Paulo Sérgio Cugnasca

Guidelines for the Integration of Autonomous UAS into the Global ATM

The growing social and economic interest in new unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) applications demands that UASs operate beyond the segregated airspace they are currently able to fly. However, UAS operations in non-segregated airspace should be regulated by aeronautical authorities before UASs can share airspace with manned aircraft. It has been a challenge for regulatory authorities to define these regulations because they do not understand the topic well. In addition, there is no consensus in the academic community regarding UAS concepts, such as taxonomy and features. This study proposes guidelines that could support UAS regulations for the future integration of autonomous UASs into the Global Air Traffic Management System (GATM). These guidelines are based on three viewpoints: the aircraft, the piloting autonomous system (PAS) and the integration of autonomous UASs into non-segregated airspace. We recommend that the UAS concept should be based on genuine aeronautical precepts, which would be directly applied, without terminology or conceptual adaptations, for the integration of these aircraft into airspace according to the GATM paradigm.

Adaptive search control applied to Search and Rescue operations using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

Despite there being some researches about unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), operations with this kind of robots are not yet occurring in search and rescue (SAR) operations. Using adaptive concepts, a Cooperative UAV model applied to search and rescue operations applied is proposed. The adaptive concepts are well suited to the dynamism present in search operations in unknown environment. Thus, applying adaptiveness, each UAV takes decision in order to best accomplish the goal. Simulations were carried out and the results observed show that the model reduces until 75% of the search time (comparing with a manned search using the SAR navigation rules). Furthermore, related works, UAV evolution, conclusion and future works suggestions are presented.

Guidelines for integration of autonomous UAS in Global ATM

In recent years there is a crescent interest for operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in new areas beyond the current reserved airspace. Such fact has forced regulatory organisations such as the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) to evaluate unmanned aircraft and to propose regulations for the expanded use of such aircraft. The definition of these regulations is a challenge for the ICAO and the academic community. This paper proposes guidelines seeking the integration of autonomous UAS into the Global ATM proposals from the aircraft viewpoint, the autonomous pilot and the aircraft interaction in Global ATM. The possibility of integrating UAS into airspace depends on regulations that are yet to be defined and proper data with which to assure the flight safety standards of this new aircraft type.

Improving Computation of Simulated Wind-Prediction Error for Air Traffic Applications

Wind accounts for considerable uncertainty in air traffic, and it often happens in this context that the best predictions available still contain a very significant error. To have a reliable air traffic simulation model, this uncertainty has to be represented, which requires a significant amount of computation. This study presents a way to improve the computing time and memory necessary for Monte Carlo simulations in this application area. The wind-prediction error field is modeled as a multivariate Gaussian stochastic process, with variables correlated both in space and in time. The original algorithm for generating this process, taken from the literature, presented some performance drawbacks; a new algorithm was thus developed using the idea of periodically discarding part of the history and using conditional distributions. This new algorithm performs with remarkable speed and memory gains while being capable of producing results with better temporal autocorrelation than the original algorithm.

Checking Safe Trajectories of Aircraft Using Hybrid Automata

The air traffic management system is under generalized upgrading process. New requirements of safety arise based on several emerging technologies. This work presents a model to automatically verify safety of actions taken by human traffic controllers in frequent situations. The model uses the formalism of hybrid automata, and consists basically on segmenting the space of routes and associating each segment to a location of the automaton. Some kind of trajectory optimisation is also possible with this model.

Safety and Security in Critical Applications and in Information Systems ¿ a Comparative Study

In this paper a comparative study is made between Safety-Critical Applications and Information Systems. These kinds of systems have the need for protection, each against specific kinds of problems. In both types of applications, it is necessary to adopt measures to assure their perfect operation, safety and security, preventing dangerous situations. The main concepts of these two kinds of applications are presented and compared. The techniques to guarantee systems safety and security are also considered. The purpose of this paper is to show that it is possible to combine those techniques, forming a unique set for safety and security guarantee.

An Approach to Assess the Safety of ADS-B-based Unmanned Aerial Systems: Data Integrity as a Safety Issue

The increasing demand for the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in various social and economic applications has pressed aviation authorities to draw up rules and regulations in order to allow such aircraft to fly in non-segregated airspace. However, issues related to the safety of air traffic operations arise when considering the possibility of both manned and unmanned aircraft coexisting. Thus, surveillance plays a key role in monitoring and controlling air traffic in new scenarios. The positional information provided by the Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B), originally designed to improve situational awareness for pilots and support controllers in air traffic management, interacts with the Sense and Avoid Systems (S&AS) of the UAS in order to avoid exposure to events of loss of minima separation distances and collisions. As positional information is essential to UASs control systems operation, parameters such as accuracy and integrity reflect the correctness and trustworthiness of this information. This paper presents a qualitative approach to assess safety when using ADS-B systems integrated with UASs in aeronautical operations considering the influence of data integrity as a safety-related parameter. In addition, the possibility of using a methodology previously applied on manned systems for assessing safety on UASs is discussed. A new testing platform (PIpE-SEC) is presented as a possible approach for this safety evaluation.

Using Data Integrity as an Improvement Characteristic to Assess the Safety of ADS-B-based Systems

The increasing demand for the densification of the national airspace in various social and economic applications have pressed aviation authorities to reduce aircraft separation, allowing more efficient operations in Air Traffic Management (ATM) in a given airspace. However, issues related to the safety of air traffic operations arise when considering the possibility of reducing aircraft separation. Surveillance plays a key role in monitoring and controlling air traffic in new scenarios in which a better flight performance is required. Accuracy of positional information provided by the Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B), originally designed to improve situational awareness for pilots and support controllers in air traffic management, is essential in order to avoid exposure to incidents and accidents such as events of loss of separation (AIRPROX) and collisions for new Global ATM paradigm. This paper presents a qualitative approach to assess safety when using ADS-B systems considering its data integrity as a relevant factor in aeronautical systems and operations for different scenarios. A testing platform -- the Integrated Platform for Testing Critical Embedded Systems (PIpE-SEC) -- is also presented as a possible solution for this safety evaluation.

Safety Management Aspects on Automatic Train Operation Control Systems Using Predictive Fuzzy Logic

The use of predictive fuzzy logic for automatic train operation control systems is discussed in this paper, especially the safety aspects. The main objectives are to find an optimal point between availabilityIreliability increase and to discuss the apparent safety operation margin reduction. Data from Sao Paulo subway system enforce the advantage of using this approach and are used as a study case in this paper.

Concerns on the Differences Between AI and System Safety Mindsets Impacting Autonomous Vehicles Safety

The inflection point in the development of some core technologies enabled the Autonomous Vehicles (AV). The unprecedented growth rate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities, focusing only on AVs, is expected to shift the transportation paradigm and bring relevant benefits to the society, such as accidents reduction. However, recent AVs accidents resulted in life losses. This paper presents a viewpoint discussion based on findings from a preliminary exploratory literature review. It was identified an important misalignment between AI and Safety research communities regarding the impact of AI on the safety risks in AV. This paper promotes this discussion, raises concerns on the potential consequences and suggests research topics to reduce the differences between AI and system safety mindsets.