HATIS: Human Autonomy Teaming Interface System for UTM Risks Management

In this Phase IIE, HATS seeks to develop Ground Control Station (GCS) software capable of running pre-flight risk assessment and in-flight risk monitoring by establishing two-way communication (request-reply) with NASA Supplemental Data Services Providers (SDSPs) and NASA UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) Client. One-way communication will be supported in order to receive information downlinked from NASA test aircraft. HATS will utilize NASA Langley’s Fall 2021 flight test scenario(s) or create representative scenario(s) for an urban air mobility autonomous flight operation that operates within a UTM-like ecosystem. These flight scenarios will be utilized to demonstrate a user interface to Services, Functions, and Capabilities (SFCs) being developed within NASA’s System-Wide Safety Project as integrated within the overarching HATS GCS software and display concept. The GCS software will be used to perform a series of pre-flight risk assessments for multiple threats based on flight plans and inputs from NASA systems (e.g., SDSPs and UTM client). The results of these assessments will be visualized by the GCS software for use by the NASA GCS operator. The operator may request subsequent risk assessments for modified flight plans in an iterative manner. Once the flight plan is selected and the flight commences, the GCS software will display aircraft flight parameters and safety warnings/alerts during flight by visualizing both downlinked telemetry and the supplemental data queried from the various SDSP-servers and UTM.

The proposed ground control station (GCS) software is designed to be integrated into research GCSs being developed by safety assurance researchers at NASA and will play a key role in future NASA R&D projects that involve safety assurance and UAS/UTM and human autonomy teaming. Our system will help provide NASA’s safety assurance and UTM researchers a human system interface to help visualize, test, and mature in-time risk management technologies.

The proposed GCS software will be integrated into HATS’ flagship commercial product called Consoar, which consists of a network of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles deployed and field tested for in-time environmental monitoring of methane leak and odor remediation at landfills in the waste management industry.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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