Home

DEMAND for UNMANNED

Catalyst for the Machine Intelligence Revolution

Small UAS are proliferating with these least-capable machines invading the most complex, obstacle-rich environments. The aerospace community, with its rich understanding of both flight and technology is best positioned to undertake the challenge!—Mike Francis, Chief, Advanced Programs & Senior Fellow, United Technologies Research Center

This dedicated symposium—held in conjunction with AIAA AVIATION 2016—brings together stakeholders to identify research and operational challenges and opportunities for the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) community. Participants will discover how unmanned aerial systems are catalysts for autonomy, robotics, and machine intelligence, and are changing the nature of civil and military aviation.

Preliminary Program

Wednesday, 15 June 2016

The Changing Face of Aerospace: The Impact of UAS on Aviation

Applications for autonomous systems are myriad as technology continues to improve. What advancements need to occur in order for unmanned systems and technologies to transform flight and air transportation? Radio-controlled aircraft have not received the same level of attention and anxiety as UAS. What’s different now? How much of the response is due to media type? What steps need to be taken to change public perception?

Jay Gundlach, Founder and President, Flighthouse Engineering LLC, and author of several books on UAS (Moderator)
Michael S. Francis, Chief Advanced Programs & Senior Fellow, United Technologies Research Center
Parimal H. Kopardekar, Manager, Safe Autonomous System Operations Project, and Principal Investigator, Unmanned Aerial Systems Traffic Management, NASA Ames Research Center
John S. Langford, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
Richard Wlezien, Professor and Vance and Arlene Coffman Endowed Department Chair in Aerospace Engineering and Director, Iowa Space Grant Consortium, Iowa State University

Invention, Entrepreneurship and Unmanned Systems

How were early technologies and systems developed and what lessons can be adopted today in order to move from remotely piloted to fully autonomous systems operations?

John Langford, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation (Moderator)

Perspectives on the Future of Autonomous Systems and Technology

How is society impacted by autonomous systems? Robots and autonomous systems are being increasingly integrated into modern society, on the battlefield, the road, and factory floor…in business, education, and health. Do they help or hinder? Who is responsible when something goes wrong?

Mary Louise “Missy” Cummings, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, and Director, Humans and Autonomy Laboratory, Duke University

The Autonomy “Dream”

As is pointed out in , a report based on a National Academies of Sciences study, civil aviation is on the brink of potentially revolutionary improvements in aviation capabilities and operations. Hurdles and substantial barriers to be overcome for UAS integration into the national airspace system will be discussed.

John-Paul Clarke, Professor, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, and Director, Air Transportation Laboratory, Georgia Institute of Technology

An Aeronautics Autonomy Roadmap

Discover roadmaps to the future for technology, operations and implementation.

Mark G. Ballin, Project Scientist, NextGen Airspace Systems Program, NASA Langley Research Center
Sebastian Scherer, Systems Scientist, The Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University

The confluence of machine intelligence and aeronautics is the next great revolution in air transportation. We are attempting to introduce an entirely new approach to vehicle management into the incredibly safe air transportation system, and this means the merger of two entirely different cultures. There is no better organization than AIAA to bring together diverse groups with a common goal. Our rich history of merging basic science with solid engineering means that AIAA has the right experience to make this happen.” —Richard Wlezien, Professor and Vance and Arlene Coffman, Endowed Department Chair in Aerospace Engineering, and Director, Iowa Space Grant Consortium

Thursday, 16 June 2016

Transformation in the National Airspace System

The National Airspace System (NAS) stands on the verge of transformation. The convergence of robotics, intelligent machines, autonomy, hybrid-electric propulsion methods, advanced aeronautic design, and work-anywhere, be-anywhere culture is driving our society into a new era. This panel will discuss the transformations being driven by UAS, and potential outcomes from the convergence of these driving technologies, issues and events in our increasingly connected society.

Dallas Brooks, Director, Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, Mississippi State University and Co-Chair, FAA/DoD/NASA/DHS Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Science and Research Panel

ASSURE: FAA Center of Excellence for UAS Research

Panelists from ASSURE: the FAA’s Center for Excellence for UAS Research, FAA’s UAS Focus Area Pathfinders Initiative, and Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems will provide updates.

Major General James Poss (ret.), Executive Director, Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE)

UAS Traffic Management System

NASA, working closely with the FAA, is using collaborative innovation to develop a UAS Traffic Management concept to safely enable UAS operations in low-altitude airspace. Bringing together interested parties from industry, government agencies and academia to discuss UAS challenges is an important step to accelerating the integration of UAS into the national airspace. End users will engage with the research, development, and test community to discuss the challenges and needs of small UAS users and missions in this session.

UAS Traffic Management System session is presented by

Visions of the Future

Speakers will address their visions for Robotics, UAS missions, UAS design, and the NextGen air traffic management systems.

Chuck Howell, Chief Engineer, Portfolio Programs and Integration, MITRE
Dale Richards, Senior Research Fellow in Human Factors, Coventry University