LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM June 26, 2008 Michael J. Logan, P.E. Head, Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Laboratory (SUAVELab) NASA Langley Research Center NASA SMALL UNMANNED AIR VEHICLE LABORATORY (SUAVELab) TOPICS FOR CERTIFICATION WORKING GROUP

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM AGENDA SUAVELab GUIDELINES –Design –Pre-flight testing NASA LANGLEY ASRB –Airworthiness and Safety Review Board FTOSR –Description of Flight Test Operation Safety Report –Hazards Analysis OTHER INFO –DoD Unmanned Systems Guidelines & Safety Precepts

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM SUAVELabGuidelines

What is SUAVELab?: –The Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Laboratory, SUAVELab, is a Multi-Disciplinary/Cross-Competency Team and specially designed laboratory facility to Design, Develop, and Deliver prototypes of beyond state-of-the-art UAV system solutions to end-user problems of critical and/or national importance. Additional focus areas: –Develop tools, methods, systems, and procedures for rapid, low-cost UAV prototype design, development, and manufacture –Provide testbed vehicles for low-cost flight testing and research –Identify and accelerate specific promising technologies for use in UAV applications –Identify potential research areas based on demonstrated need Primary Goal: –Provide a National Resource of small UAV expertise SUAVELab IN A NUTSHELL

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM Weight, lbs. AIRWORTHINESS SIZE STRATEGY < Capability (Range/Payload/Endurance) Today Future Pt 25: 8 lb. Bird Strike to Structure & Engine Pt 25: 4 lb. Bird Strike to Windshield FAI Model AMA Model Airplane Ultralight (254lb.) Mini UAV Very Small UAV Small UAV “IRRELEVANT ZONE ”

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM Originally: –Develop a Design Guide to follow to ensure an airworthy UAV: “If you follow these rules, you will have a good UAV” Include techniques for sizing, analysis, EMI avoidance, etc. –Drawbacks: Began to become more like college textbook Some techniques are mission specific Preferred Approach: –Develop a minimum set of rules that are likely to prevent development of a non-airworthy UAV: “If you don’t follow these rules, you will likely have a bad UAV” Include the minimum number of rules, pre-flight tests, etc. required for an “acceptable” risk level Sets up “defaults” but doesn’t overrule more stringent or design specific requirements DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR AIRWORTHINESS GUIDING PHILOSOPHY

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM SAMPLE FROM GUIDELINE & COMPARISON

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM EXAMPLE PRE-FLIGHT TESTING LOAD TESTING (NEW DESIGN) –Loaded to design load factor (3g or 4g) + FOS (1 or 1.25) –Control surfaces checked for binding under load DROP TESTS –Simulates 5-10 fps sink rate depending on size –Wheels/tires matched to terrain (larger wheels for grass ops) GLIDE TESTS:

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM NASA LANGLEY ASRB

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM PERFORMS AIRWORTHINESS AND SAFETY REVIEWS FOR ALL LANGLEY CONDUCTED MANNED AND UNMANNED RESEARCH PROGRAMS WITHIN THE ATMOSPHERE –Composed of Aviation Safety professionals and Subject Matter Experts, meets regularly and as needed PROVIDES: –Airworthiness reviews and inspections of aircraft & systems –Issues Flight Safety Releases –Hazards Analyses and Risk Assessments –Approves Flight Test Operations and Safety Reports REPORTS ACTIVITIES TO: –Langley Executive Safety Council –NASA InterCenter Aircraft Operations Panel –Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel AIRWORTHINESS AND SAFETY REVIEW BOARD

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM FTOSR

FLIGHT TEST OPERATIONS AND SAFETY REPORT (FTSOR): –Composed of a description of the flight tests/research to be performed, location, the systems being used, procedures, hazards, and risks PROVIDES: –Method for ensuring that the system is safe to operate under the conditions desired –Hazards and Risks Assessment for the specific mission(s), and location –Lists specific procedures to be followed IS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY ASRB FTOSR DESCRIPTION

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM HAZARDS AND RISK ANALYSIS

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM DoD Unmanned Systems Guidelines

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM DoD UNMANNED SYSTEMS SAFETY GUIDE DoD Unmanned Systems Safety Guide for DoD Acquisition –Issued by USD, AT&L after collaborative effort across DoD, NASA, and industry –Can be found at pdf PROVIDES: –Basic safety “precepts” for both design and operations –Information on DoD “best practices” for unmanned systems (including UAS)

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM CONCLUDING REMARKS OPPORTUNITIES EXIST TO: –Draw from existing knowledge –Minimize the burden on potential small UAS users –Maximize the safe utilization of the airpspace

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER - SUAVELab TEAM QUESTIONS?