Avionics
MIT and Merlin To Integrate Collision Avoidance Technology
The partners are pursuing new uncrewed aircraft applications for the FAA-funded system
Merlin Pilot flight automation technology
The Merlin Pilot flight automation system will use airborne collision avoidance technology being developed by MIT for uncrewed aircraft.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory is working with flight automation system developer Merlin on plans to implement new collision avoidance technology. In an agreement announced on April 23, the organizations will explore the commercialization of the Airborne Collision Avoidance System Xu on uncrewed aircraft.

Initially, the collaboration will focus on implementing the ACAS Xu’s RTCA DO-368 software standard with the Merlin Pilot automation system Merlin is developing for use on existing aircraft. The Xu system being developed by MIT is an uncrewed air systems version of the ACAS X technology that MIT is developing for other aircraft with funding from the FAA. It is intended to meet the U.S. air safety agency’s requirements for new-generation airspace procedures.

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