SITIS Topic Details

Proposals Accepted:  
Program:  SBIR
Topic Number:  AF103-035 (AirForce)
Title:  Airspace Management and Deconfliction Training Environment for Manned and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAs)
Research & Technical Areas:  Air Platform, Sensors, Human Systems
  Objective:  To develop and validate a high fidelity, immersive environment for training airspace management and deconfliction in manned and RPAs.
  Description:  Current overseas contingency operations are dependent on an increasing number of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAs) that are supposed to operate in airspace shared with manned systems. The increasing use of unmanned systems in close proximity with manned systems poses a serious and potentially deadly problem in terms of airspace management and deconfliction. Management today involves keeping the systems separated by airspace block and geographic location of operation. Of critical importance is the development of greater understanding in ops personnel of the potential dangers, appropriate and necessary communication, asset management, and coordination discipline and guidelines, airspace picture building and management, and cooperative use of common airspace and altitude among the various assets in theater. This problem is further exacerbated with poor weather conditions, navigation failures, and where there is contested airspace and communications. The growing sophistication of the current generation and planned future capabilities of the unmanned systems places them in direct competition for the same operational airspace and mission altitudes as manned systems. There is no easy way for current air battle management systems such as Air born Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) and Critical Reporting Centers (CRCs) to manage and control the airspace with so many small vehicles in the air at lower altitudes. While many of the unmanned systems cannot easily be detected and tracked by these air battle management systems, due to the size, speed, and composition of the unmanned systems, they are substantial enough to cause a catastrophic mishap if they collide with a manned system. Interestingly, there is no current training for unmanned system operators to enable them to understand airspace sharing and operational picture building of the variety of systems operating in the same airspace at the same time. To achieve the desired training capability, several important research activities need to be accomplished: Demonstrating streamlined authoring and management of realistic scenarios for training identified tasks; integrating agents that can behave and communicate in a manner that supports the training objectives; embedded coaching or support functions that facilitate learning within the actual scenario; and a capability to monitor activity and performance while in the training scenario and to subsequently play back the activity for debriefing and after action analysis. The technology challenge is the development of a high fidelity, engaging, and instructionally valid environment and content to substantially improve airspace and situation awareness under realistic conditions.

  PHASE I: Examination source data such as near misses and hazardous aircraft transit reports will be accomplished to identify scenario content. A training environment design document will be developed and example tools to create realistic and interactive portrayals of the airspace, and communications and coordination problem spaces for training the various players in the airspace of relevance will be developed and demonstrated.

  PHASE II: Develop, evaluate, refine and demonstrate methods, tools, and an interactive training environment based on recommendations and designs from Phase I. Phase II includes development of exemplar representation and interactive components to facilitate training and awareness development within a realistic airspace environment.

  PHASE III

  DUAL USE COMMERCIALIZATION: Military Application: Addresses training shortfalls related to identified operational airspace issues in combat areas of relevance around the world. Will develop a high fidelity learning and practice environment to develop proficiency in airspace management, communications, and control for military operations. Commercial Application: Addresses current operational issues in homeland security where unmanned systems are patrolling borders and other areas, transiting through controlled, commercial airspace on a routine basis. Fills a significant gap in current civilian training related to the interoperation of manned and unmanned systems in commercial airspace.

  References:  1. Baker, D., Prince, C., Shrestha, L., Oser, R., and Salas, E. (1993). Aviation computer games for crew resource management training. International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 3(2), 143-156.

2. Cannon-Bowers, J.A., and Salas, E. (1998). "Making decisions under stress: Implication for individual and team training" Washington, D.C., American Psychological Association.

3. Taylor, G., Miller, J., and Maddox, J. (2005). Automating Simulation-Based Air Traffic Control. In Proceedings of the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC).

4. Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap, 2009-2034, U.S. Department of Defense.

