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A special issue of Aerospace (ISSN 2226-4310). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Traffic and Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 21691

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gokhan Inalhan

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Guest Editor

School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
Interests: autonomous systems; advanced flight controls; human–autonomy interaction; urban air mobility; explainable AI for trustworthy autonomous systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Yan Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
Interests: aeronautical systems; aviation management and operations; computing, simulation and modelling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The seamless integration of unmanned traffic management (UTM) and air traffic management (ATM) is critical to fully unlocking the potential benefits of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) applications. Alongside the integration of UTM with the ATM system, an emerging Urban Air Mobility (UAM) focusing on passenger or cargo-carrying air transportation using specific corridors within an urban environment aims to further expand such integration towards the concept of Advanced Air Mobility.

The Special Issue addresses the broad topics related to Advanced Air Mobility and welcomes papers dealing with, but not limited to:

Airspace type and structure
Advanced AAM services
Separation and conflict management
Integration with UTM/U-space and ATM
AAM vehicle advances
Vertiport operations
Contingency management
AAM Fleet management
AAM Modelling and simulation
AI/ML applications in AAM
CNS technologies
Autonomy and AI for AAM
Safety assessment methodology
Performance framework
Verification and validation
Regulations and frameworks
Demonstrations

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Gokhan Inalhan
Dr. Yan Xu
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 39211 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AMU-LED Cranfield Flight Trials for Demonstrating the Advanced Air Mobility Concept

by Arinc Tutku Altun, Mehmet Hasanzade, Emre Saldiran, Guney Guner, Mevlut Uzun, Rodolphe Fremond, Yiwen Tang, Prithiviraj Bhundoo, Yu Su, Yan Xu, Gokhan Inalhan, Michael W. Hardt, Alejandro Fransoy, Ajay Modha, Jose Antonio Tena, Cesar Nieto, Miguel Vilaplana, Marta Tojal, Victor Gordo, Pablo Menendez and Ana Gonzalez Show full author list Hide full author list

Aerospace 2023, 10(9), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10090775 - 31 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1829

Abstract

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is a concept that is expected to transform the current air transportation system and provide more flexibility, agility, and accessibility by extending the operations to urban environments. This study focuses on flight test, integration, and analysis considerations for the feasibility of the future AAM concept and showcases the outputs of the Air Mobility Urban-Large Experimental Demonstration (AMU-LED) project demonstrations at Cranfield University. The purpose of the Cranfield demonstrations is to explore the integrated decentralized architecture of the AAM concept with layered airspace structure through various use cases within a co-simulation environment consisting of real and simulated standard-performing vehicle (SPV) and high-performing vehicle (HPV) flights, manned, and general aviation flights. Throughout the real and simulated flights, advanced U-space services are demonstrated and contingency management activities, including emergency operations and landing, are tested within the developed co-simulation environment. Moreover, flight tests are verified and validated through key performance indicator analysis, along with a social acceptance study. Future recommendations on relevant industrial and regulative activities are provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Air Mobility)

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17 pages, 12203 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Development of an Advanced Air Mobility Flight Testing and Simulation Infrastructure

Aerospace 2023, 10(8), 712; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10080712 - 15 Aug 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3045

Abstract

The emerging field of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) holds great promise for revolutionizing transportation by enabling the efficient, safe, and sustainable movement of people and goods in urban and regional environments. AAM encompasses a wide range of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and infrastructure that support their operations. In this work, we first present a new airspace structure by considering different layers for standard-performing vehicles (SPVs) and high-performing vehicles (HPVs), new AAM services for accommodating such a structure, and a holistic contingency management concept for a safe and efficient traffic environment. We then identify the requirements and development process of a testing and simulation infrastructure for AAM demonstrations, which specifically aim to explore the decentralized architecture of the proposed concept and its use cases. To demonstrate the full capability of AAM, we develop an infrastructure that includes advanced U-space services, real and simulated platforms that are suitable for future AAM use cases such as air cargo delivery and air taxi operations, and a co-simulation environment that allows all of the AAM elements to interact with each other in harmony. The considered infrastructure is envisioned to be used in AAM integration-related efforts, especially those focusing on U-space service deployment over a complex traffic environment and those analyzing the interaction between the operator, the U-space service provider (USSP), and the air traffic controller (ATC). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Air Mobility)

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25 pages, 722 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Distance GNSS-Denied Visual Inertial Navigation for Autonomous Fixed-Wing Unmanned Air Vehicles: SO(3) Manifold Filter Based on Virtual Vision Sensor

by Eduardo Gallo and Antonio Barrientos

Aerospace 2023, 10(8), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10080708 - 14 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2350

Abstract

This article proposes a visual inertial navigation algorithm intended to diminish the horizontal position drift experienced by autonomous fixed-wing UAVs (unmanned air vehicles) in the absence of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) signals. In addition to accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers, the proposed navigation filter relies on the accurate incremental displacement outputs generated by a VO (visual odometry) system, denoted here as a virtual vision sensor, or VVS, which relies on images of the Earth surface taken by an onboard camera and is itself assisted by filter inertial estimations. Although not a full replacement for a GNSS receiver since its position observations are relative instead of absolute, the proposed system enables major reductions in the GNSS-denied attitude and position estimation errors. The filter is implemented in the manifold of rigid body rotations or

