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Advancing Aeronautical Safety: A Review of NASA's Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs (2010)

Chapter: Appendix E NASA-Identified R&T Challenges from the Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics

« Previous: Appendix D Safety R&T Challenges from the Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics
Suggested Citation:"Appendix E NASA-Identified R&T Challenges from the Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2010. Advancing Aeronautical Safety: A Review of NASA's Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12950.
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E
NASA-Identified R&T Challenges from the Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics

The Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics1 identifies numerous research and technology (R&T) challenges within the field of Aeronautics. In briefings to the committee, NASA identified the R&T challenges relevant to the work being pursued in its various aviation safety-related research activities. These challenges are listed in the various tables below. The “NASA Relevance and Suitability” scores are “Why NASA Composite Score” in the Decadal Survey, and they reflect a combination of four distinct factors:

  • Supporting infrastructure

  • Mission alignment

  • Lack of alternative sponsors

  • Appropriate level of risk

Due to the subjective nature of the scoring and differences between panels, the Decadal Survey cautions readers against direct comparison of the scores for challenges from different panels (each panel was assigned a letter, A-E).

1

National Research Council, Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics: Foundation for the Future, The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2006.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix E NASA-Identified R&T Challenges from the Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2010. Advancing Aeronautical Safety: A Review of NASA's Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12950.
×

TABLE E.1 The Decadal Survey’s Top-Ranked Safety R&T Challenges Applicable to New Operations (9 is highest score; 1 is lowest)

R&T Challenge by Discipline/Area

NASA Relevance and Suitability

Dynamics, Navigation, Control, and Avionics

 

(D1) Advanced guidance systems

7.5

(D2) Distributed decision-making, decision making under uncertainty, and flight-path planning and prediction

6

(D6) Improved on-board weather systems and tools

6

(D8) Human-machine integration

6

(D9) Synthetic vision and enhanced vision systems

6

(D7) Advanced communications, navigation, and surveillance technology

4.5

Intelligent and Autonomous Systems, Operations and Decision-making, Human Integrated Systems, and Networking and Communications

 

(E1) Methodologies, tools, and simulation and modeling capabilities to design and evaluate complex interactive systems

6

(E2) New concepts and methods of separating, spacing, and sequencing aircraft

6

(E3) Appropriate roles of humans and automated systems for separation assurance, including feasibility and merits of highly automated separation assurance systems

6

(E4) Affordable new sensors, system technologies, and procedures to improve the prediction and measurement of wake turbulence

6

(E5) Interfaces that assure effective information sharing and coordination among ground-based and airborne human and machine agents

6

(E8a) Transparent and collaborative decision-support systems

6

(E8c) Interfaces and procedures that support human operators ineffective task and attention management

6

SOURCE: Selected from the “Prioritization of R&T Challenges” tables in the Decadal Survey.

TABLE E.2 The Decadal Survey’s Top-Ranked Safety R&T Challenges Applicable to Hazardous Conditions and the IIFD and IRAC Technical Plans (9 is highest score; 1 is lowest)

R&T Challenge by Discipline/Area

NASA Relevance and Suitability

Intelligent and Autonomous Systems, Operations and Decision-making, Human Integrated Systems, and Networking and Communications

 

(E4) Affordable new sensors, system technologies, and procedures to improve the prediction and measurement of wake turbulence

6

Dynamics, Navigation, Control, and Avionics

 

(D6) Improved on-board weather systems and tools

6

(D7) Advanced communications, navigation, and surveillance technology

4.5

Aerodynamics and Aerocoustics

 

(A6) Aerodynamics robust to atmospheric disturbances and adverse weather conditions, including icing

4.5

SOURCE: Selected from the “Prioritization of R&T Challenges” tables in the Decadal Survey.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix E NASA-Identified R&T Challenges from the Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2010. Advancing Aeronautical Safety: A Review of NASA's Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12950.
×

TABLE E.3 The Decadal Survey’s Top-Ranked Safety R&T Challenges Applicable to Loss and Control (9 is highest score; 1 is lowest)

R&T Challenge by Discipline/Area

NASA Relevance and Suitability

Dynamics, Navigation, Control, and Avionics

 

(D1) Advanced guidance systems

7.5

(D2) Distributed decision-making, decision making under uncertainty, and flight-path planning and prediction

6

(D3) Intelligent and adaptive flight control techniques

6

(D13) More efficient certification processes for complex systems

2

(D14) Design, development, and upgrade processes for complex, software-intensive systems, including tools for design, development, and verification and validation

1.5

SOURCE: Selected from the “Prioritization of R&T Challenges” tables in the Decadal Survey.

TABLE E.4 The Decadal Survey’s Top-Ranked Safety R&T Challenges Applicable to Durable Aircraft Structures and Systems According to the AAD Technical Plan (9 is highest score; 1 is lowest)

R&T Challenge by Discipline/Area

NASA Relevance and Suitability

Materials and Structures

 

(C1) Integrated vehicle health management

7

(C6a) Innovative high-temperature metals and environmental coatings

7.5

(C14) Next-generation nondestructive evaluation

4

SOURCE: Selected from the “Prioritization of R&T Challenges” tables in Decadal Survey.

