SBIR/STTR Award attributes
NASA is supporting the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) concept for safe, sustainable, affordable, and accessible aviation (e.g., passenger transport and cargo transport) both locally and intraregionally. However, operations occur is a dynamic environment in which conditions vary rapidly, both spatially and temporally. Therefore, a reliable network of cost-effective weather sensors is required to meet regulatory and safety constraints. To address this need, Intellisense Systems, Inc. (Intellisense) proposes to develop a new Weather Integrated Network Design Software (WINDS) system that automatically designs scalable, robust, and tailored weather sensing networks to support AAM operations in the most cost-effective method possible. The web-based tool includes an integrated, constantly updated database of all available sensing technologies and sensors, including their applicability to the ASTM tiered standards with everything from commercial aviation-grade sensors, low-cost integrated weather sensors, and data provided by non-traditional means and imagery including cameras and satellite. nbsp;WINDS then leverages an integrated mapping and topography tool to analyze system performance over the user-defined operational area and mission requirements. WINDSrsquo;s network synthesis automatically generates a slate of weather networks meeting the target with clear illustrations of tradeoffs between various configurations including cost. The pathfinding-based network synthesis algorithm navigates an underlying safety risk model that links weather network capability to UAS safety in specific airspaces. WINDS system outputs tailored system designs that refine cost, core functionality (including features such as communications requirements), and performance to provide the most cost-effective solution possible to the AAM customer. During Phase I feasibility will be demonstrated through catalog development and algorithm demonstration in preparation for full system deployment in Phase II.
