Overview
ISO 15964:2025 - Detection and avoidance systems for uncrewed aircraft systems - specifies safety and quality requirements for onboard detection and avoidance (DAA) systems used by uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). The standard covers functional and architectural requirements for DAA capabilities (including radar and optical sensors) and is derived to meet UAS operational requirements set out in ISO 21384-3. ISO 15964:2025 targets safe UAS operations in low‑altitude and complex environments such as urban areas.
Key Topics
- Core DAA functions: environmental perception, situational awareness, target avoidance, fault detection/isolation, fault indication and correction.
- System architecture: recommended interfaces between the DAA detection/recognition unit, processing unit, UAS control system and UTM/operator. Information exchange includes detection/recognition status, manoeuvre status and DAA health.
- Sensor scope: requirements and guidance for short‑range, mid‑range and long‑range sensors, including microwave radar, laser radar (LiDAR), cameras, infrared, ultrasonic and volumetric sensors, or combinations thereof.
- Safety and performance: safety performance criteria for detection, recognition, safe separation distance, avoidance manoeuvres, landing scenarios, fail‑safe behavior, fault diagnosis and management, power‑on self‑test, initialization and in‑flight monitoring.
- Operational considerations: airspace requirements, effective staging of sensors, human intervention modes, and state‑machine definitions for sensor and processing behaviors.
- Quality and verification: guidance on system quality, fault management, and integration with UAS traffic management (UTM).
Applications
ISO 15964 is practical for any organization developing, integrating or certifying DAA capabilities for UAS, including:
- UAS manufacturers and system integrators implementing onboard collision‑avoidance systems.
- Sensor and component suppliers (radar, LiDAR, camera, infrared).
- UAS operators and fleet managers deploying in urban, logistics, inspection, disaster response or infrastructure monitoring missions.
- Certification bodies, test houses and regulators assessing DAA safety and compliance.
- UTM providers and airspace planners coordinating DAA‑enabled operations.
Adopting ISO 15964 helps ensure reliable collision avoidance, improved situational awareness, and safer low‑altitude UAS operations.
Related Standards
- ISO 21384-3:2023 - Unmanned aircraft systems - Part 3: Operational procedures (requirements ISO 15964 is derived to meet)
- ISO 21384-4 - Unmanned aircraft systems - Part 4: Vocabulary
Keywords: ISO 15964, detection and avoidance, DAA systems, UAS, uncrewed aircraft, radar, optical sensors, safety requirements, collision avoidance, ISO 21384-3.