Aerospace Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Advances in aerospace robotics, artificial intelligence, and cyber-physical systems (CPS) are accelerating the introduction of automated decision-making functionalities and the progressive transition to trusted autonomous operations both in civil and military applications. The major benefits of these capabilities include de-crewing of flight decks and ground control centres as well as the safe and efficient operations of air and space platforms in a shared, unsegregated environment. In the commercial aviation context, CPS are supporting the development of single-pilot operated aircraft, with the co-pilot potentially replaced by a digital assistant and/or a remote pilot on the ground. A single remote pilot on the ground, on the other hand, will no longer be restricted to controlling a single aircraft and will instead be allowed to control multiple manned and unmanned vehicles, in line with the so-called One-to-Many (OTM) operational concept.

Important efforts are also being devoted to the integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in all classes of airspace, eliciting the introduction of UAS Traffic Management (UTM) services seamlessly integrated with the existing (and evolving) ATM framework. In particular, UTM requires substantial advances in Communication, Navigation, Surveillance (CNS) for ATM (CNS/ATM) and Avionics (CNS+A) technologies and associated regulatory frameworks, especially to enable low-altitude and Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLoS) operations. Recent advances in communications, navigation, and Sense-and-Avoid (SAA) technology are therefore progressively supporting UTM operations in medium-to-high density operational environments, including urban environments. Research efforts are also necessary to demonstrate the feasibility of CNS+A technologies capable of contributing to the emission reduction targets set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), national governments, and various large-scale international research initiatives. Therefore, growing emphasis is now being placed on environmental performance enhancements, focusing on Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM), dynamic airspace management, 4-dimensional (4D) trajectory optimisation, airport automation and, in the near future, urban flight operations.

In addition to CNS+A technologies for air operations, space CPS are also being researched for a wide range of practical applications including commercial satellites, space transport/tourism, and interplanetary scientific missions. In this context, it is anticipated that economically viable and reliable cyber-physical systems will play a fundamental role in the successful development of the space sector, and significant research efforts are needed in the field of reusable space transportation systems, Space Traffic Management (STM), and Distributed/Intelligent Satellite Systems (DSS/ISS). In particular, the operation of space launch and re-entry platforms currently requires considerable airspace segregation provisions which, if continued, will become increasingly disruptive to civil air traffic. Moreover, the currently limited space situational awareness is posing significant challenges to the safety and sustainability of spaceflight due to the rapidly growing amount of resident space objects and particularly orbital debris. The deployment of network-centric CNS+A systems and their functional integration with ground-based ATM in a Space Traffic Management (STM) framework will support a much more flexible and efficient use of the airspace with higher levels of safety. These evolutions will support the transition to what the research community have started designating as Multi-Domain Traffic Management.

Aim

The aim of this section is to address key contemporary challenges in aerospace robotics and autonomous systems research, with a focus on enabling technologies for automated decision making and trusted autonomy in aeronautics and spaceflight system operations.

Scope

Original manuscripts are elicited from researchers active in the following areas:

• Aeronautical and Space Robotics Systems;
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems;
• Autonomous Airspace Mobility Systems;
• Robotics Guidance, Navigation, and Control;
• Tracking, Optimal Control, and Trajectory Optimisation;
• Human–Autonomy Interactions;
• Trusted Autonomous Systems;
• Aerospace Sensors, Actuators and IoT;
• Aerospace Cyber-Physical and Autonomous Systems;
• Air and Space Defence Robotic Systems;
• Security, Humanitarian, and Disaster Relief Systems;
• Aerospace Cyber-Physical Systems Security;
• Aerospace Cognitive and Cybernetic Systems;
• Distributed and Intelligent Satellite Systems;
• UAS Traffic Management;
• Space Traffic Management.