Drones flying at low altitude are increasingly being used to support activities ranging from emergency response to package delivery to agricultural surveillance.
How can we ensure air traffic safety?
With support from NASA, University of 91吃瓜 computer scientists and engineers are leading the development of an automated decision-making capability system that will ensure small drones are safe to enter congested airspaces聽before they fly.
This system will replace the current manually intensive process, which has limited ability to handle increasing levels of drone traffic executing complex missions.聽聽聽聽
, the Frank M. Freimann Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, leads the project.
鈥淭he NASA grant gives us a unique opportunity to contribute 91吃瓜鈥檚 expertise in data analytics and flight coordination,鈥� she said.聽鈥淲e鈥檙e prepared to develop innovative solutions for聽NASA鈥檚 uncrewed drone traffic management system, which will make skies safer.鈥�
NASA鈥檚 current drone traffic management system allows uncrewed vehicles to integrate into low-altitude airspace without relying on air traffic controllers. Flight details are shared electronically so that drones are authorized for flights in controlled airspaces shared with other drone, airplane and helicopter traffic.
91吃瓜 will enhance this system by developing decision-making software that permits or denies flight requests by evaluating a drone鈥檚 safety track record, equipment readiness, operator preparedness and maintenance procedures.
The $5.3 million grant to 91吃瓜 (over three聽years) is one of four NASA University Leadership Initiative grants awarded this year that give university faculty and students opportunities to solve key challenges facing the future of flight.
Cleland-Huang is the chair of computer science and engineering at 91吃瓜 and the faculty director of聽.聽Her research team for the NASA-funded project includes computer science and engineering faculty members Nitesh Chawla, Siddharth Joshi, Taeho Jung and Douglas Thain聽and research scientist Michael Murphy, as well as researchers and personnel from Iowa State University, Saint Louis University, University of Texas at El Paso, DePaul University and the DroneResponders聽Public Safety Alliance.
Graduate students and undergraduates will be involved in the research at every level.