Even Before Drones Become Mainstream, NASA Is Already Working On Their Traffic Management Solution

Drones have started making their way to the skies for various purposes and in several regions across the world. With the rise in their utility and the corresponding adoption, a near-future with numerous drones in the sky is inevitable. That might make some nervous, considering that no one would really like metal objects flying over their head. However, a bigger ambiguity is how these drones will manage to fly in the same airspace, without any chances of collision.

NASA has realised this way before drones have taken the centre-stage and has already started working towards the solution. The US space agency¡¯s Ames Research Center in California¡¯s Silicon Valley initiated a research back in August 2015 and is looking to get it finished by 2019. Titled ¡®UAS Traffic Management¡¯, short for ¡®Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management¡¯, the research is aimed at understanding the use-cases of drones and thereon integrate them safely and efficiently in the low-altitude airspace.

NASA

How does it work?

The targeted system will be based on digital sharing of the planned flight details of each drone. This essentially means that each player operating in the air space will have a detailed know-how of all the activities taking place in the airspace. Once this is achieved, it will be much easy for the drones to formulate their own path and stick to it, avoiding any intersection whatsoever.

This is different from the prevalent air traffic control system used for commercial airplanes. Once the research is completed, the findings will be handed over to the FAA, its long standing partner for implementation.

NASA

The research

UTM research is broken down into four phases named TCLs - technology capability levels, each of which have specific technical goals. Here is what NASA is targeting with each of the phases:

1. TCL 1: The starting point of the research and the platform, TCL 1 was completed back in August 2015. It saw researchers conducting field tests on how drones can be put to various purposes, like agriculture, firefighting, infrastructure monitoring and more.

Apart from this, the researchers utilised several technologies to help in the safely flying the drones. Technologies like scheduling and geofencing, an invisible flight zone assigned to each small aircraft, were incorporated.

2. TCL 2: Next phase of the research monitored drones flown in sparsely populated areas, where they are not seen by the operator. The technologies for on-the-fly adjustment and clearing airspace were tested out, which come in handy for search-and-rescue operations. The research was concluded in 2016.

3. TCL 3: The spring of 2018 saw the next phase of the research take place where technologies to keep the drones at a distance from each other and in their designated zones were created and tested. The technology then allowed the UAS to detect and stay clear of other drones in the area.

4. TCL 4: The last phase of the research is yet to take place and is scheduled for spring of 2019. In this phase, data from the previous phases will be contemplated. Simultaneously, the UTM will be optimised for heavily populated airspace like in urban areas. This is when UAVs for all purposes, including deliveries, mapping, inspection, aerial photography, public safety and emergency response will be able to operate within the same airspace.

NASA is leading the UTM project in collaboration with several other entities spread out over several industries. Once the research is completed and the system is in place, the UTM will be the first-of-its-kind solution for any and every problem that a crowded airspace can face in the near future due to drones and other UAVs.

NASA might also start outsourcing the technology to other players and countries once its implementation within the US turns out to be successful.