Showing papers on "Concept of operations published in 2015"

Astrobee: Developing a Free Flying Robot for the International Space Station

Abstract: Astronaut time will always be in short supply, consumables (e.g., oxygen) will always be limited, and some work will not be feasible, or productive, for astronauts to do manually. Free flyers offer significant potential to perform a great variety of tasks, include routine, repetitive or simple but long-duration work, such as conducting environment surveys, taking sensor readings or monitoring crew activities. The "Astrobee" project is developing a new free flying robot system suitable for performing Intravehicular Activity (IVA) work on the International Space Station (ISS). This paper will describe the Astrobee project objectives, initial design, concept of operations, and key challenges.

Expanding Stakeholder Participation in Upfront System Engineering through Storytelling in Virtual Worlds

Abstract: Over the last decade, systems engineers have successfully created system modeling languages to communicate with other systems engineers. However, the ability to communicate an evolving system concept and design with stakeholders who are nonengineers remains an elusive goal. In large part, this inability stems from the latter having to understand complex diagrams and equations, and learn new notations employed by systems modeling languages. The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that systems today have to frequently adapt to changing operational and regulatory requirements. Thus, to effectively communicate concepts of operation CONOPS and evolving system design to those outside the engineering discipline requires a different approach. This paper presents an innovative approach that employs technical storytelling methods to contextualize and map systems engineering SE artifacts represented in SysML to virtual worlds within which various storylines can play out. This capability is intended to improve comprehensibility and transparency of CONOPS and system designs when it comes to communicating with the broader stakeholder community. At the heart of this approach is a virtual world enabled by a 3D game engine, and a mapping capability that allows translation of SE artifacts and interdependencies to virtual world entities and interactions. The key idea behind this integrated capability is to allow the broader stakeholder community to collaborate effectively on key decisions during upfront SE. The benefits of this approach are greater stakeholder satisfaction, avoidance of rework, and more responsive system design.

Analytical and experimental stability investigation of a hardware-in-the-loop satellite docking simulator

Abstract: The European Proximity Operations Simulator of the DLR-German Aerospace Center is a robotics-based simulator that aims at validating and verifying a satellite docking phase. The generic concept features a robotics tracking system working in closed loop with a force/torque feedback signal. Inherent delays in the tracking system combined with typical high stiffness at contact challenge the stability of the closed-loop system. The proposed concept of operations is hybrid: the feedback signal is a superposition of a measured value and of a virtual value that can be tuned in order to guarantee a desired behavior. This paper is concerned with an analytical study of the system’s closed-loop stability, and with an experimental validation of the hybrid concept of operations in one dimension. The robotics simulator is modeled as a second-order loop-delay system and closed-form expressions for the critical delay and associated frequency are derived as a function of the satellites’ mass and the contact dynamics stiff...

Safety Evaluation of Advanced Self-Separation Under Very High En Route Traffic Demand

Abstract: Since the “invention” of free flight, the key question is whether airborne self-separation can safely accommodate very high traffic demand. The aim of this paper is to answer this question for en route airspace. Therefore, an advanced airborne self-separation concept of operation is evaluated on safety risk at very high traffic demands. The advanced airborne self-separation concept of operations considered is of the trajectory-based operation type, in the sense that each aircraft manages a conflict-free four-dimensional trajectory intent and broadcasts this to the other aircraft. Complementary to this trajectory-based operation layer, each aircraft makes use of a short-term conflict detection and resolution layer that aims to resolve any remaining problems, such as significant deviations from four-dimensional intents due to wind prediction errors. Safety risk analysis is conducted using advanced techniques in agent-based modeling and rare-event Monte Carlo simulation. The results obtained show that the ad...

