scholarly journals Ensuring the Safety Sustainability of Large UAS: Learning from the Maintenance Risk Dynamics of USAF MQ-1 Predator Fleet in Last Two Decades

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Lu ◽  
Ying Qian ◽  
Huayan Huangfu ◽  
Shuguang Zhang ◽  
Shan Fu
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
United States Air Force ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Application ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Human Errors ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Risk Dynamics ◽  
Aerial Systems

The mishap statistics of large military unmanned aerial systems (UAS) reveal that human errors and organizational flaws pose great threats to their operation safety, especially considering the future application of derived civilian types. Moreover, maintenance accidents due to human factors have reached a significant level, but have received little attention in the existing research. To ensure the safety and sustainability of large UAS, we propose a system dynamics approach to model the maintenance risk mechanisms involving organizational, human, and technical factors, which made a breakthrough in the traditional event-chain static analysis method. Using the United States Air Force (USAF) MQ-1 Predator fleet case, the derived time-domain simulation represented the risk evolution process of the past two decades and verified the rationality of the proposed model. It was identified that the effects of maintainer human factors on the accident rate exceeded those of the technical systems in a long-term view, even though the technical reliability improvements had obvious initial effects on risk reduction. The characteristics of maintainer errors should be considered in system and maintenance procedure design to prevent them in a proactive way. It is also shown that the approach-derived SD model can be developed into a semi-quantitative decision-making support tool for improving the safety of large UAS in a risk-based view of airworthiness.

Cockpit Automation Technology

1984 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 487-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Aretz
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
United States Air Force ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Weapon Systems ◽  
System Requirements ◽  
Automation Technology ◽  
Baseline Approach

This paper presents a prototype methodology conceived by the United States Air Force to establish a baseline approach in the development of a new human factors crew station design methodology for emerging weapon systems. The goal of the project is to develop a structured human factors design methodology that can be used by designers to assess emerging technologies and relate them to system requirements and human performance characteristics so that the features of the resulting designs satisfy specific operational mission objectives.

scholarly journals Observations of the atmosphere and surface state over Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica, using unmanned aerial systems

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Cassano ◽  
Mark W. Seefeldt ◽  
Scott Palo ◽  
Shelley L. Knuth ◽  
Alice C. Bradley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ross Sea ◽  
The United States ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Terra Nova Bay ◽  
Atmospheric State ◽  
Terra Nova ◽  
Aerial Systems

Abstract. In September 2012 five Aerosonde unmanned aircraft were used to make measurements of the atmospheric state over the Terra Nova Bay polynya, Antarctica, to explore the details of air–sea ice–ocean coupling. A total of 14 flights were completed in September 2012. Ten of the flight missions consisted of two unmanned aerial systems (UAS) sampling the atmosphere over Terra Nova Bay on 5 different days, with one UAS focusing on the downwind evolution of the air mass and a second UAS flying transects roughly perpendicular to the low-level winds. The data from these coordinated UAS flights provide a comprehensive three-dimensional data set of the atmospheric state (air temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind) and surface skin temperature over Terra Nova Bay. The remaining UAS flights during the September 2012 field campaign included two local flights near McMurdo Station for flight testing, a single UAS flight to Terra Nova Bay, and a single UAS flight over the Ross Ice Shelf and Ross Sea polynya. A data set containing the atmospheric and surface data as well as operational aircraft data have been submitted to the United States Antarctic Program Data Coordination Center (USAP-DCC, http://www.usap-data.org/) for free access (http://gcmd.nasa.gov/getdif.htm?NSF-ANT10-43657, doi:10.15784/600125).

Undergraduate human factors curriculum at the United States Air Force Academy

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian E. Tidball ◽  
Randall W. Gibb ◽  
Terence S. Andre ◽  
Chad C. Tossell
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Air Force ◽  
United States Air Force ◽  
The United States ◽  
Air Force Academy

scholarly journals Assessment of known impacts of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) on marine mammals: data gaps and recommendations for researchers in the United States

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney E. Smith ◽  
Seth T. Sykora-Bodie ◽  
Brian Bloodworth ◽  
Shalynn M. Pack ◽  
Trevor R. Spradlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Research Paradigms ◽  
Current State ◽  
Resource Managers ◽  
Data Gaps ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Aerial Systems

The development of advanced technologies to enhance conservation science often outpaces the abilities of wildlife managers to assess and ensure such new tools are safely used in proximity to wild animals. Recently, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have become more accessible to civilian operators and are quickly being integrated into existing research paradigms to replace manned aircraft. Several federal statutes require scientists to obtain research permits to closely approach protected species of wildlife, such as marine mammals, but the lack of available information on the effects of UAS operations on these species has made it difficult to evaluate and mitigate potential impacts. Here, we present a synthesis of the current state of scientific understanding of the impacts of UAS usage near marine mammals. We also identify key data gaps that are currently limiting the ability of marine resource managers to develop appropriate guidelines, policies, or regulations for safe and responsible operation of UAS near marine mammals. We recommend researchers prioritize collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data on marine mammal responses to UAS when using the devices to better inform the scientific community, regulators, and hobbyists about potential effects and assist with the development of appropriate mitigation measures.

scholarly journals Measuring Building Height Using Point Cloud Data Derived from Unmanned Aerial System Imagery in an Undergraduate Geospatial Science Course

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
David Kulhavy ◽  
I-Kuai Hung ◽  
Daniel R. Unger ◽  
Reid Viegut ◽  
Yanli Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Senior Project ◽  
Cloud Data ◽  
Analysis And Synthesis ◽  
Hands On Learning ◽  
Science Curricula ◽  
Capstone Projects ◽  
Aerial Systems

The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), also known as drones is increasing in geospatial science curricula within the United States. Within the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture (ATCOFA) at Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas, seniors in the geospatial science program complete capstone projects to evaluate current geospatial technology to investigate complex ecological, social and environmental issues. Under the umbrella of a student initiated and designed senior project, students designed a study to estimate height of buildings with UAS data incorporating UAS data, LP360 and ArcScene programs, and Pictometry web-based interface. Results from a statistical analysis of the data confirm that geospatial science height estimation techniques can provide accurate estimates of height remotely. The independence of the students completing the project with UAS data for LP360 and ArcScene estimations, and utilizing Pictometry as an on-onscreen measuring tool, point to the need to integrate remote sensing, statistical analysis and synthesis of data into undergraduate geospatial science curricula. This reinforces the hands-on learning approach within ATCOFA and provides guidance to integrate the use of UAS in natural resource education.

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