Multi-Objective Risk Prediction and Hazard Evaluation/optimization for Urban Air Services (MORPHEUS)

In the Phase I, The Longbow Group, LLC (LONGBOW), with Daniel H. Wagner Associates, Inc. (DHWA) as a subcontractor, demonstrated the feasibility of developing key components of a future In-Time Aviation Safety Management System (IASMS) and commercializing those components as IASMS Services, Functions, and Capabilities (SFCs) within one or more Supplemental Data Service Providers (SDSPs) supporting Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM). Phase I laid the groundwork for Phase II prototype development of a Multi-Objective Risk Prediction and Hazard Evaluation/optimization for Urban air Services (MORPHEUS), which will support (1) pre-flight planning to assess and mitigate risk (e.g., to the populace, infrastructure, airframe/payload/mission); (2) in-flight monitoring and mitigation of risk; and (3) post-flight analysis of risk and model and database updates. MORPHEUS will leverage LONGBOWs development of PEGASUS whichwill soon be used to demonstrate safe, effective, and efficient UAS operations in Hampton, VA, as well as NASA Langley Research Centers (LaRC) Ground Risk Assessment Service Provider (GRASP), DHWAs experience with AI and Machine Learning (ML) and commercialization of a NASA Langley Phase II SBIR for UAS route evaluation/optimization with respect to weather LONGBOWs Space Act Umbrella Agreement SAA134272 for uncrewed systems collaborative testing with NASA LaRC at LONGBOWs Unmanned Systems and Research and Technology Center (USRTC) at Fort Monroe, and Ph II NASA SBIRs to develop an Urban Weather Testbed (UWT) and Weather Sensor Data Monitoring System (WSDM) for UAS operations in Hampton Ph II prototype development will result in a functional MORPHEUS system as a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) ready for transition to PEGASUS and other UTM systems. Benefits to NASA and the UAS commercial enterprise will include safer and more efficient flights in the NAS. The Longbow Group, with Daniel H. Wagner Associates as a subcontractor, will demonstrate the feasibility of key components of a future In-Time Aviation Safety Management System (IASMS) and commercializing those components as IASMS Services, Functions, and Capabilities (SFCs) within SDSPs supporting UTM, and laying the groundwork for Phase II prototype development of a Multi-Objective Risk Prediction and Hazard Evaluation/Optimization for UAS Service (MORPHEUS), supporting (1) pre-flight planning to assess and mitigate risk (e.g., to the populace, infrastructure, airframe/payload/mission); (2) in-flight monitoring and mitigation of risk; and (3) post-flight analysis of risk and model and database updates. MORPHEUS will leverage NASA LaRC Ground Risk Assessment Service Provider (GRASP), DHWA’s experience with AI and Machine Learning (ML) and commercialization of a NASA LaRC Phase II SBIR for UAS route evaluation/optimization, LONGBOW’s Space Act Agreement for UAS testing with NASA LaRC. and the team’s involvement in a recently awarded Phase II NASA SBIR for an Urban Weather Testbed. Objectives are aligned with the A3.03 Future Aviation System Safety topic related to “safety critical risks identified in beyond visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations in small and large UAS” and “Unsafe proximity to people/property.” Objective 1: Demonstrate improved ML capabilities with additional areas (e.g., larger Hampton Roads, other cities available from AirSage, such as Dallas, TX) and additional data types (e.g., weather, holidays, events, geographic labels for schools, cemeteries, etc.). Objective 2: Demonstrate effective inter-service communications between MORPHEUS and GRASP, leading to a fully functional prototype MORPHEUS as part of the larger PEGASUS infrastructure. This will not require changes to GRASP, but if GRASP enhancements are made by the SWS group at LaRC we will take advantage of them. Objective 3: Demonstrate additional multi-objective optimization capabilities within MORPHEUS, taking into account weather, population, buildings/terrain, etc. Objective 4: Demonstrate the utility of MORPHEUS and GRASP in planning and execution of UAS flights between Ft. Monroe and downtown Hampton, VA, with the goal of achieving FAA approval of both tools as risk mitigation capabilities for UAS/eVTOL flights over people. We will provide the following deliverables in Phase II: 1. Quarterly and Interim Reports, Final Briefing and Report 2. All software/algorithms/documentation 

MORPHEUS will directly support NASA programs/projects related to UAS/eVTOL safety and risk mitigation such as the High Density Vertiplex (HDV) program, which used GRASP data in a recent FAA COA Safety Case application for BVLOS operations at NASA LaRC, and particularly the AOSP System Wide Safety (SWS) initiative. MORPHEUS would also benefit programs involved in human-autonomy teaming (e.g., the HAT Lab), providing multi-objective optimization for humans to review and understand, accept/reject, and/or modify. With FAA recognition as a Risk Assessment and Mitigation tool for UAS/eVTOL operations over populated areas, the market opportunity for a fully developed MORPHEUS, as a stand-alone SDSP or as part of a scalable, expandable end-to-end PEGASUS Urban Air Services platform, are excellent and valuable for air cargo logistics and air taxi companies to gain regulatory approval inside urban environments 

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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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