The goal of the UAS integration in the NAS Project is to contribute capabili1es that reduce technical barriers related to the safety and opera1onal challenges associated with enabling routine UAS access to the NAS

Johnson, Chuck

UAS Integration in the NAS Project Overview

Johnson, Charles W.

NASA Technical Reports Server

Project 
Overview
1
UAS Integration in the NAS Project
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20110016142 2019-08-30T17:39:59+00:00Z
Advancing Technology Readiness in ARMD
ARMD
ASP
Concepts and 
Technologies 
Development
Systems Analysis, 
Integration and 
Evaluation
FAP
SFW
HYP
SRW
SUP
Fundamental Research
ISRP
ERA
UAS
Integrated 
System-Level 
Research
AvSP
V&V / Data Mining
Icing / External Hazards
Loss of Control / Health 
Mgt / Human / 
Machine Interactions
ISRP & Project Management Teams
Director
Dr. Edgar Waggoner
Deputy Director
Jean Wolfe
Systems Engineer & 
Integration Manager
Steve Hirshorn
Program Integration Manager
Annette Kempisty
Program Office, NASA HQ, Washington, DC
Project Manager
Dr. Fay Collier, LaRC
Deputy Project Manager
Gaudy Bezos-O’Connor, LaRC
Chief Engineer
Mark Mangelsdorf, DFRC
Chief Technologist
Tony Washburn, LaRC
Environmentally Responsible Aviation 
(ERA) Project
Host Center – LaRC
Project Execution
LaRC - NASA Langley
GRC  - NASA Glenn
ARC  - NASA Ames
DFRC - NASA DrydenTechnical Program Management (on detail from DFRC) –
Davis Hackenberg
Program Support (LMI Contract) – Beverly Floyd
Program Support (InDyne Contract) – Linda Phipps
Administrative Assistant (MSO) – Vickie Smith
Project Manager 
Chuck Johnson, DFRC
Deputy Project Manager 
Robert Sakahara, DFRC
Chief Systems Engineer 
(Acting)
Debra Randall, DFRC
3
UAS Integration in the NAS 
Project
Host Center - DFRC
Prior
Technical input from Project technical elements, NRAs, Industry, Academia, Other Gov’t Agencies
Early investment 
Activities
External
Input
Sys Analysis: ConOps, Gap analysis, etc.
Phase 2
Prior Activities Formulation
$30.0M $30.0M $30.0M $30.0M $30.0M
Initial Modeling, Simulation, 
& Flight Testing
Phase 1
Flight Validated Integrated 
Capability for UAS Access
Validate Project Activities
UAS Integration in the NAS Project Flow
Integrated Modeling, Simulation, & 
Flight Testing
Technology Development 
Reflects FY11 
President’s Budget
4
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
Project History
• Planning/Advocacy within Agency and Administration from 
January, 2009 to February, 2010
• FY11 President’s  Budget released February, 2010
– New Project established at $30M per year
• NRC Meeting of Experts accomplished on August 5, 2010
• Formulation Review accomplished October 21, 2010
• Acquisition Strategy Panel/Acquisition Strategy Meeting 
accomplished October 22, 2010
• Delta Formulation Review accomplished on December 16, 2010
• Project start delayed during Continuing Resolution
• Project received funding on May 9, 2011
5
UAS NAS Access Activities Initiated Prior to Official Start
These efforts will provide immediate Benefits to the UAS Community
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) tasks
• Roadmap work
• NASA Research Announcements (NRAs)
• Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Subtopics
6
ARRA Tasks
$6.75M in ARRA funds were leveraged to provide immediate benefits to the 
Project and JPDO
• Tasks:
• Consolidated ConOps
• UAS State of the Art in today’s NAS
• Gap Analysis, Consolidated ConOps against today’s NAS
• NextGen UAS ConOps
• Modeling and Simulation Infrastructure and tools development
• Communication and Avionics infrastructure Improvements 
All tasks completed
The Gap Analysis was updated to look at the NextGen ConOps as well
Outputs from first four tasks have been delivered to the FAA and JPDO
The last two tasks produced outputs to enhance Project tools and 
infrastructure
7
Roadmap Work
• JPDO
– Working with JPDO to develop a research and development roadmap for 
UAS access to the NAS due to OMB by the end of FY11.  This research 
and development roadmap will provide the foundation for a technology 
roadmap necessary for the overall National Roadmap for UAS access into 
the NAS and NextGen.
• FAA
– Working with FAA and key stakeholders to define success and to ensure 
that a National Roadmap is created which includes (at a minimum) 
policy, procedures, and technology.  These areas of concentration need 
to be integrated to show all activities required for UAS to be safely 
integrated into the NAS and NextGen.
8
NRA Tasks and SBIR Subtopics
• $15.0M in NRA UAS solicitations will be awarded to 
supplement project objectives
– ARMD initiated tasks in five specific areas
 Modeling and Simulation 
 Separation Assurance and Sense and Avoid
 Systems Analysis
 Certification
 Test Techniques
– SMD initiated tasks under ROSES process focusing on sensor 
development
– Awards anticipated in August, 2011
• One SBIR Subtopic for UAS Integration in the NAS
– Technology areas addressed
 UAS Model Construction from Realtime Surveillance Data
