Across the world, low-altitude airspace operates under visual flight rules (VFR), where many crewed aircraft fly without continuous air traffic control or filed flight plans. Safety depends on pilots seeing one another and maintaining separation—a system that has served aviation for decades but is difficult to monitor and unsuitable for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations. Because uncrewed aircraft lack an onboard pilot to “see and avoid” other traffic, regulators have been cautious about approving BVLOS flights. Ground-based detect-and-avoid (DAA) technology changes that dynamic by providing a reliable way to detect nearby aircraft and maintain safe separation. This capability is central to the partnership between High Lander and Thirdeye Systems, which aims to enable safe, scalable BVLOS operations and accelerate the future of autonomous drone flight.
As lower airspace becomes increasingly congested, the systems used to prevent mid-air conflicts remain largely dependent on traditional, aircraft-based hardware. Under a newly signed memorandum of understanding (MoU), High Lander and Thirdeye Systems have launched their first joint field program to demonstrate a ground-based, multi-aircraft detect-and-avoid (DAA) capability designed to support safe, scalable beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.
The trial will evaluate Thirdeye’s autonomous optical detection system as a complement to, and potential replacement for, human visual observers while determining how it integrates into the broader BVLOS operational ecosystem. The goal is to help advance BVLOS flights from individual regulatory approvals to routine, scalable operations.
From Human Observation to Autonomous Detection
As part of the trial, drones operated by Dronery and a helicopter flown by Brook Aviation completed a series of flight scenarios to compare Thirdeye’s autonomous optical detection system with a human visual observer. The tests included aircraft flying above and below the horizon, against both open sky and complex terrain, in challenging lighting conditions, and on approaches toward the sun. A controlled encounter between the helicopter and the drones further evaluated whether the system could detect and alert operators to a developing conflict in sufficient time to support safe deconfliction.
Beyond validating target detection, the program is designed to demonstrate how real-time optical tracking data can be integrated into a centralized, multi-operator airspace management environment. High Lander provides the digital infrastructure that connects ground-based sensors with a unified airspace management platform, enabling a shared operational view for all participants.
“BVLOS operations are the future of aviation, opening new opportunities across commercial, public safety, security, and defense applications,” said Alon Abelson, CEO and co-founder of High Lander. “Achieving that future requires more than tracking aircraft—it requires complete airspace awareness. By combining advanced optical detection with intelligent traffic management, we’re providing the visibility and safety foundation needed for the next generation of autonomous aviation.”
Building a Shared Airspace Picture
Ground-based detect-and-avoid (DAA) systems offer a scalable alternative to aircraft-mounted hardware. By deploying autonomous sensors along recurring flight routes, strategic corridors, and high-density operating areas, multiple drone operators can share a common surveillance infrastructure rather than relying on equipment installed on every aircraft.
“Persistent ground-based observation addresses one of the biggest gaps in lower-airspace awareness, particularly when it comes to non-cooperative aircraft,” said Lior Segal, CEO of Thirdeye Systems. “Our automated sensing technology delivers reliable tracking without depending on onboard transponders. This field program establishes an important foundation for using passive optical radar to safely support BVLOS operations and integrated airspace management.”
Thirdeye’s MeduzaX passive optical radar provides the autonomous sensing layer, using edge computing to process environmental data with minimal latency. The live sensor feed integrates directly with High Lander’s Vega UTM platform, which combines inputs from detect-and-avoid and counter-UAS systems into a single command-and-control interface.
By correlating live optical detections with active flight plans managed through High Lander’s Orion drone fleet management platform, the system creates a real-time common operating picture. Cooperative, authorized drones are automatically identified as friendly traffic, while unidentified or unauthorized aircraft are immediately flagged, enabling operators to distinguish legitimate flights from potential risks. This integrated approach enhances situational awareness and supports reliable airspace deconfliction for high-density facilities, airports, and urban drone corridors.
Looking Ahead
The trial reflects a broader industry shift from approving BVLOS flights individually toward building the permanent infrastructure required for routine autonomous operations. By combining detection, identification, and airspace management into a unified operational framework, High Lander and Thirdeye aim to help make scalable BVLOS operations a practical reality.
The two companies will continue evaluating the system across additional operational scenarios and environmental conditions as the program advances.
