Human-Automation Interaction Considerations for Unmanned Aerial System Integration into the National Airspace System

Prior to 2012, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology had been primarily used by the military and hobbyists, but it has more recently transitioned to broader application, including commercial and scientific applications, as well as to expanded military use. These new uses encroach on existing structures for managing the nation's airspace and present significant challenges to ensure that UASs are coordinated safely and suitably with existing manned aircraft and air traffic management systems, particularly with the National Airspace System (NAS). Of particular concern is the interaction between human pilots, operators, or controllers and increasingly automated systems. Enhanced understanding of these interactions is essential to avoid unintended consequences, especially as new technologies emerge. In order to explore these issues, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine organized a 2-day workshop in January 2018. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.Table of ContentsFront Matter1 Introduction2 Human-Systems Integration Issues for UASs and AutomationTechnologies3 The Reality of Full Ground-Control Automation4 Transition Planning from Old to New Ground-Control Systems5 Near-Term Human-Systems Integration Challenges with UASAutomation6 Knowledge Gaps7 DoD R&D Efforts in Ground-Control Systems8 Man vs. Machine or Man Machine?9 Considerations for a Remote Pilot in Command10 Final ThoughtsAppendixesAppendix A: Workshop ParticipantsAppendix B: Workshop AgendaAppendix C: Biographical Sketches of Steering Committee Members andPresenters