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

The goal of this research is to provide Air Vehicle Operators (AVOs) with an Operational Risk Management (ORM) tool that rapidly generates multi-objective mission plans while also meeting all mission constraints.  The Autonomous Planning and Replanning (AutoPRep) tool provides this capability. AutoPRep's multi-objective planning technique emphasizes minimization of risk imposed on persons and property on the ground while balancing path-length, required maneuvering (turning), and required altitude changes. Further, the AutoPRep planning tool considers hazardous weather (AIRMET/SIGMET) and airspace restrictions during mission planning. The AutoPRep tool significantly reduces the time required to generate mission plans for UAS and is equally applicable to manned aircraft mission planning.  Prior Phase I and II development has yielded a capable second-generation tool and the goal of the proposed research is to produce a third-generation AutoPRep tool that includes improvements identified during formal evaluations of the prior generation, provides coverage for foreign operating areas, and that is well suited for formal tool accreditation. The AutoPRep technology leverages population, land cover, terrain elevation, weather information, and airspace data while explicitly considering potential failure modes, emergency procedures, and the associated uncertainties to plan multi-objective mission routes with minimal risk to on-ground persons, structures, and vehicles.  AutoPRep enables rapid mission planning along with assessment and comparison to alternate mission plans as well as exploration of the mission planning tradespace to reveal how various planning decisions impact the resulting mission plan. The tool enables mission planning, mission plan review/refinement, and mission plan export. The overall objective of the Phase II.5 STTR R&D program is to mature the highly capable AutoPRep tool based on formal-evaluation feedback, expand the geographical coverage area, and build confidence through planning and execution of AutoPRep verification, validation, and accreditation thereby yielding a third-generation AutoPRep tool poised for smooth transition to operational use.