This briefing provides a project overview to give insight into research activities and efforts being executed in order to integrate unmanned aircraft systems into the National airspace system

Grindle, Laurie Ann Marshall

NASA Technical Reports Server

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
UAS Integration in the NAS Project
UAS Commercialization Conference
Laurie Grindle
Project Manager, UAS Integration in the NAS Project
November 17, 2014
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20140017683 2019-08-31T15:37:30+00:00Z
Briefing Outline
• UAS Integration in the NAS Project Alignment within NASA
• Project Overview
• Project Technical Challenges and Technology Development Approach
2
NASA Aeronautics Portfolio
Conduct cutting-edge research that will 
produce innovative concepts, tools, and 
technologies to enable revolutionary 
changes for vehicles that fly in all 
speed regimes.
Directly address the fundamental ATM 
research needs for NextGen by dev-
eloping revolutionary concepts, 
capabilities, and technologies that 
will enable significant increases 
in the capacity, efficiency and 
flexibility of the NAS.
Fundamental Aeronautics Program Airspace Systems Program
Conduct cutting-edge research that will produce innovative 
concepts, tools, and technologies to improve the intrinsic safety 
attributes of current and future aircraft.
Preserve and promote the testing capabilities of one of the United States’ 
largest, most versatile and comprehensive set of flight and ground-based 
research facilities.
Aeronautics Test Program
Aviation Safety Program
Integrated 
Systems
Research Program
Conduct research at an integrated 
system-level on promising concepts and 
technologies and explore/assess/demonstrate 
the benefits in a relevant environment
3
NASA Aeronautics Portfolio
Conduct cutting-edge research that will 
produce innovative concepts, tools, and 
technologies to enable revolutionary 
changes for vehicles that fly in all 
speed regimes.
Directly address the fundamental ATM 
research needs for NextGen by dev-
eloping revolutionary concepts, 
capabilities, and technologies that 
will enable significant increases 
in the capacity, efficiency and 
flexibility of the NAS.
Fundamental Aeronautics Program Airspace Systems Program
Conduct cutting-edge research that will produce innovative 
concepts, tools, and technologies to improve the intrinsic safety 
attributes of current and future aircraft.
Preserve and promote the testing capabilities of one of the United States’ 
largest, most versatile and comprehensive set of flight and ground-based 
research facilities.
Aeronautics Test Program
Aviation Safety Program
Integrated 
Systems
Research Program
Conduct research at an integrated 
system-level on promising concepts and 
technologies and explore/assess/demonstrate 
the benefits in a relevant environment
4
Annual Performance 
Indicators (APIs)
UAS-NAS
AR-15-7: Deliver data, analysis, and 
recommendations based on integrated 
simulations and flight tests to the RTCA 
Special Committee on Minimum 
Operational Performance Standards 
(MOPS) for UAS to support preliminary 
MOPS development. 
NASA Strategic Plan Flow Down to UAS-NAS Project
5
2: Advance understanding of Earth and develop technologies to 
improve the quality of life on our home planet
PERFORMANCE GOAL 
UAS-NAS
STRATEGIC GOAL
2.1.6: Support transformation of civil aircraft operations and air traffic 
management through the development, application, and validation of 
advanced autonomy and automation technologies, including addressing 
critical barriers to future routine access of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) 
in the National Airspace System, through the development and maturation 
of technologies and validation of data.
AR-14-8: Conduct a human-in-the-
loop (HITL) simulation where 
unmanned aircraft are mixed with 
manned aircraft and subjected to a 
range of test conditions
2.1: Enable a revolutionary transformation for 
safe and sustainable U.S. and global aviation by 
advancing aeronautics research
OBJECTIVE
AR-16-6: Deliver data, analysis, and 
recommendations based on two 
integrated flight test series with 
simulated traffic and live vehicles to 
the RTCA Special Committee on MOPS 
for UAS to support final MOPS 
development. 
Phase 2 (P2)
Prior
Early investment 
Activities
External
Input
Sys Analysis: 
ConOps, Community Progress, etc.
Prior Activities Formulation
Initial Modeling, 
Simulation, & 
Flight Testing
Phase 1 (P1)
Flight Validated 
Research Findings to 
Inform FAA Decision 
Making
P2 Portfolio 
Developed
UAS-NAS Project Lifecycle
6
Integrated Modeling, Simulation, & 
Flight Testing
Technology Development to address Technical Challenges 
FY11/12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16
KDP
Technical input from Project technical elements, NRAs, Industry, Academia, Other 
Government Agencies, Project Annual Reviews
Project Goal, Research Themes, & Technical Challenges
7
TC-SAA: 
Sense and Avoid (SAA) 
Performance Standards
TC-C2: 
Command & Control (C2) 
Performance Standards
TC-HSI: Human 
Systems 
Integration
TC-ITE: Integrated 