Safety-driven early concept analysis and development

Abstract: As aerospace systems become increasingly complex and the roles of human operators and autonomous software continue to evolve, traditional safety-related analytical methods are becoming inadequate. Traditional hazard analysis tools are based on an accident causality model that does not capture many of the complex behaviors found in modern engineered systems. Additionally, these traditional approaches are most effective during late stages of system development, when detailed design information is available. However, system safety cannot cost-effectively be assured by discovering problems at these late stages and adding expensive updates to the design. Rather, safety should be designed into the system from its very conception. The primary barrier to achieving this objective is the lack of effectiveness of the existing analytical tools during early concept development. This thesis introduces a new technique, which is based on a more powerful model of accident causality that can capture behaviors that are prevalent in these complex, software-intensive systems. The proposed approach builds on a new accident causality model, called Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Process, developing a methodology on the model so that it can be applied during the early concept development stages of systems engineering. The goals are to (1) develop rigorous, systematic tools for the analysis of future concepts in order to identify hazardous scenarios, and (2) extend these tools to assist stakeholders in the development of concepts using a safety-driven approach. This work first develops a methodology for hazard analysis of a concept of operations (ConOps) using control theory to generate a model of that ConOps. Formal, systems-theoretic concepts such as hierarchy, emergence, communication, and coordination are used to analyze the model and identify hazards in the concept. These hazardous scenarios then guide the development of requirements and the generation of a system architecture, defined as a hierarchical control structure. This model-based approach represents a significant departure from the state of the art; in the new approach a concept is defined, developed, and analyzed according to a control theoretic model rather than free form, natural language text. The power of the proposed approach-called Systems-Theoretic Early Concept Analysis-is demonstrated on a concept currently being developed by the United States Federal Aviation Administration.

Viability of a Reusable In-Space Transportation System

Abstract: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is currently developing options for an Evolvable Mars Campaign (EMC) that expands human presence from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) into the solar system and to the surface of Mars. The Hybrid in-space transportation architecture is one option being investigated within the EMC. The architecture enables return of the entire in-space propulsion stage and habitat to cis-lunar space after a round trip to Mars. This concept of operations opens the door for a fully reusable Mars transportation system from cis-lunar space to a Mars parking orbit and back. This paper explores the reuse of in-space transportation systems, with a focus on the propulsion systems. It begins by examining why reusability should be pursued and defines reusability in space-flight context. A range of functions and enablers associated with preparing a system for reuse are identified and a vision for reusability is proposed that can be advanced and implemented as new capabilities are developed. Following this, past reusable spacecraft and servicing capabilities, as well as those currently in development are discussed. Using the Hybrid transportation architecture as an example, an assessment of the degree of reusability that can be incorporated into the architecture with current capabilities is provided and areas for development are identified that will enable greater levels of reuse in the future. Implications and implementation challenges specific to the architecture are also presented.

Pioneering Objectives and Activities on the Surface of Mars

Abstract: Human Mars missions have been a topic of sustained interest within NASA, which continues to use its resources to examine many different mission objectives, trajectories, vehicles, and technologies, the combinations of which are often referred to as reference missions or architectures. The current investigative effort, known as the Evolvable Mars Campaign (EMC), is examining alternatives that can pioneer an extended human presence on Mars that is Earth independent. These alternatives involve combinations of all the factors just mentioned. This paper is focused on the subset of these factors involved with objectives and activities that take place on the surface of Mars. "Pioneering" is a useful phrase to encapsulate the current approach being used to address this situation - one of its primary definitions is "a person or group that originates or helps open up a new line of thought or activity or a new method or technical development". Thus, in this scenario, NASA would be embarking on a path to "pioneer" a suite of technologies and operations that will result in an Earth independent, extended stay capability for humans on Mars. This paper will describe (a) the concept of operation determined to be best suited for the initial emplacement, (b) the functional capabilities determined to be necessary for this emplacement, with representative examples of systems that could carry out these functional capabilities and one implementation example (i.e., delivery sequence) at a representative landing site, and will (c) discuss possible capabilities and operations during subsequent surface missions.

A Validated Task Analysis of the Single Pilot Operations Concept

Abstract: The current day flight deck operational environment consists of a two-person Captain/First Officer crew. A concept of operations (ConOps) to reduce the commercial cockpit to a single pilot from the current two pilot crew is termed Single Pilot Operations (SPO). This concept has been under study by researchers in the Flight Deck Display Research Laboratory (FDDRL) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Ames (Johnson, Comerford, Lachter, Battiste, Feary, and Mogford, 2012) and researchers from Langley Research Centers (Schutte et al., 2007). Transitioning from a two pilot crew to a single pilot crew will undoubtedly require changes in operational procedures, crew coordination, use of automation, and in how the roles and responsibilities of the flight deck and ATC are conceptualized in order to maintain the high levels of safety expected of the US National Airspace System. These modifications will affect the roles and the subsequent tasks that are required of the various operators in the NextGen environment. The current report outlines the process taken to identify and document the tasks required by the crew according to a number of operational scenarios studied by the FDDRL between the years 2012-2014. A baseline task decomposition has been refined to represent the tasks consistent with a new set of entities, tasks, roles, and responsibilities being explored by the FDDRL as the move is made towards SPO. Information from Subject Matter Expert interviews, participation in FDDRL experimental design meetings, and study observation was used to populate and refine task sets that were developed as part of the SPO task analyses. The task analysis is based upon the proposed ConOps for the third FDDRL SPO study. This experiment possessed nine different entities operating in six scenarios using a variety of SPO-related automation and procedural activities required to guide safe and efficient aircraft operations. The task analysis presents the roles and responsibilities in a manner that can facilitate testing future scenarios. Measures of task count and workload were defined and analyzed to assess the impact of transitioning to a SPO environment.

