Engineering topics

Jeffrey Homola

Publications and source records attributed to Jeffrey Homola.

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS2024

High Density Vertiplex - Scalable Autonomous Operations - Flight Test Report

This Technical Memorandum describes the approach taken within the High Density Vertiplex Project to perform rapid prototyping and assessment of the UAM Ecosystem including representative: Onboard Autonomous Systems, Ground Control and Fleet Management Systems, Airspace Management Systems, and Vertiport Automation Systems (VAS). Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (sUAS) were employed as effective low risk and inexpensive surrogates for larger proposed UAM aircraft to accelerate the prototyping effort, ensure safety, greatly mitigate costs, and accelerate progress. Flight testing performed included multivehicle operations where usability Human Factors (HF) data was collected on the operators.

Jacob Schaefer↗

NASA NTRS2023

Missed Approach Procedures in Advanced Air Mobility: Conceptual Exploration

The High Density Vertiplex Sub-Project, as part of NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Project, has been in collaboration with a team from Wisk Aero focusing on vertiport operations, procedures, and concept development. A particular area of focus has been on the development of missed approach scenarios and procedures that highlight the potential changes in the nearer- and further-term operational time frames. Such changes relate to topic areas such as airspace design, automation and autonomy, roles and responsibilities of actors and stakeholders, airspace management services and systems, as well as technologies specific to vertiport operations management. This paper presents the current state of joint concept development through the established collaboration and the application of elements in ongoing testing as part of NASA’s High Density Vertiplex Sub-Project’s research strategy.

vertiport↗

NASA NTRS2022

Cooperative Separation in Upper Class E Airspace

This document presents baseline functional requirements for a prototype NASA research Upper Class E Traffic Management (ETM) system to enable the cooperative separation concept [1, 2]. The baseline functional requirements are developed by incorporating inputs from NASA and the FAA researchers and engineering staff, and industry partners while accounting for the unique performance characteristics and mission needs of various existing and future ETM vehicle types. The functionalities include information sharing for situational awareness, conformance monitoring, and operating practices for cooperative separation. Several realistic traffic scenarios were built to test, validate, and demonstrate the cooperatively managed operation in the ETM environment and the associated capabilities in a simulation environment.

Upper Class E Air Traffic Management↗

NASA NTRS2022

Intent Modeling and Conflict Probability Calculation for Operations in Upper Class E Airspace

This work presents a probabilistic operational intent model for vehicles operating in upper Class E airspace. A hybrid method is developed to calculate the intent conflict probability leveraging and extending past works on probabilistic conflict computation. Simulation results verify that the probabilistic intent model can accurately encompass the uncertain positions of each vehicle type, that are a result of wind prediction errors and vehicle performance. A comparison with past methods showed that the proposed hybrid method captures the intent conflict probability with better accuracy, especially for a larger look-ahead horizon, and computational time is reasonable for real-time applications. An example is presented to illustrate the use of the intent conflict probability in strategic planning applications.

Air traffic management↗

NASA NTRS2022

Intent Modeling and Conflict Probability Calculation for Operations in Upper Class E Airspace

Air traffic management, operational intent, confli↗

NASA NTRS2022

Overview of NASA’s Extensible Traffic Management (xTM) Research

NASA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) project introduced a new Air Traffic Management (ATM) architecture that utilizes industry’s ability to supply industry-developed, third-party services that work complementarily with the FAA-provided Air Traffic Service (ATS) to exchange relevant air vehicle information among the UAS operations and between the UTM and the conventional ATM system. The UTM architecture was used to successfully demonstrate the feasibility of safe, efficient, and scalable small UAS operations in low altitudes below 400 feet above ground level. Following the success and adoption of UTM architecture, the foundational UTM requirements and core properties were generalized to become Extensible Traffic Management (xTM) requirements to support operations of new entrants beyond small UAS, such as operations in high altitudes over 60,000 feet, designated as upper Class E in the United States National Airspace System (NAS). In this paper, the generalization of UTM to xTM and NASA’s approach for developing an xTM system for upper Class E Traffic Management (ETM) are discussed. The paper also discusses the planned research to examine the potential xTM-Air Traffic Control (ATC) interactions across multiple xTM systems and identify common coordination procedures, ATC roles/responsibilities, and data exchange requirements. This work is one of the steps for improving interoperability between the xTM systems and ATS, which is critical for safe and efficient sharing of the airspace among the new entrants served by the xTM systems and conventional ATS-serviced operations.

