Description: IAI has developed a trajectory generation and estimation technology for small unmanned system (sUAS) flights, called sUTG. Underlying sUTG is a scalable architecture that allows it to integrate with any legacy modeling and simulation software or function as a standalone entity. A variety of customers can leverage sUTG to improve their existing trajectory prediction capabilities or use it as a new capability altogether. For instance, all high performance sUAS on offer today include advanced autopilot control systems onboard the aircraft. These systems accept continuous user inputs or fly a pre-determined flight plan. sUTG can augment them by providing accurate trajectory prediction for enhanced mission planning under wind and other uncertainties. It can also help in planning contingency maneuvers in the event of a major failure. The purpose of this project is to mature sUTG so that it becomes commercially viable. To do so, the functionality of sUTG will be enhanced in particular areas. The first concerns trajectory estimation amidst uncertainties in aircraft onboard sensors. The second is about trajectory estimation in the presence of non-uniform winds typically encountered by sUAS during flight. The foundation to both these aspects has been laid in the Phase II period, reducing the risk to completing the tasks. In addition, hardware/flight testing data will be compiled to validate sUTG as well as to develop more sophisticated sUAS battery models.

Benefits: NASA’s UTM is a prime candidate to take advantage of sUTG’s capabilities to enhance its existing UAS flight plan feasibility checking procedure. In addition, sUTG can be integrated with other NASA modeling and simulation tools such as ACES and FACET. These tools are still popular with a large number of researcher and sUTG can allow them to explore futuristic concepts without having to start from scratch with a new tool.Further, NASA can use sUTG as a template to develop similar models for large UAS as well.

Virginia Tech is planning to use sUTG to develop a deconfliction system for sUAS traffic in congested environments. Our sUTG technology will be at the center of developing next generation safety systems to enable the widespread use of sUAS. In parallel, the growing market to insure sUAS operations will also immensely benefit from sUTG to conduct cost-benefit analyses of each case to be insured.