 Distributed System for Rapid Collection of Human-in-the-Loop Simulation Data
 Certified control and non-payload communications (CNPC) system
 System for Rapid or Automated UAS Flight Planning
9
UAS Integration in the NAS
Vision
• A global transportation system which 
allows routine access for all classes of 
Unmanned Aircraft Systems 
Mission
• Utilize integrated system level tests in a 
relevant environment to reduce 
technical barriers related to the safety 
and operational challenges of 
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) 
National Airspace System (NAS)
• Work with key stakeholders to define 
necessary deliverables/products to 
help enable UAS access to the NAS
Technology Development Areas
• Separation Assurance, Human Systems 
Integration, Communications, 
Certification, Integrated T&E
Key Stakeholders 
• UAS ExCom, FAA, JPDO, Standards and 
Regulatory Organizations
Time-frame for Impact 2015 to 2025
Assess the 
applicability to 
UAS and the 
performance of 
NASA NextGen 
separation 
assurance 
concepts in flight 
tests with realistic 
latencies and 
trajectory 
uncertainty
Separation 
Assurance
Human Systems 
Integration
Communication Certification
Assess how 
NextGen 
separation 
assurance systems 
with different 
functional 
allocations 
perform for UAS in 
mixed operations 
with manned 
aircraft
Develop a 
research test-
bed and 
database to 
provide data 
and proof of 
concept for GCS 
operations in 
the NAS
Coordinate with 
standards 
organizations to 
develop human 
factors 
guidelines for 
GCS operation 
in the NAS
Develop data and 
rationale to 
obtain UAS 
frequency 
spectrum 
allocations
Develop and 
validate UAS  
secure safety 
critical C2 test 
equipment
Perform analysis 
to support 
recommendations 
for integration of 
safety critical C2 
systems and ATC 
communication
Define a UAS 
classification 
scheme and 
approach to 
determining 
airworthiness 
requirements (FAR 
xx.1309) 
applicable to all 
UAS digital 
avionics
Provide 
recommendations 
for hazard and 
risk-related data 
collection to 
support 
development of 
type design 
criteria and 
standards
Integrated  Test and Evaluation
Human-in-the-loop Simulations and Flight Test Series
10
Project Brief Acronym List
ARC - Ames Research Center
ARMD - Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate
ARRA  - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
ASP - Airspace Systems Program
AvSP - Aviation Safety Program
C2 - Command and Control
CNPC - Control and non-payload communications
ConOps - Concept of Operations
DFRC - Dryden Flight Research Center
ERA - Environmentally Responsible Aviation
FAA - Federal Aviation Administration
FAP - Fundamental Aeronautics Program
FAR - Federal Aviation Regulation
GCS - Ground control Station
GRC - Glenn Research Center
HYP - Hypersonics Project
ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization
ISRP - Integrated Systems Research Program
JPDO - Joint Planning and Development Office
LaRC - Langley Research Center
NAS - National Airspace System
NextGen - Next Generation Air Transportation System
NRA - NASA Research Announcement
OGA - Other Government Agencies
ROSES - Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences
RTCA - www.rtca.org
SBIR - Small Business Innovative Research
SFW - Subsonic Fixed Wing Project
SMD - Science Mission Directorate
SRW - Subsonic Rotary Wing Project
SUP - Supersonics Project
UAS - Unmanned Aircraft Systems
V&V - Verification and Validation 114/14/2011
Project Technical Objectives
• Phase 1
– Developing a gap analysis between current state of the art and the NextGen UAS 
ConOps
– Working with Federal Aviation Administration and key stakeholders to define 
success and to ensure that a National Roadmap is created which includes policy, 
procedures, and technology
– Validating the key technical areas
– Conducting initial modeling, simulation, and flight testing activities
– Completing Subproject Phase 1 deliverables (spectrum requirements, comparative 
analysis of certification methodologies, etc.) and continue Phase 2 preparation 
(infrastructure, tools, etc.)
• Phase 2
– Providing regulators with a methodology for developing airworthiness 
requirements for UAS, and data to support development of certifications standards 
and regulatory guidance
– Providing systems-level, integrated testing of concepts and/or capabilities that 
address barriers to routine access to the NAS.  Through simulation and flight 
testing, address issues including separation assurance, communications 
requirements, and human systems integration in operationally relevant 
environments
Slide:  12
Separation Assurance
• Goals
– Demonstrate NextGen algorithm effectiveness for UAS operations
– Determine the efficacy of different separation assurance functional 
allocation paradigms for UAS in NextGen
• Objectives
– Assess the applicability to UAS and the performance of NASA NextGen 
separation assurance concepts in flight tests with realistic latencies 
and trajectory uncertainty
