UAS Classification: Key to effective airworthiness and operational regulations

This presentation discusses some of the general issues relating to the classification of UAS for the purposes of defining and promulgating safety regulations. One possible approach for the definition of a classification scheme for UAS Type Certification Categories reviewed

Modelling the Risks Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pose to People on the Ground

Worldwide there is much e ort being directed towards the development of a framework of air- worthiness regulations for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). It is now broadly accepted that regulations should have a strong foundation in, and traceability to, the management of the safety risks. Existing risk models for RPAS operations do not provide a simple means for incorporating the wide range of technical and operational controls into the risk analysis and evaluation processes. This paper describes a new approach for modelling and evaluating the risks associated with RPAS operations near populous areas based on the barrier bow tie (BBT) model. A BBT model is used to structure the underlying risk management problem. The model focuses risk analysis, evaluation, and decision making activities on the devices, people, and processes that can be employed to reduce risk. The BBT model and a comprehensive set of example risk controls are presented. The general model can be applied to any RPAS operation. The foundations for quantitative and qualitative assessments using a BBT model are also presented. The modelling and evaluation framework is illustrated through its application to a case-study rotary wing RPAS for two operational scenarios. The model can be used as a basis for determining airworthiness certification requirements for RPAS

Overview of Australian Civil UAS Regulations and Supporting Research

This presentation provides a review of current civil unmanned aircraft system operations and applications, the operational environment and aviation safety regulations in Australia. A summary of current regulatory reform efforts is also provided. The presentation includes new and existing research programs established to address the technical and social issues facing the unmanned aircraft systems industry and aid the regulatory reform process

The Australian UAS Experience

Invited presentation made to the New Zealand Robotic Systems Network Conference. The presentation provides an overview of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems industry, civil applications for the technology, some current research activity and the UAS industry initiatives in the Australia

An overview of UAS : capabilities and challenges

A history and introduction to civil unmanned aircraft systems in Australia. Discussion is provided on some of the current challenges facing the civil UAS sector and the research being undertaken to address these challenges

Highly Autonomous UAV Mission Planning and Piloting for Civilian Airspace Operations

The last decade has seen a rapid increase in the development and deployment of Unmanned Airborne Vehicles (UAVs). Previous UAVs have been capable of useful missions with a limited degree of on-board intelligence. However, more on-board intelligence is required to fully exploit the potential of UAVs. The objective of this research is to increase the on-board intelligence in two areas: mission planning; and mission piloting. Thereby improving the integration of a UAV into civilian airspace and reducing operator workload. This paper presents the research towards the development of the Intelligent Mission Planner and Pilot. The IMPP enables a UAV to autonomously plan and to perform missions within civilian airspace. The IMPP employs a novel multidisciplinary approach, exploiting robotics, 3D graphics and computer science techniques. Results are presented based upon testing using real world data from south-east Queensland. These results demonstrate the performance achieved by the mission planning and piloting algorithms

A requirements and capability discussion : UAS for SAR and law enforcement

This presentation explores the requirements and capabilities of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for applications in Law Enforcement and Search and Rescue

Lessons in history: The regulation of "horse-less carriages" and "pilot-less aircraft"

Lessons In History: The Regulation Of "Horse-Less Carriages" And "Pilot-Less Aircraft" This oral presentation provides an introduction to current research in the risk management of pilot-less aircraft, or more commonly referred to as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs). A historical review of the risk management of automobiles in the 1800’s is used to establish the motivation behind the research. The review identifies and discusses recurring issues in the regulation of new technologies through the identification of parallels between the regulation of early automobiles and that of the regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) today. It is found that many of the regulatory challenges facing UASs are analogous to those which faced the automobile industry more than a century and half ago. The historical comparison highlights the potential detriments of policy driven by perception and reinforces the need for informed and objective decision making in the development of policy and regulations. The comparison is also used to strengthen a number of arguments that challenge the current risk management philosophy adopted by regulatory authorities in the risk management of UASs. With the motivation behind the research program established, a summary of some of the key issues facing the effective regulation and risk management of UASs is presented. The presentation outlines the development of risk modelling and simulation tools that could be used in support of risk-informed decision making. The assessment tools provide evaluations of the levels of risk due to UASs operations over inhabited areas. The high level model is described and the results from an example case-study are presented. The results from the case-study highlight how even simple tools can aid the effective risk management and regulation of new technologies. Advantages and limitations are briefly discussed and the presentation concludes with a discussion on future avenues for research

The safety risk management of unmanned aircraft systems

The safety risk management process describes the systematic application of management policies, procedures and practices to the activities of communicating, consulting, establishing the context, and identifying, analysing, evaluating, treating, monitoring and reviewing risk. This process is undertaken to provide assurances that the risks of a particular unmanned aircraft system activity have been managed to an acceptable level. The safety risk management process and its outcomes form part of the documented safety case necessary to obtain approvals for unmanned aircraft system operations. It also guides the development of an organisation’s operations manual and is a primary component of an organisation’s safety management system. The aim of this chapter is to provide existing risk practitioners with a high level introduction to some of the unique issues and challenges in the application of the safety risk management process to unmanned aircraft systems. The scope is limited to safety risks associated with the operation of unmanned aircraft in the civil airspace system and over inhabited areas. The structure of the chapter is based on the safety risk management process as defined by the international risk management standard ISO 31000:2009 and draws on aviation safety resources provided by International Civil Aviation Organization, the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Department of Defense. References to relevant aviation safety regulations, programs of research and fielded systems are also provided