633838-SOW1_20170811113839.277_X.docx

NASA Glenn Research Center Unmanned Aircraft Systems Communication Systems Study

1.0 Introduction

The desire and ability to fly Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) is of increasing urgency. The application of unmanned aircraft to perform national security, defense, scientific, and emergency management are driving the critical need for less restrictive access by UAS to the NAS.

UAS represent a new capability that will provide a variety of services in the government (public) and commercial (civil) aviation sectors. The growth of this potential industry has not yet been realized due to the lack of a common understanding of what is required to safely operate UAS in the NAS. To address this deficiency, NASA has established a Project called UAS Integration in the NAS (UAS in the NAS), under the Integrated Aviation Systems Program (IASP) of the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD). The Project goal is to provide research findings supporting the development and validation of detect and avoid (DAA) and command and control (C2) technologies necessary for integrating UAS into the NAS with airborne system tests. The next phase of the UAS-NAS Project will continue to focus on DAA and C2 technologies that are ready to be transitioned to implementation on unmanned vehicles, specifically to develop RTCA Special Committee (SC)-228 Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS). To that end, integrated flight tests in FY18 and FY19 and simulations throughout the project are planned to support the development of the standards. This project provides an opportunity to transition concepts, technology, algorithms, and knowledge to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other stakeholders to help them define the requirements, regulations, and issues for routine UAS NAS access. This task will provide an end-item deliverable to support the development of UAS communication systems requirements.

2.0 Objective

The contractor will develop a simulation environment within Riverbed Modeler of relevant UAS satellite and terrestrial communication system networks, to perform trade studies of different systems, and to complete performance analysis of selected systems.

3.0 Assumptions

1. The contractor understands the current civil unmanned aircraft communication standards process.

2. The contractor is proficient in developing simulation environments within Riverbed Modeler.

3. All hardware and software licenses that are needed to provide a turn-key solution are purchased, as part of this task, and provided to NASA/GRC

4. All source code developed by the contractor or any subcontractor will be provided to NASA/GRC as part of this task.

5. All third-party purchases to support this task will be coordinated with UAS in the NAS project personnel.

6. The estimated level of effort for this task is 1.0 WYE.

7. The contractor will work on-site at NASA/GRC to develop the deliverables.

8. All GRC contractors will be bound by Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)

4.0 Tasks – Base Year

This end-item deliverable will provide the UAS in the NAS project a simulation capability for studies of terrestrial communication systems.

4.1 Pre-Cursor

a. The contractor shall perform a review of relevant documentation from the emerging UAS markets in urban environments. The criteria of the review will be worked collaboratively between NASA and the contractor, but the main interest will be in providing a basis for the development of civil UAS communication performance standards.

4.2 Hardware Requirements

None

4.3 Software Requirements

a. The contractor shall create terrestrial UAS communication system environments within Riverbed Modeler. The criteria of the environments shall incorporate findings from the pre-cursor activity in Section 4.1 and merge with RTCA DO-632 communication models.

b. The contractor shall perform trade studies of terrestrial UAS communication system environments, in order to determine communication system design specifications. The criteria of the trade studies will be worked collaboratively between NASA and the contractor.

c. The contractor shall make available the source code for environments developed in Riverbed Modeler.

4.4 Documentation

a. The contractor shall provide a report on findings from the pre-cursor review in Section 4.1.

b. The contractor shall provide a report on findings from the trade studies in Section 4.3(a).

c. The contractor shall provide all information necessary for the continued operation of the Riverbed Modeler environments.

d. The contractor shall provide monthly progress reports.

5.0 Period of Performance

The period of performance is contract award through 9/30/18, with two one-year options.

6.0 Deliverables

1 Report on review of UAS emerging markets (2/28/2018) 2 Report on results of trade studies of UAS communication systems (9/30/18) 3 Riverbed Modeler environment for UAS satellite and terrestrial communication systems (9/30/18) 4 Source Code, where applicable 5 Monthly progress reports

7.0 Option Year 1

7.1. Tasks

7.1.1 Hardware Requirements

None

7.1.2 Software Requirements

a. The contractor shall update terrestrial UAS communication system environment models within Riverbed Modeler. The criteria of the environments shall be based on down selection based on findings from trade study task in Section 4.3. This down selection will be coordinated between NASA and the contractor.

b. The contractor shall perform UAS communication system simulations within Riverbed Modeler of the UAS flight environment to determine performance of the UAS communication system. The criteria for these simulations will be coordinated between NASA and the contractor.

c. The contractor shall make available the source code for environments developed in Riverbed Modeler.

7.1.3 Documentation

a) The contractor shall provide a report on findings from the model development in Section 7.1.2(a).

b) The contractor shall provide a report on findings from the simulations conducted in Section 7.1.2(b).

c) The contractor shall provide all information necessary for the continued operation of the Riverbed Modeler environments.

d) The contractor shall provide monthly progress reports.

7.2 Period of Performance

The period of performance is October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019.

7.3 Deliverables

1. The contractor shall provide a report on findings from the model development (2/28/2019)

2. The contractor shall provide a report on findings from the simulations (9/30/2019).

3. Riverbed Modeler environment for UAS satellite and terrestrial communication systems (9/30/2019)

4. Source Code, where applicable

5. Monthly progress reports

8.0 Option Year 2

8.1. Tasks

8.1.1 Hardware Requirements

None

8.1.2 Software Requirements

a. The contractor shall update terrestrial UAS communication system environment models within Riverbed Modeler. The criteria of the environments shall be based on findings from simulations conducted in Section 7.1.2(b). The criteria for the model updates will be coordinated between NASA and the contractor.

b. The contractor shall perform UAS communication system simulations within Riverbed Modeler of the UAS flight environment to determine performance of the UAS communication system. The criteria for these simulations will be coordinated between NASA and the contractor.

c. The contractor shall make available the source code for environments developed in Riverbed Modeler.

8.1.3 Documentation

e) The contractor shall provide a report on findings from the model development in Section 8.1.2(a).

f) The contractor shall provide a report on findings from the simulations conducted in Section 8.1.2(b).

g) The contractor shall provide all information necessary for the continued operation of the Riverbed Modeler environments.

h) The contractor shall provide monthly progress reports.

8.2 Period of Performance

The period of performance is October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020.

8.3 Deliverables

1. The contractor shall provide a report on findings from the model development (2/28/2020)

2. The contractor shall provide a report on findings from the simulations (9/30/2020).

3. Riverbed Modeler environment for UAS satellite and terrestrial communication systems (9/30/2020)

4. Source Code, where applicable

5. Monthly progress reports