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.

FMI: www.embryriddle.edu