Software Agents for Airspace Management and Deconfliction of Networked UAVs

Impact Technologies, in collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology and Boeing Phantom Works, proposes the development of an agent-based software for airspace management and deconfliction of networked unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) to optimize UAV performance while still assuring stability and robustness concerns. Specifically, this project will consist of 1) Trade studies to identify best methods and technologies for SUAV airspace management and deconfliction using Quality Function Deployment (QFD), Morphological Matrix, Pugh Concept Selection Matrix, and Multi-Attribute Decision Matrix (MADM) techniques; 2) Development of a novel architecture and algorithms for the coordinated control of multiple UAVs whose primary task is to execute critical missions faithfully and reliably while satisfying local survivability conditions; 3) Specification of an integrated software architecture for networked UAV modeling, flight control, contingency management, and mission management design; 4) Integration of intelligent agents and distributed object-based computing using GA Tech's Open Control Platform (OCP) for optimization of the entire networked UAV's operation; and 5) Software demonstration of the developed technology on a UAV swarm under various mission scenarios and with the occurrence of un-planned events.