Mission Management System Research Articles

In-flight testing of the integrated mission management system

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present research on the flight demonstration of avionics technology for CS-23 commuter category aircraft. The Integrated Mission Management System (IMMS) is designed to reduce pilot workload by aggregating hazard information from multiple domains (airspace, traffic, weather and terrain) and automatically prefiltering this data to display only hazards relevant to the flight plan, from origin to destination. This paper details the design of the IMMS, along with the process of the integration on aircraft and flight demonstration results.Design/methodology/approachThe IMMS integrates several technologies, including the Advanced Weather Awareness System, Tactical Separation System, Compact Computing Platform and Flight Reconfiguration System. Hazards are consolidated in a Unified Hazard Database (UHD) and assigned severity levels, providing automated hazard filtering and path planning.FindingsSimulations and flight tests demonstrated that the IMMS effectively reduces the information displayed to pilots in real-time without loss of critical safety data. Feedbacks from test pilots on IMMS usage, as well as suggestions for improving the multi-source Graphical User Interface, are also discussed.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of the UHD were identified, offering insights into potential expansions to support more efficient automatic flight planning. The technology was validated through extensive laboratory testing and real-world flight trials, achieving Technology Readiness Level 5. This validation demonstrated how the severity of hazards can be linked to their transparency level on the display, with the aim of reducing information overload.Practical implicationsThe IMMS shows potential to be ground-breaking system in the CS-23 aircraft category, autonomously supporting route planning and flight execution while adapting to in-flight weather changes and ensuring tactical separation from other aircraft. It also shows that multi-domain hazard information can be processed on limited on-board avionics systems.Originality/valueThis study highlights the importance of Hardware-In-The-Loop testing in verifying new technologies and mitigating risks related to software reliability, flight demonstrations and system integration.

Examination of the influence of the integrated mission management system on the pilot’s situational awareness

PurposeThis paper aims to present research carried out on the influence of GUI graphical elements design for an integrated mission management system (IMMS) display flight planning process.Design/methodology/approachSurveys and research were conducted among students/pilots to explore graphic presentation methods for flight planning displays. Guidelines for graphical layout of the IMMS flight planning interface are proposed.FindingsA research concept was obtained, enabling GUI tests for IMMS using prepared templates and questionnaires.Practical implicationsThis study improves cockpit information readability, understanding and presentation, particularly for flight planning elements such as terrain, weather, traffic and zones influencing route organisation.Social implicationsThis study targets possible improvements to the flight path planning process in aviation, inducing a reduction in errors related to human factors while processing the visual data on-board.Originality/valueThe study verified the impact of drawing and rendering methods on IMMS flight planning, suggesting that current display methods may be error-prone when showing hazard information from multiple sources on a single screen.

Design and validation of the evolved version of the tactical separation system

PurposeThe small air transport (SAT) domain is gaining increasing interest over the past decade, based on its perspective relevance in enabling efficient travel over a regional range, by exploiting small airports and fixed wing aircraft with up to 19 seats (EASA CS-23 category). To support its wider adoption, it is needed to enable single pilot operations.Design/methodology/approachAn integrated mission management system (IMMS) has been designed and implemented, able to automatically optimize the aircraft path by considering trajectory optimization needs. It takes into account both traffic scenario and weather actual and forecasted condition and is also able to select best destination airport, should pilot incapacitation occur during flight. As part of the IMMS, dedicated evolved tactical separation system (Evo-TSS) has been designed to provide elaboration of both surrounding and far located traffic and subsequent traffic clustering, to support the trajectory planning/re-planning by the IMMS.FindingsThe Clean Sky 2-funded project COAST (Cost Optimized Avionics SysTem) successfully designed and validated through flight demonstrations relevant technologies enabling affordable cockpit and avionics and supporting single pilot operations for SAT vehicles. These technologies include the TSS in its baseline and evolved versions, included in the IMMS.Originality/valueThis paper describes the TSS baseline version and the basic aspects of the Evo-TSS design. It is aimed to outline the implementation of the Evo-TSS dedicated software in Matlab/Simulink environment, the planned laboratory validation campaign and the results of the validation exercises in fast-time Matlab/Simulink environment, which were successfully concluded in 2023.