Transportation-driven mars surface operations supporting an evolvable mars campaign

Abstract: This paper describes the results of a study evaluating options for supporting a series of human missions to a single Mars surface destination. In this scenario the infrastructure emplaced during previous visits to this site is leveraged in following missions. The goal of this single site approach to Mars surface infrastructure is to enable “Steady State” operations by at least 4 crew for up to 500 sols at this site. These characteristics, along with the transportation system used to deliver crew and equipment to and from Mars, are collectively known as the Evolvable Mars Campaign (EMC). Information in this paper is presented in the sequence in which it was accomplished. First, a logical buildup sequence of surface infrastructure was developed to achieve the desired “Steady State” operations on the Mars surface. This was based on a concept of operations that met objectives of the EMC. Second, infrastructure capabilities were identified to carry out this concept of operations. Third, systems (in the form of conceptual elements) were identified to provide these capabilities. This included top-level mass, power and volume estimates for these elements. Fourth, the results were then used in analyses to evaluate three options (18t, 27t, and 40t landed mass) of Mars Lander delivery capability to the surface. Finally, Mars arrival mass estimates were generated based upon the entry, descent, and landing requirements for inclusion in separate assessments of in-space transportation capabilities for the EMC.

Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program Phase 1, Concept of Operations (ConOps), ICF/Wyoming

Abstract: The Wyoming Department of Transportation’s (WYDOT) Connected Vehicle (CV) Pilot Deployment Program is intended to develop a suite of applications that utilize vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication technology to reduce the impact of adverse weather on truck travel in the I-80 corridor. These applications support a flexible range of services from advisories, roadside alerts, parking notifications and dynamic travel guidance. Information from these applications are made available directly to the equipped fleets or through data connections to fleet management centers (who will then communicate it to their trucks using their own systems). The pilot will be conducted in three Phases. Phase I includes the planning for the CV pilot including the concept of operations development. Phase II is the design, development, and testing phase. Phase III includes a real-world demonstration of the applications developed as part of this pilot). This document presents the concept of operations (ConOps) for the pilot program. The ConOps is a user-oriented document that describes system characteristics for a proposed system from the users’ viewpoint. The ConOps has been drafted to communicate the users’ needs for and expectations of the proposed system that utilizes vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure connectivity to address adverse weather challenges along the I-80 corridor in Wyoming. The ConOps was developed through an intense process of stakeholder engagement and is consistent with the Connected Vehicle Reference Implementation Architecture (CVRIA). In general, the ConOps follows the template recommended by the IEEE Std 1362™-1998 (R2007) but outputs from the Systems Engineering Tool for Intelligent Transportation (SET-IT) are included directly where appropriate. The ConOps will be the guiding document for subsequent planning activities in Phase I including security, safety, human-use and performance management plan development.

Communication and collaboration of heterogeneous unmanned systems using the joint architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS) standards

