The SAE Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS) is a technology enabler for air, ground, water surface, and underwater unmanned systems. SAE JAUS is platform independent and thus provides a standard for interfacing with different types of vehicles, sensors, operator control stations, and payloads.

The SAE AS-4 Unmanned Systems Technical Committee defines a set of standards for use in unmanned systems. While each standard can be used individually, specific guidance is required for combining them. This recommendation provides this guidance and defines the concept of "interoperability profiles" (Section 5). An Interoperability Profile is the result of a strategic application of standards in a layered approach. The desired result is for any two systems that implement the same Interoperability Profile to interoperate in a useful way.

This document, the JAUS Compliance and Interoperability Policy (ARP6012), recommends an approach to documenting the complete interface of an unmanned system or component in regard to the application of the standard set. While non- SAE AS-4 JAUS documents are referenced in this ARP they are not within the scope of this document and should be viewed as examples only.