Johnson, Charles W.

Walker, John

NASA Technical Reports Server

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
www.nasa.gov 
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration in the 
National Airspace System (NAS) Project 
 
ICAO Regional Unmanned Aircraft Seminar  
Lima, Peru April 18-20, 2012  
Presented by: Mr. John Walker on behalf of Mr. Chuck Johnson 
Manager, UAS Integration in the NAS Project 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20140006954 2019-08-29T13:48:48+00:00Z
Problem Statement 
• There is an increasing need to fly UAS in the NAS to perform missions of vital 
importance to National Security and Defense, Emergency Management, 
Science 
 
• There is also an emerging need to enable Commercial Applications 
 
• UAS are unable to routinely access the NAS today due to numerous barriers 
including, but not limited to, a lack of: 
– Validated technologies and procedures which ensure UAS can maintain safe 
separation from other aircraft 
– Secure and scalable command and control communications systems for UAS 
– Robust and certified pilot/aircraft interfaces for Ground Control Stations (GCS) 
– Standardized safety and certification regulations applicable to UAS 
 
• The technologies, procedures, and regulations to enable seamless operation 
and integration of UAS in the NAS need to be developed, validated, and 
employed by the FAA through rulemaking and policy development 
 
2 
How the Project Focus was Determined 
• Used stakeholder inputs to confirm project focus (since 2009) 
– Vetted with UAS Executive Committee (ExCom), FAA Technical Center, FAA Unmanned 
Aircraft Program Office (UAPO), RTCA Special Committee 203 (SC-203), and industry 
• Leveraged knowledge gained and lessons learned from previous NASA and National 
work (small sample) 
– Long history of flying UAS (since 1968) 
– Access 5 Project (2003-2006) 
– RTCA Operational Services and Environment Definition (OSED) for UAS (dated April 2010) 
• Ensured work aligned with NASA skills and expertise 
• Synergistic work (not unnecessarily duplicative with other activities)  
• Timeframe for Impact – 2015-2025 
• Inputs from Meeting of Experts (MoE) held on August 5, 2010 
– Led to focus on civil access and elimination of Sense And Avoid (SAA) sensors and 
algorithms from work 
• Meeting with FAA and RTCA held on November 29-December 1, 2011 
– Led to expansion of work to include defining SAA system and interoperability requirements 
– Led to expansion of work to include certification methodology for type design certificate 
3 
UAS Integration in the NAS 
Need Statement 
The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Community needs routine access to 
global airspace for all classes of UAS 
 
Project Goal 
Utilize integrated system level tests in a relevant environment to eliminate or 
reduce technical barriers related to the safety and operational challenges of 
integrating UAS into the NAS 
 
Technology Development Areas 
Separation Assurance-Sense and Avoid Interoperability (SSI), Human Systems 
Integration (HSI), Communications, Certification, Integrated Test & Evaluation 
 
Key Stakeholders  
UAS ExCom, FAA, JPDO/NextGen, DoD, SC-203 and other Standards/Regulatory 
Organizations 
 
 
 
 
Time-frame for Impact 2015 to 2025 
4 
Two-Step Approach 
• The project goal will be accomplished through a two-step approach based on development 
of system-level integration of key concepts, technologies and/or procedures, and 
demonstrations of integrated capabilities in an operationally relevant environment. 
 
• Initial Activities (first 12-24 months) 
– Conduct initial modeling, simulation, and flight testing 
– Complete early subproject-focused deliverables (spectrum requirements, comparative 
analysis of certification methodologies, etc.) 
– Use deliverables from early investment activities to help the FAA define a national 
vision and strategy for civil UAS access to the NAS 
– Validate the key technical elements identified by this project 
 
• Integrated Activities (last 36-48 months) 
– Conduct systems-level, integrated testing of concepts and/or capabilities that address 
barriers to routine access to the NAS.   
– Provide regulators with a methodology for developing airworthiness requirements for 
UAS, and data to support development of certification standards and regulatory 
guidance 
– Develop a body of evidence to support the safe integration of UAS into the NAS 
 
5 
Prior 
Technical input from Project technical elements, NRAs, Industry, Academia, Other Government Agencies 
Early investment 
Activities 
External 
Input 
Sys Analysis: ConOps, Gap analysis, etc. 
Prior Activities Formulation 
Initial Modeling, 
Simulation, & Flight 
Testing 
Flight Validated Integrated Capability for 
UAS Access 
Validate Key 
Technical Areas 
Project Phasing Plan 
 
Integrated Modeling, Simulation, & 
Flight Testing 
Technology Development  
FY11/12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 
6 
Initial project 
funding was 
received on 
May 9, 2011 
Separation Assurance – Sense and Avoid Interoperability (SSI) 
• The SSI subproject will address barriers to on-demand UAS operations in non-
segregated airspace that are due to: 
– The uncertainty surrounding the ability to interoperate in ATC environments and maintain 
safe separation from other aircraft in the absence of an on-board pilot. 
– The lack of validated requirements for Sense And Avoid (SAA) systems and their 
interoperability with separation assurance functions. 
– The lack of data supporting the safety of UAS operations in non-segregated airspace. 
 
