Description: NASA is supporting the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) concept for safe, sustainable, affordable, and accessible aviation (e.g., passenger and cargo transport). As operations occur in a dynamic environment in which spatial and temporal conditions vary rapidly, a reliable network of cost-effective weather sensors is required to meet regulatory and safety constraints. To address this need, Intellisense Systems, Inc. (Intellisense) proposes, in Phase II, to advance development of the Weather Integrated Network Design Software (WINDS) system proven feasible in Phase I. WINDS automatically designs scalable and robust weather-sensing networks to support AAM operations in the most cost-effective way possible. The web-based tool includes a database of sensing technologies and sensors ranked per performance-based weather standard tiers. WINDS leverages a mapping and topography tool to analyze system performance over the user-defined operational area and mission requirements. Its network synthesis generates a list of weather networks with clear illustrations of tradeoffs between various configurations, including cost. The network synthesis algorithm navigates an underlying rule-based regulatory model that links weather network capability to unmanned aerial system safety in specific airspace. WINDS outputs tailored system designs that refine cost, core functionality (e.g., communications), and performance to provide the most cost-effective solution possible to the AAM customer. During Phase I, Intellisense demonstrated WINDS feasibility by developing a network synthesis prototype and gathering an initial sensor catalog. In Phase II, Intellisense will develop a feature-complete prototype and demonstrate it via network synthesis and deployment at a key AAM site. At the end of Phase II, Intellisense plans to identify and onboard third-party weather provider users to the alpha software release and secure funding commitments for continued maturation in Phases II/E.

Benefits: The WINDS system has direct applicability to NASA research, specifically to the NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) mission to accelerate applications of passenger transport, aerial work, and cargo transport. Among the three pillars of the AAM ecosystem (vehicle, airspace, and community), weather is a critical component, and the WINDS technology addresses this critical need by deploying reliable, robust weather networks that meet regulatory and mission requirements at the lowest cost possible.

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) will revolutionize transportation and delivery. An enormous impact is expected on the commercial aerospace industry and regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration. Safe operation of all aircraft including new electric and hybrid aircraft (e.g., Wisk Aero) requires monitoring of the weather, and the WINDS system is an essential planning tool to address this need.