TABLE E.5 The Decadal Survey’s Top-Ranked Safety R&T Challenges Applicable to On-Board System Failures and Faults According to the IVHM Technical Plan (9 is highest score; 1 is lowest)

R&T Challenge by Discipline/Area

NASA Relevance and Suitability

Propulsion and Power

 

(B3) Intelligent engines and mechanical power systems capable of self-diagnosis and reconfiguration between shop visits

6

Materials and Structures

 

(C1) Integrated vehicle health management

7

Intelligent and Autonomous Systems, Operations and Decision-making, Human Integrated Systems, and Networking and Communications

 

(E1) Methodologies, tools, and simulation and modeling capabilities to design and evaluate complex interactive systems

6

(E8b) Using operational and maintenance data to assess leading indicators of safety

6

Dynamics, Navigation, Control, and Avionics

 

(D5) Fault-tolerant and integrated vehicle health management systems

7.5

SOURCE: Selected from the “Prioritization of R&T Challenges” tables in the Decadal Survey.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix E NASA-Identified R&T Challenges from the Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2010. Advancing Aeronautical Safety: A Review of NASA's Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12950.
×

TABLE E.6 The Decadal Survey’s Top-Ranked Safety R&T Challenges Applicable to Analyzing Complex Systems for Safety (9 is highest score; 1 is lowest)

R&T Challenge by Discipline/Area

NASA Relevance and Suitability

Intelligent and Autonomous Systems, Operations and Decision-making, Human Integrated Systems, and Networking and Communications

 

(E1) Methodologies, tools, and simulation and modeling capabilities to design and evaluate complex interactive systems

6

(E2) New concepts and methods of separating, spacing, and sequencing aircraft

6

(E3) Appropriate roles of humans and automated systems for separation assurance, including feasibility and merits of highly automated separation assurance systems

6

(E5) Interfaces that ensure effective information sharing and coordination among ground-based and airborne human and machine agents

6

(E6) Vulnerability analysis as an integral element in the architecture design and simulations of the air transportation system

6

(E8a) Transparent and collaborative decision-support systems

6

(E8c) Interfaces and procedures that support human operators ineffective task and attention management

6

Dynamics, Navigation, Control, and Avionics

 

(D1) Advanced guidance systems

7.5

(D2) Distributed decision-making, decision making under uncertainty, and flight-path planning and prediction

6

(D6) Improved on-board weather systems and tools

6

(D8) Human-machine integration

6

(D9) Synthetic visions and enhanced vision systems

6

(D7) Advanced communications, navigation, and surveillance technology

4.5

SOURCE: Selected from the “Prioritization of R&T Challenges” tables in the Decadal Survey.

TABLE E.7 The Decadal Survey’s Top-Ranked Safety R&T Challenges Applicable to Safety-Related Research in the Fundamental Aeronautics Program (9 is highest score; 1 is lowest)

R&T Challenge by Discipline/Area

NASA Relevance and Suitability

Aerodynamics and Aerocoustics

 

(A4a) Aerodynamic designs and flow control schemes to reduce aircraft and rotor noise

6

(A6) Aerodynamics robust to atmospheric disturbances and adverse weather conditions, including icing

4.5

Materials and Structures

 

(C8) Structural innovations for high-speed rotorcraft

7.5

SOURCE: Selected from the “Prioritization of R&T Challenges” tables in the Decadal Survey.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix E NASA-Identified R&T Challenges from the Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2010. Advancing Aeronautical Safety: A Review of NASA's Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12950.
×
Page 71
Suggested Citation:"Appendix E NASA-Identified R&T Challenges from the Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2010. Advancing Aeronautical Safety: A Review of NASA's Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12950.
×
Page 72
Suggested Citation:"Appendix E NASA-Identified R&T Challenges from the Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2010. Advancing Aeronautical Safety: A Review of NASA's Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12950.
×
Page 73
Suggested Citation:"Appendix E NASA-Identified R&T Challenges from the Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2010. Advancing Aeronautical Safety: A Review of NASA's Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12950.
×
Page 74
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Advancing the state of aviation safety is a central mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Congress requested this review of NASA's aviation safety-related research programs, seeking an assessment of whether the programs have well-defined, prioritized, and appropriate research objectives; whether resources have been allocated appropriately among these objectives; whether the programs are well coordinated with the safety research programs of the Federal Aviation Administration; and whether suitable mechanisms are in place for transitioning the research results into operational technologies and procedures and certification activities in a timely manner.

Advancing Aeronautical Safety contains findings and recommendations with respect to each of the main aspects of the review sought by Congress. These findings indicate that NASA's aeronautics research enterprise has made, and continues to make, valuable contributions to aviation system safety but it is falling short and needs improvement in some key respects.

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