air traffic management↗

NASA NTRS2021

NASA-NOAA Feasibility Report

The western stock of Steller sea lions and the Aleutian stock of harbor seals both experienced dramatic declines in abundance during the past few decades, particularly in the central and western Aleutian Islands. Both stocks have continued to decline in recent years, thus are a high priority for routine monitoring. NOAA’s Marine Mammal laboratory (MML) has conducted aerial surveys of marine mammals throughout coastal Alaska to monitor trends in population abundance and distribution for more than 20 years. These surveys have typically been conducted from a twinengine aircraft, such as a DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by NOAA pilots and crewmembers. Aerial surveys in the Aleutian Islands present significant challenges and higher risks due to their remoteness, rugged terrain, and extreme weather. To evaluate the feasibility of transitioning from manned to unmanned aerial surveys in this region, thereby reducing risks to NOAA personnel and high-value aircraft, we propose to conduct test survey flights in the Near Islands of Alaska using a medium-sized, fixed-wing UAV (NASA’s SIERRA-B aircraft) with a nadir-aimed imaging payload. Survey flights are planned to be conducted during daylight hours on days with VFR conditions and less than ~20 knot winds at altitudes of 800-1200 feet. Survey imagery, including thermal video and high-resolution color photos, would be collected at known Steller sea lion and harbor seal sites along the coastlines of Shemya, Nizki, Alaid, Agattu, and Attu Islands. The planning team will request approval and support from the US Air Force to conduct this project at Eareckson Air Station (Shemya Island, AK) during the month of September 2022 when weather conditions in the western Aleutian Islands are expected to be optimal.

NOAA↗

NASA NTRS2021

Cooperative Upper Class E Airspace: Concept of Operations and Simulation Development for Operational Feasibility Assessment

Upper Class E Traffic Management (ETM) is a novel community-based traffic management concept incorporating the FAA, NASA, and industry’s collaborative efforts to support safe, efficient, and scalable future operations in the airspace near and above 60,000 ft. The concept complements Air Traffic Control (ATC) infrastructure and Air Traffic Management (ATM) services by facilitating cooperative operations with ETM provided services. This paper presents an initial Cooperative Separation Management (CSM) concept for High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) vehicles’ conflict detection and resolution during their extended operations. A prototype simulation platform has been developed to visualize and assess the concept during demonstrations to stakeholders. Further development plans for simulations and the CSM concept are discussed.

upper Class E airspace↗

NASA NTRS2020

Strategic Deconfliction Performance: Results and Analysis from the NASA UTM Technical Capability Level 4 Demonstration

Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) refers to the service-based, cooperative approach to the management of small UAS in the National Airspace System that is safe, scalable, and fair. UTM provides the means to manage the airspace in a complementary manner that does not burden the current air traffic control workforce or infrastructure but allows the Air Navigation Service Provider to maintain its regulatory and operational authority of the airspace. A key feature of UTM is the ability to provide operators the means to strategically deconflict operations from others in the airspace through the digital exchange of information via supporting services. Through this approach, the four-dimensional operation volumes that encompass the intent of operators in a given area are discoverable and can be used for airspace awareness as well as planning conflict free operations that account for and avoid other operations. In certain cases, it is also possible to negotiate volume intersections for shared airspace use without the need to re-plan. In the NASA UTM concept, strategic deconfliction is the first layer of three in the overall conflict management model. The three layers of the conflict management model, which follow the International Civil Aviation Organization’s scheme [ICAO 2005] are: strategic conflict management, separate provision, and collision avoidance. In UTM, the strategic layer mostly occurs prior to departure, but is applicable to en route operations with sufficient planning horizon. The initial requirements for a strategic deconfliction capability within UTM are defined in a NASA publication [Rios 2018]. Within the concept and implementation of service-provided strategic deconfliction is the notion of priority. It is understood that there are instances in which an operation requires a priority designation within the UTM system and special handling accordingly to provide situation awareness and facilitate appropriate responses from other airspace users. Examples of situations requiring priority designation include: when an operator declares an emergency due to problems with the vehicle or its immediate surroundings; operations that are in support of certain organizations (e.g., public safety and first responders); or special missions that also require priority use of airspace (e.g., emergency medical deliveries). UAS Volume Reservations (UVRs) also relate to the topic of priority in the sense that the airspace that the volume encompasses has a different status or classification in which unassociated operations must vacate if inside, or avoid if outside, through strategic deconfliction with the volume. Operations that are specially permitted to access the UVR area are typically assigned priority status given the nature of their mission and their associated credentials. The ability to perform strategic deconfliction, handle certain operations with a priority distinction, and establish UVRs that are communicated throughout the UTM system, is predicated on an architecture that has been established through an evolutionary process in response to close collaboration with stakeholders from government and industry. Another important and influential aspect of these capabilities and architecture is the live, distributed flight tests that have been conducted across the Technical Capability Levels (TCLs) that culminated with a set of complex tests performed as part of TCL4 [Rios 2020]. The TCL4 flight test involved two FAA-designated UAS test sites building teams to collaborate with NASA’s UTM Project on the execution of several detailed, small UAS scenarios in urban environments.

