NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia has recently achieved a significant breakthrough in the development of self-flying capabilities for air taxis. Researchers successfully conducted tests where multiple drones autonomously flew beyond visual line of sight without the need for a human pilot. This milestone accomplishment opens up new possibilities for the future of autonomous flight.
To ensure the safety and cost-effectiveness of testing self-flying technology for larger passenger-carrying air taxis, NASA conducted these tests using smaller drones. By observing how these drones navigate around obstacles and avoid collisions, researchers can gather valuable data to enhance the automation and safety systems required for more complex air taxis.
As air taxis become a reality, the challenge of managing a high volume of air traffic in busy areas becomes a critical concern. NASA envisions a future where multiple vehicles operate from vertiports located near airports or within communities. To address this challenge, the research team at Langley is developing automation technologies that can handle the complexities of managing air traffic in these congested environments.
NASA’s tests involved the use of ALTA 8 Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, also known as drones, in “NOVO-BVLOS” flights. The software loaded into these small drones enabled them to perform airspace communications, flight path management, and avoidance with other vehicles. These skills are essential for the vision of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), where drones and air taxis operate simultaneously in a routine manner.
NASA’s commitment to advancing the industry extends beyond its research. The agency aims to share the technologies developed during this project with industry manufacturers. By enabling access to the software, NASA believes it can significantly benefit the industry by accelerating the development and integration of self-flying capabilities into future air taxis.
During the tests, NASA employed several technologies to enhance the safety and reliability of autonomous flight. One of these technologies, ICAROURS (Integrated Configurable Architecture for Reliable Operations of Unmanned Systems), provided autonomous detect-and-avoid functionality. Another technology, Safe2Ditch, enabled the drones to make autonomous decisions regarding the safest landing locations during in-flight emergencies.
NASA’s AAM mission comprises multiple projects that contribute to various research areas, all aimed at making the vision of autonomous air mobility a reality. The High Density Vertiplex project, which focused on testing and evaluating vertiports for high-frequency takeoffs and landings, played a significant role in these recent tests. By understanding the needs and challenges of vertiports, NASA can develop the necessary technology advancements to ensure successful operations in the future.
NASA’s recent tests exploring self-flying capabilities for air taxis have showcased remarkable progress in the field of autonomous aviation. The ability of these drones to fly beyond visual line of sight and autonomously navigate around obstacles holds immense potential for revolutionizing air transportation. As NASA continues to develop and refine automation technologies, the integration of air taxis into our everyday lives becomes an increasingly realistic and exciting future prospect.
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