Risk-Based Unmanned Air System (UAS) Mission Path Planning Capability

In the Phase I Base, the TSC/UMD team proposes to develop a 2D risk-based path planning method that employs an open-architecture database of population density and ground structures for rapid UAS mission planning. Optimization techniques developed by UMD for unmanned aircraft flight planning will be integrated with TSC's SafeFlight mission path planning software tool to demonstrate this new capability. The demonstration will include displaying potential termination (ditch) points along the planned route. New visualization methods will also be developed to present the path planning optimization problem trade space and mission/risk priorities. In the Option, the TSC/UMD team will extend the prototype risk-based path planner to incorporate multidimensional factors including environmental information such as wind, aircraft constraints such as maneuverability and mission requirements. Analytical and simulation-based trade studies will be performed to assess the flight path accuracy and run-time sensitivity to these factors. An advanced demonstration will then be conducted for a complex test scenario that includes key environment, vehicle and mission factors. Advanced visualization methods to show the multi-dimensional problem trade space and mission/risk priorities will also be explored. In Phase II, the TSC/UMD team will mature the risked-based UAS path planner, incorporate additional factors, and address real-time path planning.