 
• The SSI technical challenge will be met through two primary objectives: 
 1.  Assess the effects of UAS performance characteristics, communications latencies and 
changes to separation roles and responsibilities on the airspace 
• Assess the applicability to UAS and the performance of NASA NextGen separation 
assurance concepts in flight tests with realistic latencies and trajectory uncertainty 
• Provide an assessment of how NextGen separation assurance systems with different 
functional allocations perform for UAS in mixed operations with manned aircraft  
 
 2.  Assess the interoperability of UAS sense-and-avoid systems with the ATC environment 
• Determine the performance expectations (requirements) for UAS equipped with SAA 
systems in order to validate FAA defined SAA requirements 
• Determine the effects (capacity, workload, efficiency) of UAS Separation Assurance 
(SA) and SAA interoperability on the ATC environment 
 
  
 7 
Sense and Avoid (SAA) System 
Separation Assurance Volume 
Collision Avoidance Volume 
Self-Separation Volume 
FAA -SAA  Workshop Final Report , October 9, 2009  
Collision Volume 
1000 ft 
200 ft NMAC 
The Self Separation 
Threshold (well clear) 
is a variable boundary 
that depends on time, 
distance, 
maneuverability, and 
other parameters.  
The SAA system includes both Self Separation and Collision 
Avoidance functions.   
The Collision 
Avoidance Threshold 
is a variable boundary 
that depends on time, 
distance, 
maneuverability, and 
other parameters.  
The Collision Volume 
Threshold is a fixed 
distance based 
boundary 
8 
  SAA/SA Interoperability 
  
Collision 
Avoidance 
0 to ~30 
Seconds to 
Collision 
Volume 
0 Seconds to  
TBD Minutes to 
Collision 
Avoidance 
Volume 
Self 
Separation 
Tactical SA  ~2-5 min to  
Loss of Separation 
Interoperability 
Timeframe 
Strategic SA ~3 -10+ min to  
Loss of Separation 
Notional depiction of overlapping detection look-ahead times for different  
SA and SAA functions (not to scale). 
Look-ahead times vary with different algorithms. 
Sense and Avoid 
ATC Provided Separation Functions   
Self Separation – SAA maneuver by the 
UAS pilot within a sufficient timeframe to 
prevent activation of CA while conforming 
to accepted air traffic separation 
standards.   
Collision Avoidance – SAA action to 
prevent an intruder from penetrating 
the collision volume when all other 
modes of separation fail. 
9 
Human Systems Integration 
• The HSI subproject will seek to address barriers regarding lack of 
standards and guidelines with respect to UAS display/information as well 
as lack of Ground Control Station (GCS) design requirements to operate in 
the NAS. 
 
• Objectives   
 The HSI technical challenge will be met through two primary objectives: 
1. Develop a research test-bed and database to provide data and proof of concept for 
GCS operations in the NAS.
2. Coordinate with standards organizations to develop human factors guidelines for 
GCS operation in the NAS. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 
HSI Subproject 
Coordinate with ATC -
respond w/o increase to 
ATC workload 
Standard aeronautical  
database for compatibility 
Traffic information for  
situation awareness and  
separation (NextGen) 
Seamlessly interact 
with SSI 
Ensure operator 
knowledge of 
complex airspace 
and rules 
Efficiently manage 
contingency operations w/o 
disruption of the NAS 
Research test-bed 
and database to 
provide data and 
proof of concept 
for GCS 
operations in the 
NAS 
11 
Human factors 
guidelines for GCS 
operation in the NAS 
Communications 
12 
• The Communications subproject will seek to address barriers regarding 
lack of frequency spectrum and data links for civil UAS control 
communication. 
 
• Objectives  
 The Communication subproject technical challenge will be met through 4 primary 
objectives: 
1. Develop data and rationale to obtain appropriate frequency spectrum allocations to 
enable the safe and efficient operation of UAS in the NAS. 
2. Develop and validate candidate UAS control and non payload (CNPC) system 
prototype, which complies with proposed international/national regulations, 
standards, and practices.  (The prototype CNPC radios are being developed under a 
cost-sharing cooperative agreement with Rockwell Collins.) 
3. Perform analysis and propose CNPC security recommendations for public and civil 
UAS operations. 
4. Perform analysis to support recommendations for integration of CNPC and ATC 
communications to ensure safe and efficient operation of UAS in the NAS. 
 
