Securing High-Density Urban Airspaces

This project will establish a security framework and algorithmic foundations to safeguard high-density urban airspace against cyberattacks. We will focus on attacks on heterogeneous airspace operations, which include both electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). We are developing technologies to address three technical challenges (TCs): identifying system vulnerabilities and modeling the impact of cyberattacks (TC1); defense against attacks and security risk mitigations (TC2); and designing infrastructure to improve system-level resilience and security (TC3). Addressing these interdependent core challenges will result in resilience and safety assurance for high-density urban airspaces. The outcome of the project will be security-aware improvements on the current advanced air mobility (AAM) and UAS traffic management (UTM) system architecture, avionics software, ground control station (GCS) software, and aircraft operations.

Hundreds of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) that are vulnerable to cyberattacks may lead to catastrophic disasters unless we have an established security framework and algorithm foundation to defend against such attacks.

This project will benefit NASA and FAA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and UAS Traffic Management (UTM) implementations by answering the following research questions:

• How can we identify and detect the potential cyberattacks to the aircraft autonomy and AAM/UTM software architecture? The answers will raise industry awareness to identify the vulnerable links and components in AAM/UTM and quantify attack risks to individual aircraft and the airspace.
• How can we defend individual aircraft and the airspace systems against cyberattacks? The answers will inform further investments from the AAM/UTM industry on developing technologies and mechanisms to mitigate attack hazards and manage attack risks.
• How can we harden the AAM/UTM software architecture and aircraft autonomy software stack with security properties? The answers will recommend necessary security updates for AAM/UTM system architecture, avionics software standards, and communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) infrastructure design.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — 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.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.