UAS Integration in the NAS
Abstract
The goal of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is to update current systems and processes that govern safety both in air and on the ground. Through multiple advancements the NextGen system seeks to utilize satellite based technologies to move air travel into the future, letting aircraft have better situational awareness through precision GPS and digital instrumentation, and both aircraft and air traffic control better situational awareness once on the ground. NextGen will also offer sharing of weather data and airspace conditions. All this adds up to increased safety for more flights, and cost savings over time.
Analysis
The NextGen system fits in well with unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The technology used in both will work hand in hand, as current UAS utilize GPS as a navigating system, and through such developments as MITREs Intelligent Analyzer the ability to mitigate lost link issues and maintain safe airspace for both UAS and manned aircraft is possible (MITRE, 2012). The commercial possibilities are numerous, further deepening the need for nationwide FAA approval. The general public is somewhat leery of UAS due to select media coverage, this coupled with the mismatch in manned aircraft system technology has led to restrictions and regulations hindering UAS usage and arguably further development. Currently UAS are operated within national airspace only under strict guidelines and FAA approval. This comes from current compatibility issues with UAS systems and ground control systems, which, due to the technological differences it is often unsafe to fly UAS in national airspace. However, as NextGen becomes implemented, the ability to integrate the two systems is now becoming possible. Research being conducted by a MITRE-FAA partnership seeks to share real time flight information streaming from a UAS with air traffic control systems. This data link will integrate UAS with manned aircraft and create a complete airspace picture.
The advancements and integration of both UAS and NextGen pose challenges. Research is still being conducted to find the best solution, and determine what human factor issues will arise from such a system. It is a major concern that the introduction of more incoming information will produce complications with pilot fatigue and awareness factors. The technology may be of great benefit, but there is a potential learning curve where mistakes could be made. In the FAA’s Human Factors Research Status Report it is stated that: “Achieving NextGen will require advanced concepts and technologies, along with higher levels of automation – all of which will result in changes to roles and responsibilities for pilots and air traffic controllers. These transitions, in combination with increased interaction with automation, can lead to unwanted side effects, such as increased errors, loss of situational awareness, or mode confusion.” (FAA, 2012). It can be compared to cell phone use or using navigation systems while driving in my opinion, the increased automation will require more incoming data to be looked at and analyzed, and this will create moments where error may occur just as in a driving scenario.
Conclusion
The FAA, NASA, MITRE, and countless individuals are all working together to make NextGen as safe as possible while meeting their goal of advancing aviation. Humans are part of every step in NextGen, from design - to use, and as such every effort is being made to reduce risks while implementing. The added challenge of UAS integration may create issues, but they are being worked through, and once complete I believe we will see an increase in UAS in national airspace and greater public acceptance as they become more commonplace.
References:
Federal Aviation Administration (2014). NextGen Implementation (2013). Retrieved from:
http://www.faa.gov/nextgen/implementation/
MITRE Corporation (2014). Integrating UAS into NextGen Systems (2011). Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hBcugTsWRQ
MITRE (2014). Keeping Track of Unmanned Aircraft by Overcoming Lost Links (2011). Retrieved from:
http://www.mitre.org/publications/project-stories/keeping-track-of-unmanned-aircraft-by-overcoming-lost-links
Federal Aviation Administration (2014). Next Generation Air Transportation System Human
Factors Research Status Report (2012). Retrieved from:
http://www.jpdo.gov/library/2012_Human_Factors_Research_Status_v2.0.pdf
Abstract
The goal of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is to update current systems and processes that govern safety both in air and on the ground. Through multiple advancements the NextGen system seeks to utilize satellite based technologies to move air travel into the future, letting aircraft have better situational awareness through precision GPS and digital instrumentation, and both aircraft and air traffic control better situational awareness once on the ground. NextGen will also offer sharing of weather data and airspace conditions. All this adds up to increased safety for more flights, and cost savings over time.
Analysis
The NextGen system fits in well with unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The technology used in both will work hand in hand, as current UAS utilize GPS as a navigating system, and through such developments as MITREs Intelligent Analyzer the ability to mitigate lost link issues and maintain safe airspace for both UAS and manned aircraft is possible (MITRE, 2012). The commercial possibilities are numerous, further deepening the need for nationwide FAA approval. The general public is somewhat leery of UAS due to select media coverage, this coupled with the mismatch in manned aircraft system technology has led to restrictions and regulations hindering UAS usage and arguably further development. Currently UAS are operated within national airspace only under strict guidelines and FAA approval. This comes from current compatibility issues with UAS systems and ground control systems, which, due to the technological differences it is often unsafe to fly UAS in national airspace. However, as NextGen becomes implemented, the ability to integrate the two systems is now becoming possible. Research being conducted by a MITRE-FAA partnership seeks to share real time flight information streaming from a UAS with air traffic control systems. This data link will integrate UAS with manned aircraft and create a complete airspace picture.
The advancements and integration of both UAS and NextGen pose challenges. Research is still being conducted to find the best solution, and determine what human factor issues will arise from such a system. It is a major concern that the introduction of more incoming information will produce complications with pilot fatigue and awareness factors. The technology may be of great benefit, but there is a potential learning curve where mistakes could be made. In the FAA’s Human Factors Research Status Report it is stated that: “Achieving NextGen will require advanced concepts and technologies, along with higher levels of automation – all of which will result in changes to roles and responsibilities for pilots and air traffic controllers. These transitions, in combination with increased interaction with automation, can lead to unwanted side effects, such as increased errors, loss of situational awareness, or mode confusion.” (FAA, 2012). It can be compared to cell phone use or using navigation systems while driving in my opinion, the increased automation will require more incoming data to be looked at and analyzed, and this will create moments where error may occur just as in a driving scenario.
Conclusion
The FAA, NASA, MITRE, and countless individuals are all working together to make NextGen as safe as possible while meeting their goal of advancing aviation. Humans are part of every step in NextGen, from design - to use, and as such every effort is being made to reduce risks while implementing. The added challenge of UAS integration may create issues, but they are being worked through, and once complete I believe we will see an increase in UAS in national airspace and greater public acceptance as they become more commonplace.
References:
Federal Aviation Administration (2014). NextGen Implementation (2013). Retrieved from:
http://www.faa.gov/nextgen/implementation/
MITRE Corporation (2014). Integrating UAS into NextGen Systems (2011). Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hBcugTsWRQ
MITRE (2014). Keeping Track of Unmanned Aircraft by Overcoming Lost Links (2011). Retrieved from:
http://www.mitre.org/publications/project-stories/keeping-track-of-unmanned-aircraft-by-overcoming-lost-links
Federal Aviation Administration (2014). Next Generation Air Transportation System Human
Factors Research Status Report (2012). Retrieved from:
http://www.jpdo.gov/library/2012_Human_Factors_Research_Status_v2.0.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment