Integration of Unmanned Air Vehicles with the National Airspace System

This research refines existing associate decision aiding technology and applies it to a new, larger air traffic management (ATM) domain. We have shown in other NASA projects how our associate systems can provide Distributed Air-Ground (DAG) decision aiding to pilots, air traffic controllers, and airline dispatchers within the ATM system of a UAV free NAS. Our existing C2IT software provides decision aiding to UAV operators in combat environments in such a manner that the UAV looks much like a normal aircraft to external observers. We propose to refine our existing UAV decision aiding system so that UAV operators can collaborate effectively with the actors of the ATM system of the NAS. In particular, we shall identify the new ATM message signals and data objects required, synthesize new collaboration diagrams, and refine the finite state machine (FSM) of a UAV associate system. The associate will further the UAV?s similarities to a piloted aircraft in order to accommodate the existing decision support systems of air traffic controllers and pilots.