Evolved version of Advanced Weather Awareness System in the COAST Project: latest developments and validation

In the framework of the COAST (Cost Optimized Avionics SysTem) project, the Integrated Mission Management System (IMMS) has been developed, a technology aimed to automatically optimize the trajectory of Small Air Transport (SAT) vehicles considering, among possible obstacles, weather conditions, air-traffic and terrain. It is based on the interaction of the evolved versions of three systems, realized within COAST, including the Advanced Weather Awareness System (AWAS), devoted to provide on-board data regarding weather hazards monitored and forecast. The Evolved-AWAS technology has been developed by introducing several enhancements to its baseline version, in order to generate additional information required by IMMS for trajectory optimization. The current work describes the latest developments of Evolved-AWAS and the tests carried out to validate the prototype. All the new functionalities were tested verifying the correct generation of output data needed by IMMS and their visualization into the HMI (Human Machine Interface). The positive results of the performed tests ensured the proper functioning of the software, allowing its integration in the IMMS technology. Finally, the paper reports the outcomes of the last COAST flight demonstration campaign held in June 2023, which revealed the correct behaviour of the Evolved-AWAS, as well as of the overall IMMS.

Synergy in Future Avionics: An Overview of Multiple Technologies for Small Air Traffic Segment in the COAST project

The paper describes research and development activities under Clean Sky 2 Cost optimized Avionic System (COAST) program. The main goal of this development was to deliver technology enablers at TRL 5 for affordable cockpit and avionics. The target segment for the technology enablers is aircraft with 1 to 19 passengers and small cargo aircraft belonging to CS-23 category. The main aim is to provide overall summer during the whole COAST program development per individual technology. Sections are divided per each technology with their results and overall contribution to the program. The Clean Sky 2 COAST program covered the development of following technologies: Cockpit Architecture SAT avionic system architecture, Flight Management Tactical Separation System (TSS), Advanced Weather Awareness System (AWAS), Flight Reconfiguration System (FRS), Navigation and Surveillance Dual Frequency Multi-Constellation GNSS Receiver (GNSS), Low-cost Integrated Navigation System (NAV), Affordable Integrated Surveillance System (SURV), Platform technologies Compact Computing Platform (CCP), High Integrity Electronics for health monitoring (HIE), Integrated Mission Management System Integrated Mission Management System (IMMS). These technologies were part of several flight test campaigns which took place in the Czech Republic with Evektor company using EV-55 aircraft.

Enhancement of the Advanced Weather Awareness System for the development of an Integrated Mission Management System in the COAST project

The COAST (Cost Optimized Avionics SysTem) project, funded by Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, works toward the realization of cost-effective key technologies for cockpit and avionics of Small Air Transport (SAT) aircraft. In 2020 the design of a new technology started, the Integrated Mission Management System (IMMS), devoted to automatically optimize the trajectory while considering air-traffic, weather conditions, terrain and obstacles. It is aimed to implement into a unique system the functionalities of Trajectory Planning, Flight Reconfiguration, Tactical Separation and Weather Awareness, benefitting from the integration and interaction on-board of three technologies, individually developed and tested in the first phases of the COAST project: Flight Reconfiguration System (FRS, managing pilot’s incapacitation emergency), Tactical Separation System (TSS, managing tactical traffic separation and enhanced situational awareness) and Advanced Weather Awareness System (AWAS, devoted to provide on-board updated weather data). The present work focuses on the last one and more in detail on the description of new functionalities introduced to the baseline AWAS system, already demonstrated in flight in 2021, in order to allow its integration in IMMS. Specifically, enhancements to the AWAS technology were required to integrate new input weather data and generate additional information, needed for IMMS purposes. These data are produced on-ground and sent through satellite link to the AWAS on-board segment, which has been updated to manage and exchange them with the other components on the aircraft. All the achieved progresses in the development of the evolved version of the AWAS system presented in this work will be demonstrated and tested in flight during a dedicated campaign planned in 2023 in the framework of COAST project.

