Guardian: A Success Story of Safety-Driven Innovation
Guardian, a groundbreaking initiative by the U.S. Navy, has revolutionized the way unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operate, effectively creating a capability that gives air vehicle pilots the ability to see outside of their cockpit during flight. This ground-based detect and avoid system provides critical information to remote UAV pilots, empowering them to safely navigate and maneuver their aircraft within a defined airspace. However, such a sophisticated system demands rigorous safety analysis, and that's where Edge Case Research played a pivotal role.
Initially evaluated at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD)'s Atlantic Test Ranges, Guardian is being deployed in support of unmanned aerial vehicle test and operations. A Guardian prototype is also under development for use on aircraft carriers. This expansion requires meticulous safety assessments to meet stringent standards, particularly MIL-STD-882E, the Department of Defense's standard for system safety. NAVAIR recognized the need for additional expertise and resources, "resulting in a long-standing partnership with Edge Case Research that began in 2020.
Edge Case Research (ECR) has supported Guardian's development lifecycle by working closely with NAVAIR's integrated product and system safety teams. From analyzing and tracking hazards, developing system and software safety requirements, developing procedural safety requirements for operation and support, and providing system and software safety design and process guidance. Safety artifacts delivered by ECR in support of MIL-STD-882E safety assessment include Hazard Tracking System (HTS), Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA), Functional Hazard Analysis (FHA), Subsystem Hazard Analysis (SSHA), Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), and Operating and Support Hazard Analysis (O&SHA).
These contributions were instrumental in shaping the system's design, architecture, and operation to achieve safety requirements of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). ECR collaborated with software developers to ensure Guardian's development processes, system architecture, and operator interface design met these requirements. “Systems like Guardian must ensure the safety significant information they provide to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle pilots is correct and easy to understand, without overwhelming pilot workloads” The extensive testing and analysis by ECR has helped the Navy to achieve NAVAIR certification in August 2023.
Edge Case CEO added, “Guardian's success is a testament to the power of delivering critical capability to our military.” Edge Case’s expertise in ensuring the safety of frontier technologies and sophisticated systems, combined with their collaborative approach, has been instrumental in ensuring that Guardian is safe and reliable. As Guardian continues to evolve and expand its operational footprint, the foundation of safety built in collaboration with Edge Case has been instrumental for its continued success.
