12 The British Standards Institution (BSI) has published a standard to minimise the risk of manoeuvres for autonomous driving, writes Nick Flaherty. BSI Flex 188 gives guidance for selecting the minimal risk manoeuvres (MRMs) and minimal risk conditions (MRCs) that highly automated vehicles (AVs) require when an automated driving system (ADS) is degraded or fails. It provides a framework for consideration of the risks involved in AV manoeuvres, and those related to conditions at the location where the vehicle stops to minimise the overall risk involved, and combines them to select the lowest overall risk using MRX trigger information. This applies to driverless vehicles used in developmental testing, advanced trials and deployment. It covers prototype vehicles, and passenger and freightcarrying services on public roads. The standard does not cover functionality or manoeuvres associated with the normal expected behaviour of an ADS, changes of destination or route requested by passengers, or an external agent such as the police, or manoeuvres that do not result in the AV stopping at a minimal risk condition. Standards Removing risk from AV manoeuvres and achieve the safest possible outcome. A popular example is failure of the core system on a motorway, whether the vehicle pulls over to the side to stop or continues at a slower speed. The nature of the event triggering the MRM is key to selecting the combined MRM and MRC with the lowest overall risk. The BSI standard covers the functionality or manoeuvres beyond the normal expected behaviour of an ADS, and introduces the concept of a minimal risk event (MRX), which combines MRM, MRC and MRX triggers. It also categorises manoeuvres and conditions according to the risks December/January 2025 | Uncrewed Systems Technology high power, data throughput, scalability and electronic warfare resilience for operations at the tactical edge. “Designed for seamless integration into a wide range of uncrewed systems, the SL5200 unifies C2, sensor and telemetry data with communication relay capabilities in one OEM module.” To help facilitate systems integration, Silvus has sought to enable onboard interfacing with the SL5200 with a diversity of connection types; Ethernet, USB and RS232 serial all compatible. The module functions using Silvus’ proprietary MN-MIMO (mobile-networked MIMO) waveform, which the company describes as a blend of established CODFM (coded orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing), MIMO and MANET techniques. It enables the connection of hundreds of nodes in any operational environment, with at least 550 as the confirmed minimum number. These nodes may be multiple UAVs, UGVs, USVs, sensors, personnel and optionally crewed platforms operating simultaneously over a wide area to generate a common operating picture through a single, scalable, mesh network. For interoperability, the device is also compatible with Silvus’ 4000 series StreamCaster MANET radios. For data-link security, both AES256 and FIPS 140-3 encryption are available for installation in the SL5200, and the solution features available access to Silvus’ Spectrum Dominance expansive suite of LPI/LPD (low probability of intercept/low probability of detection) and anti-jamming resilience capabilities. Radio Enhancing MANET radio tech for uncrewed systems Silvus Technologies has launched its StreamCaster LITE 5200 (SL5200), designed and developed to be the US company’s next-generation, mobile, adhoc network (MANET) radio OEM module. The highly SWaP-optimised and easily integrated SL5200 is intended for use in uncrewed systems as small and weight-restricted as Group 1 UASs (UAVs weighing up to 20 lb, or 9 kg). Weighing 52 g, it provides data rates up to 100 Mbps, with up to 2 W of native output power or 4 W of effective power, thanks to Silvus’ proprietary TX Eigen Beamforming technique for maximising signal strength and system performance in MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) communications. “The StreamCaster LITE 5200 marks a significant advancement in MANET radio technology for uncrewed systems,” said Neema Daneshvar, vice-president of product at Silvus Technologies. “Delivering Group 2 performance in a Group 1 footprint, the SL5200 provides The SL5200 (Image courtesy of Silvus Technologies)
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