SO (3)

in order to minimize the accumulation of errors in the absence of absolute observations. Stochastic high-fidelity simulations of two representative scenarios involving the loss of GNSS signals are employed to evaluate the results. The authors release the C++ implementation of both the visual inertial navigation filter and the high-fidelity simulation as open-source software. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Air Mobility)

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25 pages, 9911 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Layered Structure Approach to Assure Urban Air Mobility Safety and Efficiency

by Victor Gordo, Ines Becerra, Alejandro Fransoy, Enrique Ventas, Pablo Menendez-Ponte, Yan Xu, Marta Tojal, Javier Perez-Castan and Luis Perez Sanz

Aerospace 2023, 10(7), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10070609 - 30 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1995

Abstract

The demand for air mobility services will depend on the safety of these operations but also on the transportation time savings in congested urban areas. An adequate air space structure is therefore essential to achieve both objectives. Corridors, the most extended solution proposed nowadays, can meet the safety requirements necessary for air taxi operations, but they are rigid (point-to-point solutions) and would increase delays. As an alternative, this paper presents the airspace structure proposed in the SESAR AMU-LED Project, based on layers to assure both safety and efficiency of air taxi operations. In this proposal, small UAS will fly in the bottom part, called the Very Low Level, whereas air taxis will fly in the upper part. The paper applies a collision risk model to determine the minimum required safety buffer between both layers to assure the necessary safety levels. The results obtained show that a buffer of 10 m between them would meet the required safety levels for air taxi operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Air Mobility)

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20 pages, 2898 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Future Trends in UAV Applications in the Australian Market

by Iryna Heiets, Yi-Wei Kuo, Jiezhuoma La, Richard C.K. Yeun and Wim Verhagen

Aerospace 2023, 10(6), 555; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10060555 - 12 Jun 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3730

Abstract

The world has been proactively seeking solutions to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus since 2020. A major defensive action is implementing contactless services into everyday activities to reduce viral spread. Drones can provide contactless services in transporting goods and medical supplies, thus reducing the risk of spreading the virus. This paper aims to investigate the future trends of commercial uses for drones in Australia in the next five years. It will explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) industry and its different applications in Australia over the same timeframe; it also considers whether the use of drones in medical services will increase due to the epidemic. Primary data are gathered and evaluated to consider these issues, supported by a set of secondary data. The research aims to provide a holistic direction for the UAV industry, and in particular, for the Australian drone service providers and regulator to modify their operation strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Air Mobility)

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16 pages, 947 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Attitudes towards Urban Air Mobility for E-Commerce Deliveries: An Exploratory Survey Comparing European Regions

by André Teixeira Silva, Sérgio Pedro Duarte, Sandra Melo, Adriana Witkowska-Konieczny, Michele Giannuzzi and António Lobo

Aerospace 2023, 10(6), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10060536 - 5 Jun 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2399

Abstract

This study explores attitudes towards urban air mobility (UAM) for e-commerce deliveries. UAM, which utilizes drones, has the potential to revolutionize transport services and logistics, leading to economic benefits and reductions in congestion and pollution. However, public acceptance is crucial for a successful implementation; thus, understanding the people’s perspective is key. Descriptive statistics were employed to evaluate survey results from three different European regions, followed by a cluster analysis to define potential user profiles. This study revealed slightly different perceptions towards UAM between the analyzed regions, but also a generally positive attitude. The most important expected identified benefits from UAM were a decrease in congestion and pollution in city centers. High-acceptance segments are gender-balanced and correspond mostly to active population and frequent online shoppers that perceive value in drone deliveries, especially related to an increased convenience and speed. They support public investment in UAM and are willing to pay more for these services and to have their home flown over. Opposite attitudes were expressed by low-acceptance segments, which are female-dominated and include mostly non-frequent online shoppers. The identified user profiles in this study can support the development of public policy and marketing strategies to increase acceptance and adoption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Air Mobility)

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37 pages, 1878 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GNSS-Denied Semi-Direct Visual Navigation for Autonomous UAVs Aided by PI-Inspired Inertial Priors

by Eduardo Gallo and Antonio Barrientos

Aerospace 2023, 10(3), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10030220 - 25 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2913

Abstract

This article proposes a method to diminish the horizontal position drift in the absence of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) signals experienced by the VNS (Visual Navigation System) installed onboard a UAV (Unmanned Air Vehicle) by supplementing its pose estimation non-linear optimizations with priors based on the outputs of the INS (Inertial Navigation System). The method is inspired by a PI (Proportional Integral) control loop, in which the attitude and altitude inertial outputs act as targets to ensure that the visual estimations do not deviate past certain thresholds from their inertial counterparts. The resulting IA-VNS (Inertially Assisted Visual Navigation System) achieves major reductions in the horizontal position drift inherent to the GNSS-Denied navigation of autonomous UAVs. Stochastic high-fidelity Monte Carlo simulations of two representative scenarios involving the loss of GNSS signals are employed to evaluate the results and to analyze their sensitivity to the terrain type overflown by the aircraft. The authors release the C++ implementation of both the navigation algorithms and the high-fidelity simulation as open-source software. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Air Mobility)

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