Description: NASA Unmanned Traffic Management Program (UTM) and its early builds focus on requirements for fixed geofencing and low-altitude UAS without interaction with manned flights. However, later builds will require functionality for operation in dynamic missions employing multiple collaborating UAS in mixed manned-unmanned teams, and in environments where pre-specified geofencing, flight planning, and separation rules are not applicable. To address this challenge, SSCI proposes to develop, implement and test an innovative ON-DEMAND (Operations in Dynamic Environments with Manned And Unmanned Aircraft Deconfliction) system, a portable ATC center, whose role will be to monitor the environment, predict the environmental changes, and approve new geofencing boundaries, new manned-unmanned vehicle separation boundaries, and new flight plans in real-time while avoiding conflicts and assuring overall system safety. Specific system functions will include: (i) Prediction and adjustment of the geofence boundaries based on user requests or environmental changes; (ii) Prediction of the effects of user commands which may generate potential conflicts between manned and unmanned aircraft; and (iii) Dynamic mission re-planning, requiring real-time generation of new flight-plans under separation assurance guidelines. The main project objective is to develop requirements for the design and implementation of a local ATC for dynamically varying environments. We plan to propose an effective mission and flight plan re-planning approach, and effective conflict monitoring and resolution procedures which will enable smooth mission operation while assuring overall system safety. Under the project SSCI will leverage its state-of-the-art flight path prediction routines, collision detection and avoidance system, and system-level safety evaluation approach. Phase I will also include simulation testing and flight data collection with our partners at Olin College of Engineering.

Benefits: Immediate applications of the On-DEMAND technology are in the NASA UTM Program. However, due to its versatility, the proposed system is also applicable to other NASA programs focused on collaborative control of multiple UAS and manned-unmanned aircraft teaming architectures. Other applications of the ON-DEMAND system are envisioned in NASA Space Exploration Programs where there is a need for safe operation of multiple collaborating space vehicles.

Local ATC center for operation of mixed manned-unmanned teams in dynamic environments is of great interest for missions by the Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, and various law enforcement agencies. ON-DEMAND will also find applications in maritime surveillance, fire management, search and rescue, and disaster relief missions.