Evolution of the Tactical Separation System to support the Integrated Mission Management System in the COAST project

This paper refers to the developments of the single pilot enabling technologies that are designed, implemented and validated in the Clean Sky funded project COAST (Cost Optimized Avionics SysTem). The target industry domain of such technologies is the aviation segment of Small Air Transport (SAT), referring specifically to commuter category vehicles (5 to 19 pax), under the EASA CS-23 regulation. Among the several technologies that have been designed, developed and demonstrated in flight, there is the Tactical Separation System (TSS), which reached TRL 6 in 2021 thanks to successful flight demonstration. It represents fundamental decision-making support system, able to assist the single pilot in the management of the separation task, under delegation of the separation responsibility to the pilot by the ATC. Nevertheless, in order to properly integrate and enhance the individual enabling technologies for single pilot operations, in the COAST project a unique Integrated Mission Management System (IMMS) is being designed. It constitutes a further technological advancement to support more effective and safe management of situations of pilot’s incapacitation during the flight, under single pilot operations, and a relevant step forward towards more autonomous aircraft. To support the IMMS implementation, therefore, the Tactical Separation System is currently subject to proper evolution, in order to include specific functionalities that will be needed as part of the IMMS. This paper outlines the main outcomes from the design and demonstration of the Tactical Separation System as individual technology. After that, it describes the IMMS and the specific role that the tactical separation functionality will play in such framework. Finally, the paper reports the evolved TSS version design currently ongoing in the COAST project, with specific focus on the implementation of the tactical traffic clustering functionality.

AN EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH TO THE CHALLENGES OF MISSION PLANNING FOR COLLABORATIVE MARITIME AUTONOMY

It is expected that a key part of a future with increasing use of maritime autonomous systems, will require collaborative and integrated approaches to working. How such approaches can be developed and tested was the focus of the Integrated Mission Management System 2019 (IMMS2019) project. The immediate objective was to experimentally demonstrate the ability of a single mission management system to control a fleet of heterogeneous, multi-domain autonomous platforms whereby their collaborative mission could be planned, verified, and delivered. To challenge the various spatial-temporal-energetic-communication-environmental constraints when operating such a fleet, real-world demonstration trials were carried out in Plymouth sound deployed from the Thales Maritime Autonomy Centre at Turnchapel Wharf. The trials were focussed on providing essential information into how such collaborations can be best executed, alongside invaluable lessons as to how existing platforms need to enhance their interoperability and in particular, robustness of communications and mission plans.

Towards autonomous underwater vehicles in the ocean survey: A mission management system (MMS)

Towards autonomous underwater vehicles in the ocean survey: A mission management system (MMS)

Design advancements for an integrated mission management system for small air transport vehicles in the COAST project

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the activities that are ongoing, in the Cost Optimized Avionics SysTem (COAST) project, to design an integrated mission management system (IIMS) to be used as support to the pilot and/or to act as a backup in case of pilot incapacitation onboard on small air transport (SAT) vehicles, under single-pilot operations.Design/methodology/approachThe COAST project, funded by Clean Sky 2 programme, is developing enabling technologies for single-pilot operations in the European Aviation Safety Agency CS-23 category vehicles. Such technologies include specific tools that are designed as individual enablers for single-pilot operations and specifically address: the real-time support to pilot’s decision making in maintaining the vehicle self-separation (this technology is the tactical separation system [TSS]); the real-time support to pilot’s situational awareness about observed and forecasted weather conditions (this technology is the advanced weather awareness system [AWAS]); and the real-time management of emergency conditions due to pilot’s incapacitation under single-pilot operations (this technology is the flight reconfiguration system [FRS]). Based on the outcomes of the design activities of such individual tools, in the COAST project emerged the opportunity to proceed with the design of a further system, leveraging the individual tools and benefitting from their integration.FindingsThe IMMS design started in the year 2020 and the activities carried out up to mid-2021 allowed to define the concept of operations of the system, its high-level requirements (functional, interface and operational requirements) and the preliminary system architecture.Originality/valueThe IMMS contributes enabling the implementation of single-pilot operations in CS-23 category vehicles, thanks to the possibility to support, in normal operational conditions, the pilot’s decision-making and, in emergency conditions due to pilot’s incapacitation, the automatic flight management up to the safe destination.

Advancements in UAVs-A review.

Present decade has been observed that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAVs) are occupying the sky to accomplish different missions. They became the popular area of interest due to their growing utility and relative cost. Increased demand of UAVs allowing the researchers for the optimized UAV as a major area of interest. They are providing new and better opportunities to cellular networks. UAV industry is undergoing a huge amount of advancements in it such as in navigation system, privacy and security ,mission management system, power system communication system etc. this article mainly focuses on the advancements regarding privacy and security of UAVs ,mission management system. The motivation behind the development of strategies for defending the breaches caused by data protection and public safety them are examined. This study gives an overview about past and how the present usage of UAVs is optimized by implementing the defense techniques. The major six criteria implemented to defend socio-technical concerns are explained. Few countries which adapted these regulations are discussed briefly .Ensuring security of the UAV system is studied considering physical security and cyber security as major aspects. The study also provides the techniques to defend these security threats. on Mission planning and mission management.

