Fleet and Flight Operations Integration and Optimization in a Mixed-Advanced Air Mobility Environment

The Fleet Logistics Optimization Engine (FLOE) is a multi-layered optimization system for determining the most efficient routes for deploying aircraft and ground crews for a UAS mission, building on the Uncrewed Aviation Fleet and Flight Operations Optimization (UA-FFOpt) framework developed during Phase I. In Phase II, we will further the optimizers accuracy through streaming and modeling of weather and traffic data to produce real-time updates to the optimizers inputs, which will help further dynamic route planning. Secondly, we will improve FLOEs data collection abilities by implementing an SQL database for aircraft management that will be critical for developing the anomaly detectors in the situational awareness subsystem designed to help UAS Service Suppliers perform better fleet and network management and make growth potential for future operations greater and safer. We will develop a feedback mechanism that utilizes the data gathered during flights to further improve the optimizers by improving the inputs accuracy. Last, we will develop a user interface that can be used to control the entire system, including developing inputs and monitoring vehicles, weather, and traffic. These FLOE features will further fleet management capabilities as specified under A3.02 Advanced Air Traffic Management for Nontraditional Airspace Operations Focus Area 20 Airspace Operations and Safety Nontraditional Aviation Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). The Fleet Logistics Optimization Engine (FLOE) can improve the efficiency of UAS operations (up to 50% decrease in operating costs predicted in certain cases) through a novel multi-layered UAS operations optimizer system generalized for multiple mission types. Phase II includes several updates to the Phase I framework: Injecting streaming weather and traffic data to better inform the underlying optimizers Flight data feedback mechanism and associated Neural Network parameter prediction model In-flight anomaly detection subsystem for operation- and component-level monitoring to pave a path toward 1:n and eventually m:n operations Centralized flight data storage with API access Increased fidelity simulation to enable preflight testing and a low-cost further development platform A user interface connected to all subsystems for increased operator awareness and ease of use A full-cycle tool, FLOE is uniquely designed to increase efficiency continuously rather than treat each mission as a standalone instance. Objectives 1.    Integrate Day-of Weather and Traffic Data into System 2.    Develop UAS Management Architecture with Feedback and m:n Situational Awareness and Anomaly Detection Mechanisms  3.    Develop User Interface for Running and Controlling all Optimizers 4.    Upgrade Simulation for Testing and Demonstrating FLOE Proposed Deliverables The FLOE Software Package including: Full operation-capable UI Integrated weather and traffic streaming capabilities for informing optimizers Centralized flight data storage system Automated feedback mechanism that uses simulated/real flight data to improve optimizer functions Situational awareness subsystem that helps an operator monitor an aircraft fleet with underlying anomaly detectors for rapidly determining deviations from normal aircraft subsystem operations, mission progress time, and potentially detrimental aspects to a mission. This will increase the safety and capability of m:n operations. Upgraded simulation to test/demo configurations, develop new modules Demonstration of all submodules  Demonstration and instructions for the UI

For the NASA AOSP program, ATM-X project and AMP sub-project, this system could be modified to provide AAM flight routings across an AAM fleet The UTM-based rural delivery market.  NASA-UTM applications can use this tool. Wildfire management and support using UAS. AAM flights from one part of an urban area to another. Aerial Vantage’s crop surveying efforts Wildfire spotting and surveying operations Border security and surveillance DoD UAS surveillance and targeting operations Fleet and route planning for crewed flight surveillance operations Advanced Air Mobility fleet and route planning

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