The eXperimental Sensor-Controller Aerial Vehicle (XSCAV) unmanned flight test platform at NASA Ames Research Center is a small ultra-low-cost unmanned vehicle testbed used for experimental control systems research , development, and experimentation. The XSCAV is unique in its class, providing ample carrying capacity that rivals medium sized UAVs but at a fraction of the cost and complexity. The XSCAV is developed around the Reflection Architecture, a central plug-and-play software infrastructure that provides an end-to-end platform for rapid development, integrated simulation and HILS testing, V&V, and flight testing of experimental sensors and control system algorithms. A formal process has been developed around this architecture which takes research hardware and software through all stages of technology development and flight readiness, in compliance with NASA process requirements for systems and software engineering. The XSCAV is FAA authorized and NASA approved for operation in Class D airspace.