Abstract: The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) and Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) completed a successful at-sea exercise with autonomous UAS and UUV systems demonstrating cross-domain unmanned system communication and collaboration. The exercise was held at the NUWC Narragansett Bay Shallow Water Test Facility (NBSWTF) range, and it represented for the first time the use of standard protocols and formats that effectively support cross-domain unmanned system operations. Four man-portable Iver2 UUVs operating in coordinated missions autonomously collected environmental data, which was compressed in-stride, re-formatted, and exfiltrated via UAS relay for display and tactical decision making. Two UAS with autonomous flight take-off and mission execution were sequenced to serve as ISR platforms and to support communications as RF relays for the UUVs performing Intelligence Preparation of the Environment missions. Two Command and Control nodes ashore provided unmanned system tasking and re-tasking, and they served to host and display both geo-positional data and status for UAS and UUV vehicles during the operational scenarios run during the exercise. The SAE Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS) standards were used for all message traffic between shore-based C2 nodes, UAS, and UUVs active in the NBSWTF exercise area. Exercise goals focused on CNO priorities expressed in the Undersea Domain Operating Concept of AUG 2013 which emphasized protocols essential to effective command and control of networked unmanned systems with decentralization and flexibility of command structures. Development for this project highlighted both the strengths and shortfalls of JAUS and captured the requirements for moving forward in effective cross-domain communications that support distributed, agile C2 nodes to meet evolving CONOPS for growing unmanned system presence and mission roles. The scenario employed operating parameters for UAS and UUV that have been established in real-world operations and ongoing unmanned system programs. The tactical information from unmanned systems was displayed in real-time on shore-based C2 displays: the tactical FalconView display and the developmental TOPSIDE command and control station. This work represents a critical step in communications for networking of heterogeneous unmanned systems and establishes a solid platform for alignment of development and ongoing programs. The evaluation of JAUS suitability for near-term operational applications provides significant value as Concepts of Operation that rely on netted heterogeneous systems are being targeted. The focus on affordable commercial unmanned systems for this experimentation establishes the value of highly capable, portable systems to provide economical development and test opportunities with low-cost and low-risk alternatives to many planned and fielded systems. The JAUS architecture was introduced to the NUWC and GTRI unmanned systems though an instantiation of the Mission Oriented Operating Suite (MOOS) autonomy framework on secondary CPUs integrated into the Iver2 UUVs and the GTRI UAS. Since the GTRI UASs already had ROS installed, a MOOS-ROS bridge was employed to support use of the developed JAUS messaging capability. Established JAUS services were employed where the required functions could be met. New JAUS services were developed to meet functionality required for the operational scenarios in this exercise but not yet supported in the existing releases of SAE JAUS. Independent C++ header libraries that could be compiled at run time for specific autonomy frameworks, such as MOOS, were employed to support a software-agnostic approach. Immediate targets for broadening the influence of this work to coalition partners include the NATO Recognized Environmental Picture (REP) 2015 and The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP) 2015 exercises. This project and demonstration was funded under a NUWC Strategic Initiative and GTRI program support.

Mock Certification Basis for an Unmanned Rotorcraft for Precision Agricultural Spraying

Abstract: This technical report presents the results of a case study using a hazard-based approach to develop preliminary design and performance criteria for an unmanned agricultural rotorcraft requiring airworthiness certification. This case study is one of the first in the public domain to examine design and performance criteria for an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in tandem with its concept of operations. The case study results are intended to support development of airworthiness standards that could form a minimum safety baseline for midsize unmanned rotorcraft performing precision agricultural spraying operations under beyond visual line-of-sight conditions in a rural environment. This study investigates the applicability of current methods, processes, and standards for assuring airworthiness of conventionally piloted (manned) aircraft to assuring the airworthiness of UAS. The study started with the development of a detailed concept of operations for precision agricultural spraying with an unmanned rotorcraft (pp. 5-18). The concept of operations in conjunction with a specimen unmanned rotorcraft were used to develop an operational context and a list of relevant hazards (p. 22). Minimum design and performance requirements necessary to mitigate the hazards provide the foundation of a proposed (or mock) type certification basis. A type certification basis specifies the applicable standards an applicant must show compliance with to receive regulatory approval. A detailed analysis of the current airworthiness regulations for normal-category rotorcraft (14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 27) was performed. Each Part 27 regulation was evaluated to determine whether it mitigated one of the relevant hazards for the specimen UAS. Those regulations that did were included in the initial core of the type certification basis (pp. 26-31) as written or with some simple modifications. Those regulations that did not mitigate a recognized hazard were excluded from the certification basis. The remaining regulations were applicable in intent, but the text could not be easily tailored. Those regulations were addressed in separate issue papers. Exploiting established regulations avoids the difficult task of generating and interpreting novel requirements, through the use of acceptable, standardized language. The rationale for the disposition of the regulations was assessed and captured (pp. 58-115). The core basis was then augmented by generating additional requirements (pp. 38-47) to mitigate hazards for an unmanned sprayer that are not covered in Part 27.

Developing a Comprehensive Model of Intensive Care Unit Processes: Concept of Operations.

