AUVSI's Unmanned Systems 2016

Sessions Speakers Exhibitors Products Press Releases Show Specials Floor Plan Buzz

Performance Standards for Command and Control and Detect and Avoid (Room 288-290)

With inputs from UAS stakeholders, including academia, government, and industry, the UAS-NAS Project was formulated to address the need for routine access to the global airspace for all classes of UAS. Based upon that need, the Project identified the following goal: To provide research findings to reduce technical barriers associated with integrating UAS into the NAS utilizing integrated system level tests in a relevant environment. The UAS-NAS Project research is divided into three main technical subprojects, each leading respective research areas: Separation Assurance/Sense and Avoid Interoperability, Human Systems Integration, and Communication. Integrating each of these research subproject concepts together, the integrated test and evaluation team handles the system requirements gathering and development of the integrated test infrastructure. RTCA formed Special Committee 228 to develop the Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for DAA equipment, with emphasis in an initial phase of standards development on civil UAS equipped to operate into Class A airspace under IFR flight rules. The Operational Environment for the Phase 1 MOPS is the transitioning of a UAS to and from Class A or special use airspace, traversing Class D and E, and perhaps Class G airspace. NASA is a key member of RTCA SC-228 and is a primary contributor to the C2 and DAA MOPS. To support the collection of data for the development of the RTCA Phase 1 MOPS, the UAS-NAS Project has planned a series of human in the loop simulations and flight tests. The flight testing events are designed to enable collection of data in a realistic operating environment, including the inherent uncertainties of real winds and on board sensors. However, since the testing includes the flight of unmanned aircraft, which cannot presently fly in the NAS without restrictions and waivers from the FAA, the integrated test team developed a distributed environment that combines live, virtual, and constructive (or background) traffic and intercept scenario to promote the safe testing of the concepts and technologies. The focus of the panel will be a series of discussions led by the primary researcher in each of the UAS-NASA research areas highlighting the effort to collect data for the Phase I C2/DAA MOPS, results from the latest simulations and flight test, and future plans.