets this low-level requirement and additionally defines high-level functions that improve the system design, system monitoring and configuration processes. In this thesis the capabilities of the UAVCAN standard are matched to the requirements of a SORA for a flight test demonstrator operated by the DLR. The deduction of supporting standards for system safety assessment is described and system safety assessments are conducted to identify weak points within the current avionic system. In addition this work presents new concepts that benefit an operators system design process. These concepts include configuration management, system monitoring and redundancy concepts supported by the UAVCAN standard. Finally this work summarises the effects of an avionic architecture based on the UAVCAN standard on the SORA process.