conflict management↗

NASA NTRS2020

TCL4 UTM (UAS Traffic Management) Nevada 2019 Flight Tests, Airspace Operations Laboratory (AOL) Report

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) research project has been developing and testing concept ideas for enabling small UAS (sUAS) operations in low altitude airspace (ground to 400 feet). To do this, NASA has organized a series of flight test demonstrations. Technology Capability Level-4 (TCL4) flight tests were conducted at a Nevada, USA test site, during June 2019. The testing resulted in over 300 data collection flights using eight live rotorcraft, 15 simulated vehicles, involving six flight crews and five Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Service Suppliers (USS). The TCL4 approach was designed to demonstrate five scenarios that set up five diverse sets of UAS events and activities. The Nevada test site focused on three of these scenarios: an incoming weather front, a concert event with an incident requiring an emergency response, and a scenario where multiple vehicles experienced Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) issues. The test site created their scenarios to each have three phases and were required to complete three executions of each scenario, for a total of nine missions per Nevada vehicle per scenario. This document presents data collected from participants during the TCL4-Nevada flight test that provides information about how much and how well operators were able to make use of UTM functions and information, with the goal of exploring what the minimum information requirements and/or best practices might be in TCL4 operations. The driving enquiry was: how do UTM tools and features support (human) operators leading to safe and effective conduct of large-scale beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) sUAS operations in “urban canyon” environments? As with the data collected during previous similar tests (e.g., TCL3, Martin et al., 2019), the quality of the UTM information exchanged, and the meaningfulness and therefore usefulness of this information, were all focal points of the questions asked and the data collected. Data aligned with five human-system attributes to indicate that UTM provided information that contributed to users’ ability to operate safely and effectively within UTM, but that information was not always complete and was sometimes unclear.

UTM↗

NASA NTRS2018

UTM and D-NET: NASA and JAXA's Collaborative Research on Integrating Small UAS with Disaster Response Efforts

Natural disasters, such as flooding, wildfire, hurricane, tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, pose challenges in preserving human life and minimizing the damages to a region. During catastrophic events, timely response of disaster relief personnel, an efficient deployment of resources in the recovery effort, and coordinated information sharing amongst different relief agencies can make a substantial difference in responding to those impacted by the disaster. Many relief activities currently utilize both ground personnel and manned airborne assets during different phases of the disaster response. Typically, multiple organizations support relief activities and this often creates logistics coordination challenges between agencies which can result in wasted time or resources. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has been developing an "Integrated aircraft operation system for disaster relief (D-NET)", which assists collection and sharing of disaster information through the integrated operation of aircraft such as helicopters, aircraft, and satellites, for efficient and safe rescue operations by disaster relief aircraft. Due to the advancement in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technologies, public safety organizations have started incorporating small UAS (sUAS) as an asset in their disasters response activities. To address the airspace integration challenges of the influx of sUAS in the United States the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), under the UAS Traffic Management (UTM) project, has been engaged in research to enable large-scale commercial applications of sUAS operating in low altitude airspace. This paper presents the integration of D-NET, which incorporate sUAS in the planning, information sharing, and operation support of disasters response activities, and UTM, which provides airspace management to enable large scale high density operations. The integration of the DNET and UTM systems enables coordination, data sharing, and airspace management to improve the timeliness of the disaster response, enable relief organization to reduce cost and overhead by using UAS assets and still maintain airspace safety during the relief activities.

UTM↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Flight Demonstration of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) at Technical Capability Level 4

The NASA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) Project executed the fourth and final UTM Technical Capability Level demonstration between May and August 2019. Two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-designated UAS test sites managed the range, partners, and operations to meet the requirements set forth by the UTM Project. All stakeholders supported the execution of the flight testing through close collaboration. Results of the demonstration indicate the viability of the UTM concept to manage large scale operations and contingencies in an urban environment. The demonstration also provided insight into key technological gaps that must be addressed before such operations are routine, safe, and efficient. Standardization efforts related to UTM and the industry participants of those efforts can leverage the results and experiences of this flight activity to accelerate and more firmly ground forthcoming standards. The FAA and other regulators will be able to leverage results to inform future rule-making and identify additional gaps that require further analysis.

Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) Project

This is a slide set for use in presenting an overview of NASA's UAS Traffic Management (UTM) Project and most recent activites. The contents of the slides describe the background and need that led to the development of the UTM concept as well as a high level explanation of what UTM is and how it addresses the identified needs. The architecture that was developed to support the UTM environment and its interface with the National Airspace System is also included. The approach that the Project undertook in framing the environments and Technical Capability Levels of its research is also presented with further detail given with respect to the final, large-scale event conducted in 2019. Finally, the broad impact and influence that the project and its activites had across many areas is presented as a concluding statement.

UAS Traffic Management↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Upper E Traffic Management

This is a slide set as part of a meeting series with members of a working group aimed at the development of a concept that addresses needs and gaps in the management of high altitude airspace operations. This concept leverages elements developed through the UAS Traffic Management project with respect to a coopertive, service-based approach that provides services and capabilities in areas (e.g., Upper E airspace) that currently receive no or limited service from Air Traffic Control. This concept is meant to provide a safe, fair, and scalable approach to management of Upper E operations that reduces the burden on ATC while providing the flexibility and access desired by current and new users of the airspace. This set of slides includes an overview of discussions and industry news covering the time since the previous group meeting, a presentation on initial work titled 'Sensitivity Study of Minimum Reserved Airspace in ETM Operations,' and a high level discussion titled 'Separation Management Service Framework for ETM.'

Upper E↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Upper Class E Traffic Management (ETM) and ATM-X

This is a slide set for presentation at the 4th Federal UAS Workshop jointly hosted by NASA and USGS. The contents of the slide cover the work currently being performed with respect to the Upper Class E Traffic Management (ETM) concept, which addresses the needs and gaps in the management of high altitude airspace operations. This concept leverages elements developed through the UAS Traffic Management project with respect to a cooperative, service-based approach that provides services and capabilities in areas (e.g., Upper E airspace) that currently receive no or limited service from Air Traffic Control. This concept is meant to provide a safe, fair, and scalable approach to management of Upper E operations that reduces the burden on ATC while providing the flexibility and access desired by current and new users of the airspace. This set of slides includes an overview and rationale of the ETM concept, a recap of the progress made, the road ahead, and the place of ETM within its parent project: Air Traffic Management-eXploration (ATM-X).

Upper E↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

UTM Concepts and Use Cases

The presentation provides an overview of the UTM Research Transition Team (RTT) and the role of the Concepts and Use Cases Working Group (CWG) as part of the joint NASA-FAA effort. The deliverables, role in tests/demonstrations, future work, and summary impact of the CWG are the main areas covered.

UTM↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Management of Operations under Visual Flight Rules in UTM for Disaster Response Missions

The disaster response domain has experienced an increased focus in recent years due to the rise in number and scale of events, lessons learned from past experience, and emerging technologies that make possible a more coordinated and effective response. As part of this focus, JAXA and NASA have been collaborating on the integration of manned and unmanned aircraft in support of disaster response operations through integrated testing of their respective mission planning and optimization system (Disaster Relief Aircraft Information Sharing Network, or D-NET) and an automated UAS traffic management system (e.g., UTM). In 2018, JAXA and NASA jointly participated in a large-scale disaster drill in Japan where the integration of systems was successfully demonstrated through real-time data exchanges, visualization, and decision making as part of the coordinated airspace management of a manned helicopter in VFR conditions and unmanned small UAS operating in common areas. This work details a flight test consisting of two flights that were conducted December 2019 near the Chofu Aerodrome in Tokyo, which focused on the evaluation of pilots operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) communicating through D-NET and sharing intent and position information within UTM. This work contributes to defining the necessary requirements for digital coordination between manned and unmanned operations. UTM requires the use of operation volumes, which are spatial and temporal volumes that encompass UAS flight trajectories and account for technical performance errors and deviations due to disturbances (e.g., wind). A series of flights, representing different missions, used landmark-based operation volumes and conformance of the aircraft to those operation volumes were tracked within UTM. Experienced disaster response helicopter pilots provided insight on the development of the operation plans and their usability during disaster response operations. Results from the flight test supported the suggested benefits of using landmarks for planning and positional awareness and highlighted the need for future research in advanced visualization capabilities to support operations that consider both system constraints and flight deck/airspace management interaction.

disaster response↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Cooperative Upper Class E Airspace: Concept of Operations and Simulation Development for Operational Feasibility Assessment

upper Class E airspace↗