5. JIPT/JIST USAF, UAS Airspace Integration Technologies, AFMC/303ASEN, March 2007.

6. Endsley, M.R. (1995), “Toward a Theory of Situation Awareness in Dynamic Systems,” Human Factors, 37(1), 32-64.

7. Thomas, C.A., and Ciaramella, K.M. (2000, October), Test and Evaluation of Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance (TCAS) II Logic Version 7.

8. Ibraham, D. (2008). “Aircraft Pilot Situational Awareness Interface for Airborne Operations of Network Controlled Unmanned Systems”, Naval Postgraduate School Thesis, Monterey California.

9. Hoffman, J.C. and Kamps, C.T. (2005). ”At the Crossroads: Future “Manning” for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.” Air & Space Power Journal, Vol. 28, pp. 31-37.

10. Rahmani, A., Kosuge, K., Tsukamaki, T., and Mesbahi, M. (2008). "Multiple UAV Deconfliction via Navigation Functions," AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference and Exhibit, Honolulu, HI.


Keywords:  airspace management, crew coordination, team communication, air traffic control, airspace deconfliction, navigation communication and coordination, airspace situation awareness, remotely piloted systems, remotely operated systems, unmanned aerial systems
Additional Information, Corrections, References, etc..
Ref #11: Additional information from TPOC in response to FAQs about AF103-035. Contains 40 sets of Q&A. (Posted in SITIS 8/10/10.) AF103_035 TPOC QA re 40 FAQs 081010.doc
Questions and Answers:
Q: 1. Regarding AF103-035, what is the primary training audience?
- Air Battle Managers (CRRC and AWACS crews)?
- Airspace Planners (JFACC ACA personnel)?
- RPA/UAS operators and aircrew?

2. If the answer is "all of the above," is there one part of the training audience that is seen as particularly critical?
A: 1. Regarding AF103-035, what is the primary training audience?
- Air Battle Managers (CRC and AWACS crews)?
Answer: yes in terms of controlling ALL the players in the air space
- Airspace Planners (JFACC ACA personnel)?
Answer: No not a focus.
- RPA/UAS operators and aircrew?
Answer: Yes
- Air Support Operations Center (ASOC)
Answer: Yes

2. If the answer is "all of the above," is there one part of the training
audience that is seen as particularly critical?
Answer: You tell me.



Q: Although operating RPA/UAS in the U.S. National Airspace (NAS) is challenging in its own right, the real emphasis for AF103-035 is combat airspace being shared by a number of warfighters, presumabling operating in a joint/combined environment under a J/CFACC and an Airspace Control Authority. Is this correct?
A: Yes that is the focus.

Q: Have specific air control/deconfliction tactics, techniques & procedures (TTP) for operating manned and unmanned aircraft in the same airspace been identified for incorporation into the project, or will that be considered part of the Phase I process of examining source data?
A: This is considered part of the phase I effort. The idea is given what an offeror proposes to do in the effort, what are the most relevant TTPs to consider and to put into the system for training and why they are important and how incorporating them improves the fidelity and relevance the offerors proposed approach.
Q: 1. Is there interest in training “stick and rudder” skills (maneuvering to avoid a potential threat) or is the focus on operating procedures, communication with ATC, situational awareness, etc.?
2. If there is interest in training “stick and rudder” skills, is the focus more on long-term separation assurance or short-term collision avoidance?
A: A1: no plenty of trainers of this time in existence already. The goal of this topic is to create an environment to develop an understanding of how different manned and unmanned systems interoperate in a tactical environment and better understand and rehearse the coordination and communication protocols necessary for airspace management and deconfliction. Please also refer to my posted questions and answers on this topic on the SBIR web site.

A2/Q2: NA.




Q: Should we assume a military airspace domain (versus commercial, which present a different strain of issues)?
A: Please read the question and answers file for this topic already posted to the SITIS Q&A site. Thank you
As of midnight September 1, questions for solicitations SBIR 10.3 and STTR 10.B will no longer be accepted.
To read the solicitation for full proposal preparation and submission details click here.

Record: 92 of 367