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UAS Blog
Figure 1: Overview of NASA’s CONOPS for UAS operations within NAS. Reprinted from NASA, by Y. Gibbs, 2015, Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-075-DFRC.html
Next Gen and UAS Operations
The current National Airspace System (NAS) is evolving from a RADAR based flight tracking and management system into the Next Generation Air Transportation System (Next Gen) that implements technologies for a satellite centric system. Technologies the Federal Aviation Administration is deploying for Next Gen, include “Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B), Data Communications (Data Comm), En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM), Terminal Automation Modernization and Replacement (TAMR), NAS Voice System (NVS), [and] System Wide Information Management (SWIM)” (“Next Gen,” 2015, p.2). The Next Gen effort to overhaul the NAS incorporates these programs to streamline air traffic for direct point-to-point flight operations, while providing on-board and Air Traffic Control (ATC) control mechanisms to monitor aircraft separation and communication (“Next Gen,” 2015).
There are current and future challenges to manage UAS operations within the NAS, including the improvements associated with Next Gen FAA programs. Collaborative teams across NASA research centers are working to address integrated UAS operations within the NAS. Referencing Figure 1, depicting the concept of operations (CONOPS) overview, NASA’s “… five focus areas include assurance of safe separation of unmanned aircraft from manned aircraft when flying in the national airspace; safety-critical command and control systems and radio frequencies to enable safe operation of UAS; human factors issues for ground control stations; airworthiness certification standards for UAS avionics and integrated tests and evaluation designed to determine the viability of emerging UAS technology” (Gibbs, 2015, para. 6).
The NASA approach for see-and-avoid is focused on the UAS air segment, where on-board systems will provide the reaction and management to maintain separation with other aircraft. Also to address commanding and potential link loss, NASA is working to ensure there are dedicated frequency bands to support UAS operations. In conjunction with on-board improved flight controls and communication links, NASA is recommending human factors issues are evaluated and mitigated with UAS Ground Control Station (GCS) testing platforms for future NAS operations. Simulated UAS flights within the NAS could yield important training and GCS design improvements to incorporate new Next Gen technologies (Gibbs, 2015).
There is a potential from cross over knowledge gained by the progress of Next Gen flight deck modifications in manned aircraft, and appropriately transition applicable techniques for unmanned aircraft GCS workstations. Once the technical challenges for collision avoidance and link loss have been resolved for UAS, this potentially means more flight autonomy where the operator primarily monitoring flight operations. As on the flight deck of a manned aircraft, more automation requires pilot diligence to maintain situational awareness. Sheridan, T., Corker, K., & Nadler, E., research pointed out “[m]onitoring and maintaining situation awareness over long and boring periods of nominal operations under automatic control (with a possible need to impose activities for the purpose of maintaining alertness)” when operating flight operations (as cited in Funk, K., Mauro, R., & Barshi, I., 2009, pg. 3). Though there are differences between manned and unmanned aircraft, especially removing direct physical flight cues for an UAS pilot, this problem is applicable to both manned and unmanned aircraft platform operations. Solutions utilized on manned aircraft should be evaluated on how mitigation designs may be also implemented for UAS GCS operator.
Reference
Next Gen Implementation 2015. (2015). Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/media/NextGen_Implementation_Plan-2015.pdf
Gibbs, Y. (ed.). (2015). NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the National Airspace System. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-075-DFRC.html
Ostwald, P. & Hershey,W. (2007, May). Helping Global Hawk Fly With The Rest of US. Paper presented at 2007 Integrated Communications Navigation and Surveillance (ICNS) Conference, Herndon, VA. Retrieved from https://www.mitre.org/sites/default/files/pdf/07_0604.pdf
Funk, K., Mauro, R., & Barshi, I., (2009). NextGen Flight Deck Human Factor Issues. 2009 International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, Dayton, OH. Retrieved from http://web.engr.oregonstate.edu/~funkk/Publications/NextGenIssuesISAP2009.pdf