Aircraft situational awareness improvement system and method: Patent Application

A system and method are provided for improving aircraft pilot situational awareness. When datalink messages and/or automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data and/or various other data are received in the aircraft, the received data are processed to generate a spatial and temporal situational model for the aircraft. At least a portion of the spatial and temporal situational model is rendered on a display device within the aircraft

Runtime Analysis with R2U2: A Tool Exhibition Report

We present R2U2 (Realizable, Responsive, Unobtrusive Unit), a hardware-supported tool and framework for the continuous monitoring of safety-critical and embedded cyber-physical systems. With the widespread advent of autonomous systems such as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), satellites, rovers, and cars, real-time, on-board decision making requires unobtrusive monitoring of properties for safety, performance, security, and system health. R2U2 models combine past-time and future-time Metric Temporal Logic, “mission time” Linear Temporal Logic, probabilistic reasoning with Bayesian Networks, and model-based prognostics. The R2U2 monitoring engine can be instantiated as a hardware solution, running on an FPGA, or as a software component. The FPGA realization enables R2U2 to monitor complex cyber-physical systems without any overhead or instrumentation of the flight software. In this tool exhibition report, we present R2U2 and demonstrate applications on system runtime monitoring, diagnostics, software health management, and security monitoring for a UAS. Our tool demonstration uses a hardware-based processor-in-the-loop “iron-bird” configuration

EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF DOUBLE BOX WING UAV.

ABSTRACT In an attempt to reduce the induced drag on a wing, Prandtl found that induced drag reduced significantly by highly increasing the number of vertically offset wings. The same result could be obtained by joining the wingtips of two vertically offset wings. This helped increase payload capacity and also reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Such a wing configuration came to be known as Prandtl’s box wing. In this work, the design and analysis of a box wing aircraft model has been carried out. The preliminary analysis is performed using XFLR5, and the computational analysis is done with the help of ANSYS 18.2. The values of experiments are computed with the help of MATLab R2017. The box wing model has shown a nearly 53.74% reduction in drag as compared with conventional wing models. The computational results of drag have been compared and validated with the results of analytical and the experimental results from the wind tunnel and found to be within 10% of the computational result. Since the drag of the box wing is significantly lesser than the conventional wings the box wing is a feasible configuration which can be used to design various aircrafts including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Commercial Planes

Beyond 2020 NextGen Compliance: Human Factors and Cognitive Loading Issues for Commercial and General Aviation Pilots

As previously identified by the authors, digitized flight decks have realigned SHELL model components and introduced cognitive overload con­cerns. Considering changes from implementing Next Generation air traffic management requirements in 2020, the authors assess digitized interfaces associated with cockpit displays of information integral to performance based navigation and similar operations. Focus is placed on Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast, digitized communications, and expanded electronic flight bags. The ADSB (In) cockpit display will enable pilots to have flight visual awareness on aircraft, terrain, weather and hazards to flight through live satellite updates every second. Increased optical demands and cognitive loading are anticipated for general aviation and commercial pilots, beyond operational levels for those currently using advanced technologies. With nearly continuous cognitive processing and embedded information in the enhanced SHELL model by the authors, potential overload and concerns of situational awareness become likely candidates for human factors problems. Addressing these concerns, areas of emphasis for transition to NextGen 2020 operations are delineated, potential risks among increased cognitive disparities identified, and suggested foci recommended

Flying UAV’s in Iraq

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAV’s, are a growing reality and an important new weapon for today’s military. Hear what it was like to fly the RQ-7B “Shadow” UAV during Operation Iraqi Freedom from Stephen Rayleigh who spent a year in Iraq and has more than 1,000 hours experience flying them

FAA Letter in Response to White House Letter Regarding FAA Changes to Air Traffic Control Specialist Hiring Process

On July 18, 2014, you submitted a letter to President Obama regarding the Federal Aviation Administration\u27s (FAA) recent changes to the Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) hiring process. You expressed concern with the FAA\u27s decision to implement a single all sources hiring strategy and, as a result, you feel that it has disadvantaged graduates who successfully completed the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program, such as xxx. You also expressed concern with the implementation of the Biographical Assessment. Your letter was forwarded by the White House to our agency to address your concerns

Integrating Unmanned Aircraft Operations into the National Airspace System

Commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are expected to dominate the National Airspace System (NAS) in the years to come. One particular barrier preventing integration of UAS into the NAS is the lack of standardized procedures for separating aircraft and communicating with ATC. In preparation for adopting unmanned flight operations into a complex control system, it is important to identify solutions to effectively control UAS in the NAS. The Joint UAS and ATC Team (JUAT) group has designed several simulated ATC scenarios in order to determine effective solutions for integration. Through the use of digitized radar display overlays that replicate the military grid reference system (MGRS) in conjunction with traditional airspace sectors/boundaries the JUAT is able to simulate UAS operations on a basic level

Editorial

The aeronautical engineer is responsible for using cost-effective methods to develop ways of improving fuel efficiency and flight safety. Additionally, aeronautical engineers focus on lowering the environmental impact of air travel by creating aircraft that are more environmentally friendly. In Indian scenario, the development of aeronautical related advance technologies is still to grow with the Government of India initiative for the defence product under the Atmanirbhar Bharat and hope in few years now, these advanced technologies will be booming

Editorial

The special issue “Emerging Aerospace Technologies in Aerodynamics, Propulsion, and Materials” is published which covers the aerospace domain covering aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials used for aeronautical and aerospace domains. In this issue, the authors have focused on the articles related to experimental and computational work related to aircraft performance, aircraft stability and control, materials, and some other important areas. Most of the papers are based on Project Based Learning which is one of the research-oriented teaching-learning processes recently introduced in National Education Policy 2020 by the Government of India