 
 
 
CNPC 
Ground Station 
FAA 
(ATC & ATS) 
CNPC Network 
Possible Future ATS and ATC Ground Connectivity 
CNPC  
Satcomm Link 
Civil UAS Communication Notional Architecture
13 
CNPC 
Ground Station 
Ground Control  
Station 
Ground Control  
Station 
Ground Control  
Station 
Communication Subproject Focus
14 
CNPC 
Ground Station 
w/Prototype Radio 
FAA 
(ATC & ATS) 
CNPC Network 
Possible Future ATS and ATC Ground Connectivity 
Ground Control  
Station 
CNPC  
Satcomm Link 
Prototype radio Prototype radio 
CNPC 
Ground Station 
w/Prototype Radio 
Message Generator 
Manned or surrogate aircraft 
Secure and Scalable 
Ground Control  
Station 
Ground Control  
Station 
Message Generator 
Certification 
• The Certification subproject seeks to reduce two related barriers regarding 
certification: 
1. The lack of airworthiness requirements specific to the full range of UAS, or for their 
avionics systems or other components 
2. The lack of safety-related data available to support decision making for defining 
airworthiness requirements 
 
• Objectives  
 The Certification subproject technical challenge will be met through two primary 
objectives: 
1. Methodology for classification of UAS and determination of airworthiness standards 
for avionics aspects of UAS. 
2. Hazard and risk related data to support development of regulation. 
3. Methodology for developing a type design certificate for civil UAS (not yet approved) 
 
 
 
15 
Certification Subproject: Regulatory Framework 
Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations 
a.k.a. Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) 
No person may operate an aircraft 
unless it is in an airworthy 
condition (FAR 91.7a) 
• conforms to its type design  
and is in a condition for safe 
operation (FAR 3.3) 
• What is the best approach to prescribing 
airworthiness requirements on UAS, especially 
their avionics?  By categories?   
• What does existing data from UAS 
failures/incidents/accidents tell us to help us 
know what regulation is needed? 
• What would the certification process look like 
for a UAS?  By example… 
16 
Integrated Test & Evaluation 
• The IT&E Subproject will reduce barriers associated with SA, HSI, and 
Communications by creating an appropriate test environment, integrating 
the technical research to probe and evaluate the concepts, and 
coordinating and prioritizing facility and aircraft schedules.  
 
• Objectives  
 The IT&E technical challenge will be met through two primary objectives: 
1. Define and develop an adaptable and scalable infrastructure that will create 
operationally relevant environments incorporating the concepts and technologies to 
be evaluated by the technology subprojects  
 
2. Employ systems level integrated simulations and flight tests to validate models, 
assess system interactions, and determine the effectiveness of the concepts and 
technologies at reducing the technical barriers associated with routine UAS access 
into the NAS 
 
 
 
17 
Notional LVC Distributed Environment 
• Core connectivity between Dryden and Ames 
• Distributed environment provides 
the opportunity to utilize unique  
assets from geographically  
dispersed facilities
• Virtual simulations inject human  
interactions into a central role by  
exercising the decision making 
process and communications 
• Virtual traffic generated to present 
complex conflict scenarios without 
imposing collision risks to “live” 
aircraft 
• Complex airspace can be evaluated  
while the “live” aircraft fly in “safe” restricted airspace 
18 
Partnerships and Collaborations 
19 
UAS Integration in the NAS Project 
Aviation Safety 
Program 
Airspace Systems 
Program 
Science Mission 
Directorate 
Academia 
Industry 
Foreign 
Organizations 
Other Government 
Organizations  
Standards 
Organizations 
Summary 
The Goal of the Project is to utilize integrated system level tests in a relevant 
environment to eliminate or reduce technical barriers related to the 
safety and operational challenges of integrating UAS into the NAS 
 
• General 
– The project aligns with NASA Strategic Goals and National Aeronautics R&D Plan 
– The project has already begun delivering products benefiting key stakeholders 
 
• Technical Plan 
– The technical elements of the project have been vetted with stakeholders 
– The project will employ a two-step approach.  We will validate the key technical 
elements identified by the project during the first two years and then develop a body of 
evidence to support the safe integration of UAS into the NAS during the remainder of 
the project. 
 
• Partnership Plan 
– Key stakeholders have been heavily involved in the planning of this project and will 
continue to be during project execution 
20 


Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration in the National Airspace System (NAS) Project

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