Abstract: ObjectivesThis study aimed to use a systems engineering approach to improve performance and stakeholder engagement in the intensive care unit to reduce several different patient harms.MethodsWe developed a conceptual framework or concept of operations (ConOps) to analyze different types of harm that

Automated ATM System Enabling 4DT-Based Operations

Abstract: As part of the current initiatives aimed at enhancing safety, efficiency and environmental sustainability of aviation, a significant improvement in the efficiency of aircraft operations is currently pursued. Innovative Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) technologies and operational concepts are being developed to achieve the ambitious goals for efficiency and environmental sustainability set by national and international aviation organizations. These technological and operational innovations will be ultimately enabled by the introduction of novel CNS/ATM and Avionics (CNS+A) systems, featuring higher levels of automation. A core feature of such systems consists in the real-time multi-objective optimization of flight trajectories, incorporating all the operational, economic and environmental aspects of the aircraft mission. This article describes the conceptual design of an innovative ground-based Air Traffic Management (ATM) system featuring automated 4-Dimensional Trajectory (4DT) functionalities. The 4DT planning capability is based on the multi-objective optimization of 4DT intents. After summarizing the concept of operations, the top-level system architecture and the key 4DT optimization modules, we discuss the segmentation algorithm to obtain flyable and concisely described 4DT. Simulation case studies in representative scenarios show that the adopted algorithms generate solutions consistently within the timeframe of online tactical rerouting tasks, meeting the set design requirements.

Planetary LakeLander-A Robotic Sentinel to Monitor Remote Lakes

Abstract: This field report describes the design and operations of the Planetary LakeLander PLL probe and its ground data systems. LakeLander's primary mission is to characterize the physical, chemical, and biological processes occurring in a high-altitude lake, and how they are being impacted by rapid deglaciation. LakeLander's secondary purpose is to test operation concepts for future exploration of Titan's lakes. The LakeLander probe is a permanently anchored buoy that measures both surface meteorology and water quality parameters in the top 40i¾?m of the water column. The concept of operations calls for the probe to continue collecting and downlinking data through the Andean winter, when the lake is inaccessible; this drives the power system design and forces a strong focus on system reliability, analogous to a space mission. The PLL ground data system provides the central archive of downlinked data. They are structured around a unified data-sharing web site that includes tools for mapping, data visualization, documentation, and numerical analysis. The web site provides a hub for engaging the science team and enables interdisciplinary collaboration. This report concludes with lessons learned during field deployment and several months of remote operations on the lake. Among the conclusions: 1 the choice to use an off-the-shelf profiling system has proven wise; 2 effective maintenance of a long-lived remote system requires extensive measurement, logging, and display of as many system variables as possible; and 3 the visualization sandbox component of the data-sharing web site has made numerical analysis of probe data much easier and more accessible to the entire interdisciplinary science team.

Total Probability of Collision as a Metric for Finite Conjunction Assessment and Collision Risk Management

Abstract: On-orbit collision risk is becoming an increasing mission risk to all operational satellites in Earth orbit. Managing this risk can be disruptive to mission and operations, present challenges for decision-makers, and is time-consuming for all parties involved. With the planned capability improvements to detecting and tracking smaller orbital debris and capacity improvements to routinely predict on-orbit conjunctions, this mission risk will continue to grow in terms of likelihood and effort. It is very real possibility that the future space environment will not allow collision risk management and mission operations to be conducted in the same manner as it is today. This paper presents the concept of a finite conjunction assessment-one where each discrete conjunction is not treated separately but, rather, as a continuous event that must be managed concurrently. The paper also introduces the Total Probability of Collision as an analogous metric for finite conjunction assessment operations and provides several options for its usage in a Concept of Operations.

Architecting space communication networks under mission demand uncertainty

Abstract: NASAs Space Network has been a successful program that has provided reliable communication and navigation services for three decades As the third generation of satellites is being launched, alternatives to the current architecture of the system are being studied in order to improve the performance of the system, reduce its costs and facilitate its integration with the Near Earth Network and the Deep Space Network Within this context, past research has proven the feasibility of efficiently exploring a large space of alternative network architectures using a tradespace search framework Architecting a space communication network is a complex task that requires consideration of uncertainty, namely (1) factoring in customer demand variability, (2) predicting technology improvements and (3) considering possible budgetary constraints This paper focuses on adding uncertainty associated with (1) to the existing communications network architecture tool by describing a heuristic-based model to derive mission concept of operations (conops) as a function of communication requirements The accuracy of the model is assessed by comparing real conops from current TDRSS-supported missions with the predicted concept of operations The model is used to analyze how customer forecast uncertainty affects the choice of the future network architecture In particular, four customer scenarios are generated and compared with the current TDRSS capabilities

