An Alternative UAS Classification and Analysis Approach for Integration into the National Airspace System

Abstract

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) represent a disruptive technology for aviation within the United States and worldwide. Efforts have been made to develop regulations, policies, and guidance materials to minimize their impact while maintaining an equivalent or sufficient level of safety. A key challenge is that there is no one-size fits all model for UAS. Moreover, there is a variety of UAS operations proposed and ongoing where the traditional file-and-fly model is insufficient. The classification and categorization of UAS and their operations plays a key role in their integration into the National Airspace System (NAS). Current approaches, e.g. the FAA’s Small UAS Aviation Rulemaking Committee, follow traditional schemes regarding size and weight of the aircraft, the airspace in which they fly, and line-of-sight (LOS) versus beyond LOS operations. An alternative approach must be considered. At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a team of researchers is addressing this problem as part of NASA’s UAS NAS Integration program. A survey of literature regarding UAS systems, UAS operations, and NextGen technologies impacting UAS operations was performed. Key differentiating parameters were analyzed using Qualify Function Deployment’s House of Quality to determine the parameters having the greatest impact on safety and NAS integration. From the analysis, an expert system has been developed to map UAS system characteristics (e.g. weight, autonomy, redundancy, etc.) to operational requirements (e.g. airspace, LOS vs. BLOS, operator requirements, maximum distance to landing site, etc.). Likewise, the expert system can map a proposed UAS operation/mission description to UAS system requirements. This paper will present this research. Several straw-man test examples will be reviewed to highlight the performance of the system under realistic UAS system and operational configurations. Lessons learned and future work will be discussed to move toward a tool to assist regulators.