Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System


The Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System team was awarded the 2018 Collier Trophy for the design-integration and flight testing in the F-35, marking the year's greatest achievement in aeronautics. The Auto-GCAS team includes the Air Force Research Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, the F-35 Joint Program Office, the Defense Safety Oversight Council, and NASA. Auto-GCAS technology enhances safety by mitigating controlled flight into terrain accidents.

Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System

The Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System uses inputs from terrain mapping, aircraft location, and automation to avoid ground collisions. The Auto-GCAS system
detects imminent ground contact and warns the pilot. If there is no pilot response, the Auto-GCAS takes control, maneuvering to avoid ground contact. When on a safe trajectory, with pilot awareness, control returns to the pilot.
Pilot unresponsiveness can be attributed to many factors including: distraction, task saturation, incapacitation, and unconsciousness. The Auto-GCAS system successfully reduced the leading cause of F-16 pilot fatalities.
The Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System was first developed at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and NASA. NASA publications site working on Auto-GCAS starting in 1997.   In July 2019, seven years ahead of schedule, Lockheed Martin started integration of Auto-GCAS into the F-35 fleet.