In- Time Safety Assurance Systems for Emerging Autonomous Flight Operations

Human–Machine Interface Design for Monitoring Safety Risks Associated with Operating Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Urban Areas

“…In addition to the development of new air traffic management systems, numerous research papers have been published that propose technical means to approach safety risks due to the integration of UAS in controlled airspace. Young et al [29] identify six safety risks that need to be addressed: (1) flight outside of approved airspace; (2) unsafe proximity to people and property; (3) critical system failures such as loss of link, degraded positional accuracy, or loss of power; (4) loss-of-control due to envelope excursions and flight control system failures; (5) cybersecurity-related risks; and (6) loss-of-separation (with other air traffic). Young et al [29] developed a preliminary conceptual design of an in-time safety assurance system to account for these safety risks as an embellishment to the U.S. air traffic management system UTM.…”

“…Young et al [29] identify six safety risks that need to be addressed: (1) flight outside of approved airspace; (2) unsafe proximity to people and property; (3) critical system failures such as loss of link, degraded positional accuracy, or loss of power; (4) loss-of-control due to envelope excursions and flight control system failures; (5) cybersecurity-related risks; and (6) loss-of-separation (with other air traffic). Young et al [29] developed a preliminary conceptual design of an in-time safety assurance system to account for these safety risks as an embellishment to the U.S. air traffic management system UTM. The safety assurance system can enable the safe operation of highly autonomous aircraft at low altitudes near and over populated urban areas.…”

“…It is envisioned that large numbers of UAS will operate in urban areas, executing most system functions automatically with the support of the aforementioned safety systems. However, according to Young et al [29], a human operator will still be needed to monitor and supervise operations from a ground control station. This is because not all combinations or cascades of situations can be designed for or reacted to by autonomous systems.…”

“…A geo-fencing system is needed to operate sUAS in urban airspace to avoid sUAS entering prohibited areas (safety risks one and two by Young et al [29]). The geo-fencing system SAFEGUARD [32] was chosen as a representative geo-fencing system.…”

“…A system to avoid loss of separation autonomously is needed if sUAS are operated autonomously in shared airspace including conventional and unmanned traffic (safety risk six by Young et al [29]). The ICAROUS algorithm [33,34] was chosen to represent an autonomous collision avoidance system.…”