Model-Based Concept of Operations Development Using Gaming Simulation

Abstract: Background. Extensive research exists in the application of gaming simulation to education, experimentation and policy. Systems engineers have begun to utilize gaming simulation during design. However, such applications have not extended to early design activities and have provided little evidence of value to systems engineering. Aim. The purpose of this research is to test the hypothesis that the use of gaming simulation will improve an artifact created early in the design process, the Concept of Operations CONOPS. The aim of this article is to provide an update to work in progress towards testing this hypothesis. Method. A gaming simulation was developed that allows system stakeholders to interact in an immersive environment and develop CONOPS. Results. As the research has matured, informal free-form testing has been conducted. Debriefing has shown that players perceive value from this gaming simulation and yielded observations relative to fidelity, validity, and usability. Conclusion. The conclusion of this article points to preliminary acceptance of the use of gaming simulation towards CONOPS development. Future work will validate this assertion using quantitative data collected from controlled experiments.

System-Oriented Runway Management Concept of Operations

Abstract: This document describes a concept for runway management that maximizes the overall efficiency of arrival and departure operations at an airport or group of airports. Specifically, by planning airport runway configurations/usage, it focuses on the efficiency with which arrival flights reach their parking gates from their arrival fixes and departure flights exit the terminal airspace from their parking gates. In the future, the concept could be expanded to include the management of other limited airport resources. While most easily described in the context of a single airport, the concept applies equally well to a group of airports that comprise a metroplex (i.e., airports in close proximity that share resources such that operations at the airports are at least partially dependent) by including the coordination of runway usage decisions between the airports. In fact, the potential benefit of the concept is expected to be larger in future metroplex environments due to the increasing need to coordinate the operations at proximate airports to more efficiently share limited airspace resources. This concept, called System-Oriented Runway Management (SORM), is further broken down into a set of airport traffic management functions that share the principle that operational performance must be measured over the complete surface and airborne trajectories of the airport's arrivals and departures. The "system-oriented" term derives from the belief that the traffic management objective must consider the efficiency of operations over a wide range of aircraft movements and National Airspace System (NAS) dynamics. The SORM concept is comprised of three primary elements: strategic airport capacity planning, airport configuration management, and combined arrival/departure runway planning. Some aspects of the SORM concept, such as using airport configuration management1 as a mechanism for improving aircraft efficiency, are novel. Other elements (e.g., runway scheduling, which is a part of combined arrival/departure runway scheduling) have been well studied, but are included in the concept for completeness and to allow the concept to define the necessary relationship among the elements. The goal of this document is to describe the overall SORM concept and how it would apply both within the NAS and potential future Next Generation Air Traffic System (NextGen) environments, including research conducted to date. Note that the concept is based on the belief that runways are the primary constraint and the decision point for controlling efficiency, but the efficiency of runway management must be measured over a wide range of space and time. Implementation of the SORM concept is envisioned through a collection of complementary, necessary capabilities collectively focused on ensuring efficient arrival and departure traffic management, where that efficiency is measured not only in terms of runway efficiency but in terms of the overall trajectories between parking gates and transition fixes. For the more original elements of the concept-airport configuration management-this document proposes specific air traffic management (ATM) decision-support automation for realizing the concept.

A Position Paper on Improving Preparedness and Response of Health Services in Major Crises

Abstract: There exists a huge variety in the occurrence and characteristics of major incidents. Incident management stakeholders and in particular emergency health service providers have to deal with two basic challenges: The disproportion between the needs and the available human/material resources in the response capacity and the inherent time constraints of an emergency. These critical factors play a seminal role in the decision-making process during a crisis event, which affects all levels of command & control (strategic, operational, and tactical). The drawback with current health emergency management systems lies with the command & control operations that should coordinate the actions of the separate services and turn them into an effective, multi-faceted crisis response mechanism. IMPRESS improves the efficiency of decision making in emergency health operations, which has a direct impact on the quality of services provided to citizens. Furthermore it provides a consolidated concept of operations, to effectively manage medical resources, prepare and coordinate response activities, supported by a Decision Support System, using data from multiple heterogeneous sources. The proposed solution facilitates communication between Health Services (and Emergency Responders) at all levels of response and the crisis cycle with the necessary health care systems support, supervision and management of participating organizations. It will assist health services in becoming more proactive, better prepared and interoperable with other emergency response organizations.