A concept for an Integrated Mission Management System for Small Air Transport vehicles in the COAST project

Small Air Transport (SAT) is emerging as suitable transportation means to allow efficient travel over a regional range, in particular for commuters, based on the use of small airports and fixed-wing aircraft with 5 to 19 seats, belonging to the EASA CS-23 category. In this framework, Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking, in the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, funded the project COAST (Cost Optimized Avionics SysTem), which started in 2016 with the aim of delivering key technology enablers for the affordable cockpit and avionics, while also enabling single-pilot operations for aircraft in the SAT domain. In the project, some relevant flight management technologies to support single-pilot operations are considered, namely the ones of tactical traffic separation and enhanced situational awareness, meteorological enhanced awareness, and pilot’s incapacitation emergency management. These technologies have been subject to a dedicated design and implementation process, based on an individual approach where each of them has been considered as independent and dedicated single-pilot operations enabling technology. Nevertheless, during the project execution, it emerged the opportunity to consider proper integration and enhancement of such technologies to design a unique Integrated Mission Management System (IMMS). Such IMMS technology has been considered as a potential solution to support the more effective and safe management of situations of pilot’s incapacitation during the flight, under single-pilot operations, and as a relevant step forward towards more autonomous aircraft. Based on these considerations, Clean Sky supported and funded proper extension of the COAST project scope, to include the design of the additional Integrated Mission Management System. This paper, therefore, aims to outline the main concepts implemented by the baseline individual technologies (Flight Reconfiguration System, Tactical Separation System, and Advanced Weather Awareness System) already considered in the COAST project and representing the basic building blocks towards IMMS and, after that, aims to introduce the IMMS motivations and opportunities. Furthermore, the paper describes the main functionalities expected to be implemented by the Integrated Mission Management System and, finally, the expected design and implementation process.

ESTABLISHING NEW FOUNDATIONS FOR THE USE OF REMOTELY-PILOTED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS FOR CIVILIAN APPLICATIONS

Abstract. Skyopener is a project funded by the EU through the European GNSS Agency (GSA) in the framework of the Horizon 2020 program. Skyopener’s goal is contributing to the roadmap for the integration of civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) into nonsegregated airspace, by providing and testing enabling technologies, in particular with reference to European initiative U-Space, aimed at establishing regulations and infrastructure for integration of unmanned aviation into shared airspace. The main outcomes of the project include: implementing and testing a reliable and secure redundant air-ground communication link, based on satellite and 3G/4G networks; integrating the mission management system and ground station with a UTM (Unmanned aerial system Traffic Management) client, and experimenting UTM services being deployed by one of the partners; demonstrating technical and economic feasibility of long- range missions beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) by executing corridor mapping on a high-voltage powerline, and airport area surveys (e-TOD: electronic-Terrain Obstacle Database).

A mission management system for complex aerial logistics by multiple unmanned aerial vehicles in MBZIRC 2017

Abstract In this study, we present a system that manages multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for a search, pickup, and drop mission in the 2017 Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC). Three UAVs picked up and dropped 23 circular and rectangular targets into a designated drop box. To control the operation of three UAVs flying over an arena of 90 × 60 m, we designed and integrated a set of technologies into our system: airspace allocation, communication framework among UAVs, anticollision based on geofencing, and a token‐based prioritization for coordination. The proposed UAV system uses a single GPS and its error of a few meters is solved by means of the following component technologies: (a) flight path generator based on one reference point, (b) vision‐based redefinition of a reference point for GPS correction, and (c) calibration of flight path to update the reference point. The pickup‐and‐drop mission is conducted via color‐ and shape‐based vision processing and a magnetic gripper to pickup and drop‐off the targets. Our proposed system is able to successfully manage three UAVs, recognize targets on the ground, and drop the targets into a drop box in the drop zone. Finally, we achieved fourth place among 18 teams in Challenge 3.