– Assess how NextGen separation assurance systems with different 
functional allocations perform for UAS in mixed operations with 
manned aircraft
13
Separation Assurance
• Technical Challenge
– Safely and seamlessly integrate UAS into NextGen 
separation assurance
• Cruise speeds, turn rates, climb/descent performance different 
from manned aircraft
• Different missions than manned aircraft
• Communication and control latency
• Transitions of control between humans and automation
• Procedural compatibility with air traffic control system
14
Human Systems Integration 
• Goal
– Develop the database, by instantiating proof of concept GCS, to 
work with standards organizations on recommended guidelines for 
GCS integration in the NAS
• Objectives
– Develop a research test-bed and database to provide data and proof 
of concept for GCS operations in the NAS
– Coordinate with standards organizations to develop human factors 
guidelines for GCS operation in the NAS
15
Human Systems Integration 
• Technical Challenges
– Database and Proof of Concept: 
• Display airspace information without increasing workload 
– Address UAS characteristics that make them different from 
manned aircraft
» Limited in-situ sensory input
– Assess human-automation interaction and responsibility 
between onboard automation and the aircraft operator
– Human Factors Guidelines: 
• Develop standard against which to assess UAS ground control 
stations 
– Current UAS GCS interfaces are aircraft specific, non-standard
– Lack of standardized airspace information displays
16
Communications
• Goal
– Validate secure scalable robust datalinks within allocated frequency 
spectrum for UAS 
• Objectives
– Develop data and rationale to obtain appropriate frequency spectrum 
allocations to enable the safe and efficient operation of UAS in the 
NAS
– Develop and validate candidate UAS secure safety critical command & 
control  (C2) system/subsystem test equipment which complies with 
UAS international/national frequency regulations, ICAO Standards and 
Recommended Practices, and FAA/RTCA Minimum Operational 
Performance Standards/Minimum Aviation System Performance 
Standards for UAS
– Perform analysis to support recommendations for integration of safety 
critical C2 system and ATC communications to ensure safe and efficient 
operation of UAS in the NAS
17
Communications
• Technical Challenge
– Validate new UAS spectrum and data link communications to enable 
UAS integration in the NAS
• Currently, UAS are managed through exceptions and are operating 
using DoD frequencies, amateur bands, or unlicensed 
Instrument/Scientific/Medical frequencies. None of these 
frequency bands are designated for safety and regularity of flight
• UAS require new frequency spectrum allocations and a new data 
communications system which is both secure and scalable
18
Certification
• Goal
– Recommend airworthiness requirements and type design criteria for 
UAS to facilitate safe operation in the NAS
• Objectives
– Define a UAS classification scheme and approach to determining 
airworthiness requirements (FAR xx.1309) applicable to all UAS digital 
avionics
– Provide recommendations for hazard and risk-related data collection 
to support development of type design criteria and standards
19
Certification
• Technical Challenges
– Airworthiness
• The current aircraft classification scheme and corresponding 
airworthiness requirements are not directly applicable to the full 
range UAS
– Hazard and Risk-Related Data
• Little UAS specific data (incident, accident, and reliability) exists in 
a civil context to support development of standards and 
regulations.
20
Integrated Test & Evaluation
• Goal
– Integrate and test concepts, technologies, and capabilities in relevant 
environments that can enable UAS access to the NAS
• Objectives
– Integrate and test mature concepts from the technical elements to 
demonstrate and test viability
– Evaluate the performance of the research in a relevant environment  
(full mission human-in-the-loop simulations and flight tests) 
21
Integrated Test & Evaluation
• Technical Challenges
– Creation of an appropriate test environment
– Integration of the technical research to probe and evaluate the    
concepts
– Coordination and prioritization of facility and aircraft schedules
22
Summary
The goal of the UAS Integration in the NAS Project is
to contribute capabilities that reduce technical barriers related to
the safety and operational challenges associated with
enabling routine UAS access to the NAS
• Leveraging Current NASA Investments
– UAS NAS Access Activities Underway will provide immediate benefits 
to the UAS community
• Partnership Plan
– NASA has engaged key stakeholders in the planning of this project and 
will continue to do so to leverage assets of OGA’s, industry and 
academia to execute plan
• Technical Plan
– Technical elements have been vetted with stakeholders and are 
complementary efforts
23


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