Apron safety: a missing piece in the SESAR ConOps puzzle

Abstract: The transition from the flight management to the trajectory management concept in Single European Sky Air Traffic Management (ATM) Research (SESAR) Concept of Operations (ConOps) led to the expansion in the boundary of the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system -- to include the airport apron. Whilst SESAR recognises the importance of improving cost-effectiveness, efficiency, flexibility, predictability and punctuality of Ground Handling Services (GHS) on the apron within the context of 4D trajectory management and proposes automation in these Key Performance Areas (KPAs), safety on the apron is completely neglected. This paper analyses drivers of apron safety that are currently neither acknowledged nor addressed by the SESAR ConOps. The results of a survey carried out on 43 participants on 5 airports worldwide highlight the importance of organizational factors in improving safety of GHS on the apron.

Approaches to development of commercial spaceport and associated ground segment driven by specific spaceplane vehicle and mission operation requirements

Abstract: This paper addresses approaches to evaluation of commercial Spaceports solutions, starting from specific customer needs and related to the case of a small reusable vehicle able to carry people or microgravity payloads on parabolic flights to 100 Km of altitude. The approach to the Spaceport evaluation and selection is based on the vehicle concept and associated technologies, as well as on the spacecraft reference mission scenario, in particular takeoff, landing and trajectory. With the aid of a proper functional analysis and concept of operations, specific requirements to the Spaceports capabilities will be derived for the selected reference mission, with emphasis to launch and landing operations (runway, length, width), location, climate, proximity of alternate landing sites, handling, use, storage and transportation of propellants, layout, safety. For the selected test case, rather than designing a brand new Spaceport, the used approach will start from the assessment of specific existing sites and infrastructures, and will eventually identify follow on upgrades to fulfill the relevant mission requirements, including some preliminary contingency scenarios during operations that may be driving specific Spaceport requirements. Also, new concepts of spaceports will be evaluated to enhance operations flexibility for commercial purposes, which include sea and land based configurable platforms for VTOL Operations and associated infrastructures. The approach to the development of the Spaceports Safety analysis, of a proper Safety Risk Management and the operations integration within the applicable National Regulatory system and requirements will also be evaluated, in accordance with the relevant mission requirements. The application of Safety analysis and in general of the safety criteria will be paramount in the assessment of existing infrastructures and in the identification of requirements to possible modifications and enhancement of specific capabilities. In particular, Safety Assessment will take into account the Spaceport existing layout, with reference to the closest populated area and traffic road, for the definition of minimum distance related to the use and storage of propellants or explosives needed for the spaceplane. The Spaceports evaluation will include a preliminary definition of the concept of a Ground Segment that provides the functionalities to support the reference mission both on ground and on flight. Ground Segment includes the ground facilities and tools that support the operations at the Spaceports, the Mission Control Center, and the Ground Stations to track the vehicle trajectory with the associated communication approach. Further considerations on future market trends will also be developed.

High Altitude Venus Operations Concept Trajectory Design, Modeling and Simulation

Abstract: A trajectory design and analysis that describes aerocapture, entry, descent, and inflation of manned and unmanned High Altitude Venus Operation Concept (HAVOC) lighter-than-air missions is presented. Mission motivation, concept of operations, and notional entry vehicle designs are presented. The initial trajectory design space is analyzed and discussed before investigating specific trajectories that are deemed representative of a feasible Venus mission. Under the project assumptions, while the high-mass crewed mission will require further research into aerodynamic decelerator technology, it was determined that the unmanned robotic mission is feasible using current technology.

Concept of IED/EOD Operations (CONOPs) for engineer mission support robot team

Abstract: Concept of Operations is the first tool being used in capabilities approach to define military needs being very important task in the beginning of the Life Cycle Management process. The inputs to this process are defined based on the scenarios resulting from the Lessons Learned experience. It creates the technology needs for the new military systems and simultaneously the links between militaries, scientists, designers and producers. The success of missions at the very dynamic contemporary battlefield will heavily dependent on functionality engineering forces taking part in them after all at the very low level of command. The main task of engineering forces that are realized within the convoy protection mission aims at greater soldiers’ safety. The efficiency of convoy protection demands a systemic approach and the need to build the system of remote controlled Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV). The design of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), after all their initiating systems, makes Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) missions practically impossible to be realized by humans. The concept of systemic approach to use the remote controlled Unmanned Ground Vehicles for convoys’ protection based on Lessons Learned experiences is presented in this paper.

