NUAIR and New York UAS Test Site Lead Path for Safe Drone Operations Over People with Workhorse and AVSS Collaboration

NUAIR recently put the Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions Inc. (AVSS) drone parachute recovery system through rigorous safety and failure scenarios over multiple days at the New York UAS Test Site in Rome, New York. The tests were successful on the American-made Horsefly, produced by Workhorse, an Ohio-based tech company.

The successful tests prove the AVSS parachute recovery system complies with ASTM International parachute standard F3322-18, allowing Workhorse to expedite their Durability and Reliability Testing requirements, and allowing commercial drone pilots utilizing this platform combination to fly over people legally and safely. NUAIR has now conducted five parachute standard validations since the standard was published in 2018.

Drone safety standards continue to be developed to keep skies safe, much like how safety standards for cars and trucks keep roads safe. Before a motor vehicle manufacturer can put their vehicles on the road, they must have their components tested by a third party to confirm or validate, that the product complies with current standards. The process is the same for drones, with NUAIR acting as the third-party validation service.

The AVSS parachute recovery system is a safety product for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones. In the event of a drone malfunction in the air, the system will automatically cut power to the drone, deploy its parachute, and allow the aircraft to descend slowly from the sky. This safety system significantly decreases the potential of harm to people or property on the ground and reduces the risk of damage to the drone itself.

“The AVSS drone parachute tests conducted at Oneida County’s UAS Test Site at Griffiss are vital to ensuring safe commercial drone operations,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “Our test site continues to lead the way in drone development, and these latest standard validations will advance the entire industry to new heights. With our partners at NUAIR, Oneida County is flourishing as a world-renowned hub for UAS innovation.”

NUAIR has now conducted three successful validations for AVSS, with the first being completed in 2020. Because drones come in many shapes and sizes, the parachute validation is tied specifically to the type of drone that was used during testing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibits most drones from being flown over people. New rules recently published by the FAA have made the process to legally fly over people easier, one of which removes the need to apply for a waiver to fly over people if the drone pilot can show they have robust safety mitigations in place that meet an FAA-approved method of compliance (MOC). The MOC is still being finalized, which includes the parameters of having a validated parachute recovery system.

“It was great working with AVSS again and I’m happy we were able to successfully validate their product to two more platforms,” said Tony Basile, chief operations officer of NUAIR. “Our crew at the New York UAS Test Site has these validation tests down pat, making the whole process effortless and cost-effective for our clients.”

“When AVSS needed to complete the ASTM standard with Workhorse, a drone delivery partner, NUAIR was an obvious choice to partner with again,” said Josh Ogden, chief executive officer of AVSS. “Working with the NUAIR team ensures that our customers know we’ve partnered with the premier FAA-designated test site and that our parachute recovery system will be properly validated. As we continue the integration of our various PRS models into commercial drones and drone delivery platforms, we look forward to continuing this partnership.”

The validation of AVSS’s PRS product on the Horsefly allows Workhorse and its partner United Parcel Service (UPS) to advance the reality of economically viable, routine package delivery via drones. The Horsefly a custom-built, American-made drone designed for safety and efficiency, can fly autonomously and can undergo the rigors of day-to-day deliveries. Workhorse has developed electric delivery trucks that pair with the Horsefly, providing a take-off and landing pad on the roof with charging capabilities and a control center for the driver to program the drone’s delivery route.

“We’re delighted with our team’s performance,” said John Graber, President of Workhorse Aerospace. “They’ve worked months preparing for the rigors of ASTM qualification, and it speaks well for our team and our product that we passed 45 of 45 test events with no failures. We could not be more proud of our people and their work. And that includes the AVSS and NUAIR teams. They are demanding professionals who perform to very high standards. We look forward to fielding our Unmanned Aerial Systems with ASTM-approved AVSS parachute systems.”

New York State continues to invest and support Central New York’s surging UAS and advanced technology ecosystem. Support began in 2015 as part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Upstate Revitalization Initiative, aptly named CNY Rising, which included an unprecedented $35 million commitment for the creation of a UAS test corridor between Syracuse and Rome. Thanks to these investments and others, Central New York continues its path of increasing jobs, regional wealth, and UAS advancement.

Empire State Development acting commissioner and president & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, “New York’s state-of-the-art UAS test site in Rome has marked another milestone with the successful testing of the AVSS drone parachutes. The site, and the Mohawk Valley-to-Central New York testing corridor, are fueling the growth of a high-tech UAS industry cluster, through public-private partnerships and next-generation companies creating economic opportunities throughout New York State and beyond.”

About NUAIR

NUAIR (Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance, Inc.) is a New York-based nonprofit organization that provides expertise in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations, aeronautical research, safety management, and consulting services. NUAIR is responsible for the continued advancement of New York’s 50-mile UAS Corridor and Advanced Air Mobility Proving Grounds, facilitating beyond visual line of sight testing and commercial drone operations. Headquartered in Syracuse, NUAIR manages operations of the FAA-designated New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, NY, responsible to the FAA and NASA to conduct operations for UAS and advanced air mobility testing. Visit www.nuair.org to learn more.

 About AVSS

Founded in 2017, AVSS – Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions Inc. (AVSS) is a Canadian aerospace company commercializing safety and parachute technologies for Urban Air Mobility. AVSS’s current products are parachute recovery systems for commercial drones and precision delivery systems for last-mile delivery. AVSS’s parachute recovery system products have been integrated as retrofit solutions for commercial off-the-shelf drones and OEM solutions for commercial drone manufacturers.

About Workhorse

Workhorse, the industry leader in last-mile EV delivery, is a technology company focused on providing drone-integrated electric vehicles to the last-mile delivery sector. As an American original equipment manufacturer, Workhorse designs and builds high-performance, battery-electric vehicles including trucks and aircraft. Workhorse also develops cloud-based, real-time telematics performance monitoring systems that are fully integrated with our vehicles and enable fleet operators to optimize energy and route efficiency. All Workhorse vehicles are designed to make the movement of people and goods more efficient and less harmful to the environment.