Clothoid-Augmented Online Trajectory Generation for Radius to Fix Turns

Clothoid-Augmented Online Trajectory Generation for Radius to Fix Turns

Automatic Deployment of an RPAS Mission Manager to an ARINC-653 Compliant System

The development process of avionics system requiring a high level of safety is subjected to rigorous development and verification standards. In order to accelerate and facilitate this process, we present a testbed that uses a suite of methods and tools to comply with aerospace standards for certification. To illustrate the proposed methodology, we designed a Mission Management System for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) that was deployed on a particular run-time execution platform called XtratuM, an ARINC-653 compliant system developed in our research group. The paper discusses the system requirements, the software architecture, the key issues for porting designs to XtratuM, and how to automatize this process. Results show that the proposed testbed is a good platform for designing and qualifying avionics applications.

Research and Systematic Design on Autonomous Mission Management Technology of Agile Satellite

Compared to traditional non-agile imaging satellites, the imaging efficiency of agile satellites are far higher and the imaging requirements are correspondingly more sophisticated, which in turn calls for better design and implementation of the onboard autonomous mission management system. According to the characteristics of the autonomous mission management system of agile satellites, this paper presents and illustrates the functional modules and key technology required by the autonomous mission management system. This paper proposes a layered architecture design, which employs a progressive and gradually detailing way to facilitate the systematic modular design and to effectively reduce the complexity of the implementation of the design. Combined with mission plan, emergency replan, image parameter real-time calculation technique, autonomous monitoring technique of plan implementation and other techniques, this design makes the agile imaging mission more scientifically designed, properly scheduling and safely implemented.

Operationalizing Compassion in the VR Process

Literature in recent years has defined a construct of Compassion (e.g., Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010), and acknowledged its application to fields of service for patients and clients (e.g., Halifax, 2011). The utility of its components has also been explored recently in the field of rehabilitation counseling, and Compassion training suggested as helpful to promoting effectiveness in the practice (Stuntzner, 2014). In the present discussion, it is suggested that subprocesses of the compassion construct, (a) “witnessing another’s suffering” that (b) “motivates a subsequent (c) desire to help,” are a natural fit for the evaluate-judge-respond (E-J-R) elements within the case management system of public vocational rehabilitation (VR). A view of collective, organizational compassion is also presented, that may be similarly considered a fit for the larger VR mission and case management system. In this larger context, organizational compassion may be seen as supporting compassion’s subprocesses as they function within VR’s operational elements. As parallels are evident, and benefits presented, implications of compassion’s cultivation are suggested for the individual VR counselor, as well as the VR organization as a whole.

English

The paper presents advanced mission management system (MMS) for unmanned aerial vehicles, based on integrated modular avionics (IMA) architecture. IMA architecture enables the MMS to host high end functions for autonomous navigation and attack. MMS is a collection of systems to execute the mission objectives. The system constitutes mission computer (MC), sensors and other sub-systems. The MMS-MC needs to execute advanced algorithms like terrain referenced navigation, vision-aided navigation, automatic target recognition, sensor fusion, online path planning, and tactical planning for autonomy and safety. This demands high-end architecture in terms of hardware, software, and communication. The MMS-MC is designed to exploit the benefits of IMA concepts such as open system architecture, hardware and software architecture catering for portability, technology transparency, scalability, system reconfigurability and fault tolerance. This paper investigates on advanced navigation methods for augmenting INS with terrain-referenced navigation and vision-aided navigation during GPS non-availability. This paper also includes approach to implement these methods and simulation results are provided accordingly, and also discusses in a limited way, the approach for implementing online path planning. Defence Science Journal, Vol. 64, No. 5, September 2014, pp.438-444, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.64.5992

Certification and Software Verification Considerations for Autonomous Unmanned Aircraft

Software verification for highly automatic unmanned aerial vehicles is not only a problem itself, it is furthermore constrained by certification standards and regulatory rules. These, however, are themselves still under development. As a top-level view, the current status of unmanned aerial vehicle verification, certification, and regulation is addressed and corresponding challenges are discussed. From a low-level view, this work presents the processes and tools that were established for the software development, verification, and validation of the unmanned rotorcraft software testbed ARTIS. Large efforts have been put into the software verification process to cope with the growing complexity of the autonomous system and the validation of the software behavior. Automated tests drive the development of the mission planning, mission management, and sensor fusion systems. High-level behavior is tested by complex simulation scenarios. To connect the aforementioned top- and low-level views, a comparison between the RTCA DO-178C standard (“Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification”) and corresponding ARTIS software development practices is elaborated to assess the efforts that would be necessary for a small research team to develop software according to the standard. It shows that the currently used practices are not incompatible, but there are still some gaps to the desired level of compliance.