Design, construction and operation of a REPOINT laboratory demonstrator

Abstract: The REPOINT project, led by Loughborough University, has been active since March 2011. It seeks to improve the reliability, safety and maintainability of track switching technology, with the aim of increasing network capacity and lowering operating costs. To do this, the project is exploring combining mature concepts from other industries such as fault tolerance, line-replaceable units and passively safe design, with novel mechanical arrangements, in order to bring about a step change in performance. One design, based around a stub-switch arrangement, has showed particular promise and is the currently the subject of three patent applications covering the novel mode of operation. A laboratory-scale demonstrator of all key subsystems is currently under construction, under funding from the FutureRailway.org team. This is integrated with test and monitoring equipment, alongside a rapid-prototyping control system. This first-generation design will be used to prove the concept of operation and to develop the associated control and monitoring technology. The goal of this paper is to provide an overview of the REPOINT project to date, and the design and operation of the proposed novel REPOINT design. This paper firstly introduces the REPOINT project and highlights of the proposed novel design. It then discusses the simulation, modelling and design of the demonstrator rig, and the associated test and development equipment. The conclusions highlight the progress so far – on the REPOINT project and the Demonstrator rig - and comment upon potential next steps towards network deployment.

SLS-SPEC-159 Cross-Program Design Specification for Natural Environments (DSNE) Revision D

Abstract: This document is derived from the former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Constellation Program (CxP) document CxP 70023, titled "The Design Specification for Natural Environments (DSNE), Revision C." The original document has been modified to represent updated Design Reference Missions (DRMs) for the NASA Exploration Systems Development (ESD) Programs. The DSNE completes environment-related specifications for architecture, system-level, and lower-tier documents by specifying the ranges of environmental conditions that must be accounted for by NASA ESD Programs. To assure clarity and consistency, and to prevent requirements documents from becoming cluttered with extensive amounts of technical material, natural environment specifications have been compiled into this document. The intent is to keep a unified specification for natural environments that each Program calls out for appropriate application. This document defines the natural environments parameter limits (maximum and minimum values, energy spectra, or precise model inputs, assumptions, model options, etc.), for all ESD Programs. These environments are developed by the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Natural Environments Branch (MSFC organization code: EV44). Many of the parameter limits are based on experience with previous programs, such as the Space Shuttle Program. The parameter limits contain no margin and are meant to be evaluated individually to ensure they are reasonable (i.e., do not apply unrealistic extreme-on-extreme conditions). The natural environments specifications in this document should be accounted for by robust design of the flight vehicle and support systems. However, it is understood that in some cases the Programs will find it more effective to account for portions of the environment ranges by operational mitigation or acceptance of risk in accordance with an appropriate program risk management plan and/or hazard analysis process. The DSNE is not intended as a definition of operational models or operational constraints, nor is it adequate, alone, for ground facilities which may have additional requirements (for example, building codes and local environmental constraints). "Natural environments," as the term is used here, refers to the environments that are not the result of intended human activity or intervention. It consists of a variety of external environmental factors (most of natural origin and a few of human origin) which impose restrictions or otherwise impact the development or operation of flight vehicles and destination surface systems. These natural environments include the following types of environments: Terrestrial environments at launch, abort, and normal landing sites (winds, temperatures, pressures, surface roughness, sea conditions, etc.); Space environments (ionizing radiation, orbital debris, meteoroids, thermosphere density, plasma, solar, Earth, and lunar-emitted thermal radiation, etc.); Destination environments (Lunar surface and orbital, Mars atmosphere and surface, near Earth asteroids, etc.). Many of the environmental specifications in this document are based on models, data, and environment descriptions contained in the CxP 70044, Constellation Program Natural Environment Definition for Design (NEDD). The NEDD provides additional detailed environment data and model descriptions to support analytical studies for ESD Programs. For background information on specific environments and their effects on spacecraft design and operations, the environment models, and the data used to generate the specifications contained in the DSNE, the reader is referred to the NEDD paragraphs listed in each section of the DSNE. Also, most of the environmental specifications in this document are tied specifically to the ESD DRMs in ESD-10012, Revision B, Exploration Systems Development Concept of Operations (ConOps). Coordination between these environment specifications and the DRMs must be maintained. This document should be compatible with the current ESD DRMs, but updates to the mission definitions and variations in interpretation may require adjustments to the environment specifications.