← Back to NASA Technology Projects

Flexible Tube-Based Network Control, Phase I

Completed TRL 1 (started at 1, targeting 2)

Description

The Innovation Laboratory, Inc. builds a control system which controls the topology of an air traffic flow network and the network flow properties which enables Air Traffic Management (ATM) to adapt to hazardous weather constraints and provide high capacity flows in the National Airspace System (NAS). The Network Flow Organizer automatically adjusts the flows of air traffic with respect to weather hazards and Special Use Airspace (SUA) constraints and allows for parallel flows along the network (a 2-times (2x) to 3-times (3x) increase in today's flow rates) without conflicts at intersection points.

Benefits

The proposed software has application to military systems as well. In wartime, the constraints are very dynamic and automated airspace usage planning is required to support the pilot and the mission. The airspace may be constrained by weather, but also by hostile threats, both moving and stationary. With minor modifications, our solution approach for estimating the avenues of approach and for estimates of total troop movement flow rates.

Details

Technology areaAir Traffic Management and Range Tracking Systems > Traffic Management Concepts
ProgramSmall Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR)
Lead organizationAmes Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Start date2009-01-22
End date2009-07-22

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 1) — 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.