Photo credit: www.nasa.gov

Drones: The Future of Industry and Disaster Management

As industries such as agriculture, law enforcement, entertainment, and disaster response increasingly adopt drone technology, ensuring safe operations becomes paramount. The surge in drone usage necessitates the establishment of reliable safety management systems to handle the complexities of aerial operations.

Nasa is at the forefront of developing a sophisticated new software known as the In-Time Aviation Safety Management System (IASMS). This innovative system aims to proactively predict potential hazards that can threaten drones during flight. IASMS will continuously monitor, evaluate, and manage airborne risks in real-time. However, thorough experimentation, including simulations and drone flight tests, is essential to ensure the system operates effectively.

“You typically won’t notice the IASMS at work during a normal flight,” stated Michael Vincent, acting deputy project manager for NASA’s System-Wide Safety project at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. “It becomes invaluable during atypical situations, such as when a drone faces navigation or communication failures, notifying operators in advance.”

Recently, NASA conducted a simulation at its Human-Autonomy Teaming Laboratory at the Ames Research Center in California, focusing on integrating IASMS into operational scenarios for hurricane relief and recovery. This simulation, held on March 5, involved 12 drone pilots managing up to six drones simultaneously, executing supply drops to stranded residents following a major hurricane. Additionally, several drones were utilized for scripted search and rescue operations and levee inspections. Data regarding pilot performance, mission outcomes, workload, perceptions, and usability was meticulously gathered throughout the sessions.

This simulation aligns with NASA’s broader goal of advancing drone safety technology. Insights gained from this initiative are equipped to inform future hurricane relief flight tests scheduled for 2027.

In the summer of 2024, NASA further evaluated its IASMS through a variety of collaborative drone flights with the Ohio Department of Transportation in Columbus and multiple university-led research teams. For the Ohio tests, a drone equipped with the IASMS transmitted data back to NASA researchers in Langley, providing real-time performance feedback.

Collaborative studies also took place with The George Washington University, the University of Notre Dame, and Virginia Commonwealth University. These were executed in diverse locales, including Fort Devens in Massachusetts with GWU, South Bend, Indiana, with Notre Dame, and Richmond, Virginia, with VCU. Each testing phase featured distinct missions, hazards, and scenarios tailored to specific objectives, such as navigating during a wildfire or deliver packages in an urban environment. The IASMS was adapted accordingly to address the individual mission requirements and flight conditions.

When paired with systems like NASA’s Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management, the IASMS could revolutionize routine drone operations across the U.S. It enhances safety by ensuring that drones maintain their designated flight paths and evade potential hazards when operating within populated areas.

“Safety assurance in drone operations relies on various contributors,” Vincent noted. “This includes the drone operator, the manufacturer, the operational company, and the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees the National Airspace System. Real-time monitoring and risk assessment capabilities would greatly enhance safety in these contexts.”

All these efforts are spearheaded by NASA’s System-Wide Safety project, part of the Airspace Operations and Safety program. This initiative is key to the agency’s Advanced Air Mobility mission, aimed at delivering essential data to support the development of electric air taxis and autonomous drones.

Source
www.nasa.gov