Embeds Live Air Traffic And Weather Information Into UAS
Training
Researchers at Embry-Riddle have developed a unique solution
that will train future UAS operators while also testing concepts
that may ultimately lead to integrating UASs into the National
Airspace System.
The use of unpiloted aircraft is limited in the U.S. National
Airspace System (NAS) because the current air traffic system can't
ensure the separation of manned and unmanned aircraft. As the
situation now stands, obtaining permission from the FAA to operate
commercial UASs is a lengthy and difficult process that restricts
UASs solely to designated military areas.
Nonetheless, the demand to expand NAS access for UASs is
increasing because they can perform certain tasks for longer
durations, for less money, and in a safer manner than piloted
aircraft, tasks such as collecting weather information inside
hurricanes, tracking wildfires, securing our country's borders, and
monitoring highway congestion.
Globalhawk UAS File Photo
"By using commercially available flight simulators, our
researchers have fused live real-world air traffic with that of
simulated UAS operations," said Ted Beneigh, Embry-Riddle
aeronautical science professor. "With this new combination, we can
transfer the training and testing of UASs from the sky to the
simulator while maintaining a level of realism to prepare UAS
operators of the future."
Playing a crucial role in this research are Embry-Riddle
aircraft equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast
(ADS-B), a system that allows aircraft, surface vehicles, and fixed
ground locations to share information. Embry-Riddle's aircraft are
actively tracked on a graphical overlay of the airport and airspace
that's updated every second. By providing the UAS pilot with live
aircraft traffic and weather information, the operator can see a
three-dimensional graphical adaptation of the aircraft, the
airport, and the surrounding area.
Researchers hope to use this system as a training aid that will
give flight students and researchers a level of aircraft operation
experience that is not available anywhere else today.
Embry Riddle Daytona Campus
"This new research product will allow us to train our students
in UAS flight operations without actually having an unmanned
aircraft," Beneigh said. "The lack of a 'flying' unpiloted aircraft
will be transparent to the student, who will achieve the same
skills as if flying an actual unpiloted aircraft, for a fraction of
the cost."
This concept will also be used to study the challenge of how to
ensure the separation of piloted and unpiloted aircraft in the busy
NAS.
Embry-Riddle researchers envision human in-the-loop simulations
that will test new air traffic control technologies and procedures
in a collaborative environment where real-world events can be
interacted with as they occur. This type of research benefits the
whole flying community by increasing safety through realism and
reducing the costly development process by fielding thoroughly
vetted tools and procedures.