Test & Evaluation
Research Theme 1: UAS Integration - Airspace integration procedures and performance 
standards to enable UAS integration in the air transportation system
Research Theme 2: Test Infrastructure - Test infrastructure to enable development and 
validation of airspace integration procedures and performance standards
Goal: Provide research findings to reduce technical barriers associated with 
integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems into the National Airspace System 
utilizing integrated system level tests in a relevant environment
Non-TC: 
Small UAS Mission 
Support Technologies
Non-TC: 
UAS Restricted Use 
Certification
TC = Technical Challenge
Air traffic services (en route)
Air traffic services
(TRACON)UAS Restricted-Use Certification
Precision agriculture
LEGEND
Detect and Avoid (DAA Technologies)
Air Traffic Services
Control and Non-Payload Communications (CNPC) Network
Legacy Command and Control (C2) Links
ACRONYMS
ADS–B: Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast
DAA: Detect and Avoid
TCAS–II: Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System
TRACON – Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities 
Small UAS (sUAS) 
Mission Support Technologies
UAS vehicle autonomy
Human Systems
Integration
Communications satellite
Ikhana UAS 
DAA test aircraft
Noncooperative aircraft
Cooperative aircraft
Detect 
and Avoid
UAS ground
control station Research ground
control station
Command 
and Control T-34 UAS surrogateCNPC test aircraft
CNPC ground stations
UAS-NAS Project OV-1
IT&E Technical Challenge: Backbone for Integrated Testing
UAS Integration in the NAS Project
Technical Challenge Value Proposition
NASA UAS-NAS TC Project Activities
TC
HSI
TC
C2
TC
SAA
Develop
Prototype 
GCS
Human Systems Integration
Integrated Test & Evaluation
SAA Performance Standards
C2 Performance Standards
Develop SAA 
Performance & 
Interoperability 
Requirements
Develop SAA 
Performance Testbed
Develop SAA 
Interoperability Testbed
Develop 
C2 Prototype 
System
Conduct Human Factors (HF) Flight 
Test and MS&A
Contingency Management
Pilot Response
Autonomy
SAA
C2
Displays
Conduct C2 Flight Test 
and MS&A
Data Link
CNPC Spectrum
CNPC Security
LOS
BLOS
ATC Interoperability
Conduct SAA Flight Test 
and MS&A
Performance Trade-offs
Interoperability
Self Separation
CONOPs
Well Clear
Collision Avoidance
Develop LVC Test 
Infrastructure
Conduct 
TC Specific Testing
DAA
MOPS
C2
MOPS
SAA
Technical 
Standard 
Order (TSO)
C2
Technical 
Standard 
Order (TSO)
HF Performance 
Requirements to inform 
DAA & C2 MOPs, 
HF Guidelines
SAA Performance 
Requirements to inform 
DAA MOPS
C2 Performance 
Requirements to inform C2 
MOPS
Re-usable Test 
Infrastructure
TC
ITE
Resultant OutcomesKey Products
9
Conduct IHITL Conduct SAA Initial 
Flight Test Scenarios
Conduct FT3 
Test Scenarios
Conduct FT4 Test 
Scenarios & Capstone
Develop C2 
Requirements
Develop HF 
Guidelines for
SAA, C2 & GCS
10
UAS-NAS Milestone Summary
Backup Slides
Key Elements Integrated Systems Research Program
TRL TRL 3-7Uses TRL to track progress
Project Life Cycle Finite life with defined project termination date
Governance NPR 7120.8 Research and Technology Program and Project Management Requirements NPR 7120.5 Program and Project Management Processes and Requirements
Infusion Timeline N+1 / N+2 or 2015 – 2025
Partnerships Strategically utilizes partnerships to ensure integrated system functionality, effective transition to industry, and cost sharing across industry and government agencies
Pedigree of Technology Promising technologies with demonstrated pedigree through fundamental research
Risk & Risk Reduction Integrated systems research is to reduce risk of application of technology
What is ISRP?
ISRP is an interim step between fundamental research and full systems integration
• ISRP takes promising technologies from fundamental research and matures them to mid-Technology 
Readiness Levels, validating their feasibility within integrated systems and relevant environments
• Technologies are tested as part of a larger integrated system where multiple technologies 
interact/interface with one another rather than being tested in isolation
• ISRP defines and develops ConOps of integrated systems while identifying critical technologies 
required to enable those systems
Success is defined by successful completion of the testing and obtaining information, not by a 
technology effort meeting its technical performance goals
12
UAS-NAS Project Formulation
Key Stakeholders and Influencing Factors
The NASA UAS-NAS Project is influenced by several key stakeholders 
within the UAS Community which helped guide it’s formulation
UAS ARC
UAS 
ExCom
JPDO 
FAA
Industry
NASA
ARMD
RTCA 
SC-228 
NASA 
Aeronautics 
Centers 
OSD 
SAA SARP 
NAC Aeronautics 
Committee
UAS Subcommittee
World 
Radio-communications
Conference 
UAS Meeting 
of Experts
Key Stakeholders &
Influencing Factors
Project Focus:
Unencumbered NAS Access for Civil 
/ Commercial UAS
13Phase 1 Influences


UAS Integration in the NAS Project UAS Commericalization Conference

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