Development of a portfolio analysis tool

Provide a clear understanding of the current state of the art in sense and avoidand separation assurance system capabilities andtheir impacts on safety for aircraft operations in the national airspace system (NAS).Develop an accurate traffic model that allows not only evaluation of spatial and temporaltraffic density,but also support computation of encounter probabilities. Define accessible airspace across the NAS as a function of required target level ofsafety (TLOS) and, contrast the results of the study of TLOS to the baseline case oftodays operations at each TLOS.

Develop and implement in software medium fidelity simulation models for a range ofUnmanned Aircraft. Provide characteristic vehicle performance. Document Operationalcharacteristics including: operational ceiling; minimum and maximum speeds; aircraftrange and loiter limitations. Identify operational requirements and limitations for vehicles of paragraph 1. identifyany unique vehicle characteristics impacting operation. Summarize field and supportrequirements as well as any special mission planning needs such as unique weatherforecast products or contingency planning data requirements.Survey UAS vehicle communication, navigation, surveillance (CNS) mechanisms and providesummary characteristics for systems identified in paragraph 1. Identify mechanisms forand latencies in communication, command and control, as well as command executionlatencies in responding to Air Traffic Control (ATC) instruction (time to respond,command and initiate execution of instruction from ATC). Identify (lateral and vertical)navigation control modes for each UAS in Task 1. Detail the surveillancesystems/sources utilized by the UAS for identifying other aircraft (cooperative andnon-cooperative), if any. Provide performance models of the surveillance mechanisms ifthe surveilled states are used for Sense and Avoid or Separation Assurance.

Conduct a survey of Government and Industry analysis and simulation capabilitiesfor UAS. Develop a strategy for concept validation to support UAS airworthinesscertification related research. Identify potential technologies that could contribute tosimulation of UAS operational environments to support concept validation. Identify waysin which identified potential technologies could integrate with existing NASAcapabilities to support concept validation.

Develop and implement in software medium fidelity simulation models for a range ofUnmanned Aircraft. Provide characteristic vehicle performance. Document Operationalcharacteristics including: operational ceiling; minimum and maximum speeds; aircraftrange and loiter limitations. Identify operational requirements and limitations for vehicles of paragraph 1. identifyany unique vehicle characteristics impacting operation. Summarize field and supportrequirements as well as any special mission planning needs such as uniqueweather forecast products or contingency planning data requirements.Survey UAS vehicle communication, navigation, surveillance (CNS)mechanisms and provide summary characteristics for systems identified in paragraph 1.Identify mechanisms for and latencies in communication, command and control, as well ascommand execution latencies in responding to Air Traffic Control (ATC) instruction (timeto respond, command and initiate execution of instruction from ATC). Identify (lateraland vertical) navigation control modes for each UAS in Task 1. Detail the surveillancesystems/sources utilized by the UAS for identifying other aircraft (cooperative andnon-cooperative), if any. Provide performance models of the surveillance mechanisms ifthe surveilled states are used for Sense and Avoid or Separation Assurance.

Current state of research toward achieving UAS Integration in the NAS will beassessed. Perform portfolio analysis using a top-down assessment of the vision, goals,objectives, capabilities, requirements as well as an assessment of bottoms-uptechnologies and current investments. Deliver a portfolio assessment of national needs,existing capabilities and research and development efforts required to fill gaps.Progress will be assessed by evaluation of the collective contribution of portfolioelements using metrics defined by NASA.Identify risks that may prevent achievement of UAS Integration in the NAS goals andprovide analysis that is the basis for developing strategies to mitigate those risks. Provide analysis that can be used by decision makers as the basis to direct the portfolioof investments to maximize the overall economic return (benefits versus cost), subject tobudget constraints and with regard to risk. Costs will be roughorder of magnitude and will be based on available data.Provide a framework that enables analysts to investigate the effects of differentinvestment strategies towards achieving goals.Provide a framework that assists analysts in prioritizing concepts, and technologies forfurther study and assessment and assists analysts in identifying candidates for rapiddevelopment and technology transfer.

Evaluate the various classification scheme recommendations, derive an appropriateclassification scheme for UAS certification and deliver a report on the relevant factor,characteristics, and methodologies for classification of UAS as they relate todevelopment and allocation of airworthiness requirements, including operatinglimitations.