Liability for innovative technology(in particular software)

• IDS was founded in 1980 and is an international company of about 500 employees

• IDS S.p.A and Sistemi Dinamici S.p.A. (a Joint venture with AgustaWestland) have developed HERO, a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS)

• HERO, a helicopter with a 150 kg take-off weight, will be operational in 2015.

Innovative technologies in RPAS

• Innovative technologies in remotely piloted aircraft systems related to:– Positioning– Navigation – Communicating

• More than 80% of these technologies are software-based.

• Hence software liability is a major issue.

Foto di Hero in volo

Process followed by IDS for HERO• IDS was followed during each step by an ENAC (National Civil Aviation

Authority) team who checked that all phases of development and testing were consistent with applicable regulations to limit risks.

• Our HERO will the first RPAS to be certified in Italy in its category (25Kg<MTOW<150Kg)

Environment and the human role in safe drone operations

• Safe operations concern surrounding environment and human interactions

• Safe drone operations can be affected by:– unexpected bad weather conditions, – improper pilot reactions

• The risk of pilot error can be mitigated by adequate training.

• Pilot Training using Simulations can improve pilot skills that cannot be tested in a harsh real environment.

IDS measures to limit the misuse of RPAS• Pilot induced accidents, caused by poor training, can impact the RPAS

manufacturer due to a need to prove pilot responsibility.• To contain this risk, IDS provides a Ground Control Station with Embedded Training

functions using simulation models and in addition IDS will request that RPAS users pass a training course.

• IDS mission preparation tools enable the pilot to predict aircraft dynamics, sensor footprints, potential area of impact and communications continuity with GNSS signals and RPA-GCS up and up &down links.

IDS actions to limit RPAS liabilities in non segregated airspace

• Ensuring aircraft fly-ability by adhering to design and development processes approved and checked by ENAC, and thorough testing in segregated areas.

• Enabling the pilot to investigate potential risks in all flight and landing phases during mission rehearsal in the GCS.

• Cooperating with Eurocontrol in the INSuRE program validation and demonstration activities, with live trials addressing the integration of RPAS in both non-segregated and segregated airspaces

Liability and Cyber Attacks on drones

• Drones are cyber systems connected through up & down non physical links.

• A cyber threat can: – Deny (by means of interferences) the GCS uplink commands to the

RPAS– intercept the downlink signals – capture the uplink and take full operational control of the drones.

• Secure communications constitute an innovative field that will be dealt with using physical and software means.

Liability impacts time to market and insurance fees

• Industries have to sustain extra costs as an indispensable condition to get system operations qualification from avionic safety agencies and to ensure safety in the skies.

• This extra cost is a social cost to ensure safe skies.• Final users might be misled when selecting their needed system when

choosing on immediate non recurrent costs • Insurance fees could be a starting point when making decisions about

the suitable RPAS.

Something to ponder

• The major costs incurred in reducing system operation risks at all levels could be compensated by a reduction of insurance fees.

• Lower insurance fees should be applicable to users that choose qualified products.

• How about regulating Bodies such as ICAO and EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) as well as Insurance Companies increasing entry barriers high enough to keep non-compliant (in terms of risk mitigation) systems out of the market?