Opening the Airspace for UAS

Transcription

1 Opening the Airspace for UAS Lambert Dopping- Hepenstal, FREng ASTRAEA Programme Director RAeS UAS Operations Conference September 2012

2 Contents What are the aims of ASTRAEA? Why is it important? What have we achieved? What challenges remain?

3 Programme Objectives ASTRAEA is a unique programme which aims to open up a new aerospace market. The aim is to: Enable the routine use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in all classes of airspace without the need for restrictive or special conditions of operation. Develop and demonstrate key technologies and operating procedures required to open up the airspace. Support the development of the regulatory framework for this new class of operation.

4 Civil UAS Market Search & Rescue Buncefield Colorado Eyjafjallajökull

5 The Airspace Integration Challenge Regulations for manned flight have matured over the past 100 years Implicit assumption that pilot is on-board No agreed interpretation on standards and regulations for unmanned systems Regulatory authorities have provided guidance Transparency Equivalence As safe as manned aviation Catch 22 situation Regulators require example system to certify Industry require regulations to specify requirements Public perception Pilots and airspace users General public

6 ASTRAEA All rights reserved. Partner & Funding Organisations Technology Strategy Board Driving Innovation + 70 SMEs and Universities

7 Design Practices Large vs Small BLOS - Systems Engineering Approach Non-Segregated Airspace Integration Experimental Results LOS - Experimentation Engineering Approach

8 Regulatory route SC-203 WG-73 JARUS group Virtual Certification EASA

9 Virtual Certification Process Jetstream 31 High level functional hazard analysis Determination of special conditions and identification of novel features Virtual Certification Plan and basis for certification Autonomy & Decision Making Ground Ops & HSI Virtual Certification Plan Development Comms & Spectrum Sense & Avoid UAS Architecture Outputs from ASTRAEA Technical Themes CS23 certification Functional Specification Compliance Checklist UAS CONOPS Tailoring of requirements for CS23 and CS E codes Determination of analogous CS23 codes Functional Hazard Analysis Acceptable Means of Compliance

10 Functional Architecture Block Diagram Air vehicle Airfield Ground Control Station

11 Major technology programmes Autonomy & Decision Making Ground Operations & Human Systems Interaction Communications, Security & Spectrum Sense & Avoid

12 Test and Evaluation

13 Autonomy & Decision Making Determine how to implement decision making systems that allow safe autonomous operations UAS decision making system implemented and laboratory tested Created a Relative Motion Robotics (RMR) rig; 2 robots linked to a synthetic environment (SE) Autonomous power manager requirements capture, system and real-time modelling complete, verification underway Gas turbine and electrical systems facility commissioning underway for full system demo

14 Ground Operations & Human Systems Interaction Identify the ground operational environment and how to fully integrate the human into the autonomous system Human factors lab trials of GCS aspects of Sense and Avoid, emergency re-routing and ATC interactions completed Surrogate Trials, linked to a GCS and ATC via prototype voice radio relay system planned in 2012

15 Comms Systems & Spectrum Determine how the future systems will communicate both with the ground and other airborne assets Regulatory framework to satisfy the requirements of OfCom and the CAA Concept of Operations defined Security Architecture defined Proof of Concept prototypes developed SE of radio bearers and behaviour in varying weather and topography Physical prototypes in SE Physical prototypes acting on ground based vehicles with LOS bearers Intelligent communications and power management system enabled Radio Spectrum allocated at WRC2012

16 Sense & Avoid To enable UAS to sense all other air traffic in the airspace or ground based obstacles Data gathering trials complete using EO array / ADS-B (in) sensor fit Sense and Avoid software written and tested extensively in lab environment Target tacking algorithms generated off line using real data Airspace access roadmap developed to enable incremental introduction of UAS into non-segregated airspace

17 ASTRAEA End Goal At the culmination of the ASTRAEA programme we intend: To understand and agree with the CAA the route to system certification. To have captured the lessons learnt and to be in the forefront of contributing to UK and world regulatory development. To be able to (individually or collectively) develop and sell products and services suitable for the new market. To have conveyed to the wider community the benefits of the new market. To have identified spin off opportunities and potential routes to exploitation.

18 What challenges remain? Product maturity International engagement User engagement Pilot / Maintainer / Operator licensing Legal Public perception

19 Summary ASTRAEA is a unique programme which will enable a new branch to the aerospace industry. ASTRAEA will enable new services to meet the requirements of a wide range of end users. ASTRAEA will create opportunities for UK manufacturing and service industries in the emerging UAS market and related intelligent technology applications. ASTRAEA will give industry the knowledge and confidence to develop certifiable products and services to address these markets. The technologies developed in ASTRAEA are potentially capable of broad application in other sectors and provide the confidence for further investment in UAS product development.

20 ASTRAEA Conference 2012 Dates: 20 th & 21 st November 2012 Venue: America Square Conference Centre, London Cost to attendees: Free

21 Technology Strategy Board Driving Innovation