NASA Armstrong Overview Bradley Flick, Director for Research and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

National Aeronautics and Space Administration www.nasa.gov

Bradley Flick, Director for Research and Engineering Armstrong Flight Research Center

NASA Armstrong Overview

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The purpose of 
 flight research is

“… to separate 
 the real from the imagined and 
 to make known the

• verlooked and the

unexpected.”

— Dr. Hugh L. Dryden Administrator of NACA (1949-1958) First Deputy Administrator 


• f NASA (1958-1965)

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To separate the real from the imagined through flight

X-1 F-8 Lunar Landing Research Vehicle Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests M2-F1 X-29 X-43 Helios X-15

Vision

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1 Perform flight research

and technology integration to revolutionize aviation and pioneer aerospace technology

2 Validate space exploration

concepts

3 Conduct airborne remote

sensing and science

• bservations

Advancing technology and science through flight

X-48C DC-8 Orion PA-1 Launch Abort System

Mission

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DoD International Industry

Strategic Partnerships

Academia NASA Centers Airborne Science

Strategic Partnerships

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate Science Mission Directorate Exploration and Space Technology Mission Directorate

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Mission Activity

Advanced Planning and Partnerships Directorate Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)

Aeronautics Research Strategic Thrusts

Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations

Enable full NextGen and develop technologies to substantially
 reduce aircraft safety risks

Innovation in Commercial Supersonic Aircraft

Achieve a low-boom standard

Ultra-Efficient Commercial Vehicles

Pioneer technologies for big leaps in efficiency and 
 environmental performance

Transition to Low-Carbon Propulsion

Characterize drop-in alternative fuels and pioneer 
 low-carbon propulsion technology

Real-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance

Develop an integrated prototype of a real-time safety 
 monitoring and assurance system

Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation

Develop high impact aviation autonomy applications

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Armstrong Flight Research Center

Armstrong is the host Center for the 5-year, $160-million effort. The project is supported by four NASA Centers: § Armstrong Flight Research Center, California § Ames Research Center, California § Glenn Research Center, Ohio § Langley Research Center, Virginia

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Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration in the National Airspace System (NAS) ISRP

Mission Activity—ARMD

There is an increasing need to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) 
 to perform missions for National Security and Defense, Emergency Management, and Science. There also is an emerging need to enable commercial applications such as cargo transport (e.g. FedEx).

Global Hawk: 
 UAS in the NAS

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Airspace Integration Standards and Regulations Relevant Test Environment

Validate technologies and procedures for UAS to remain an appropriate distance from other aircraft and to safely and routinely interoperate with NAS and NextGen Air Traffic Services (ATS) Validate minimum system and operational performance standards and certification requirements and procedures for UAS to safely

• perate in the NAS

Develop an adaptable, scalable, and schedulable relevant test environment for validating concepts and technologies for UAS to safely operate in the NAS

Mission Activity—ARMD

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Five subprojects were created to address project needs:

• 1. Separation Assurance and Sense and Avoid

Interoperability (SSI)

• 2. Human Systems Integration (HSI)
• 3. Communications
• 4. Certification
• 5. Integrated Test and Evaluation (IT&E)

In addition to project management, Armstrong specifically contributes to HSI and IT&E. § HSI: Develop a research testbed and database to provide data and proof of concept for GCS operations in the NAS § IT&E: Define and develop infrastructure using a Live Virtual Construct – Distributed Environment (LVC-DE) that will create operationally relevant environments that are adaptable and scalable to incorporate the concepts and technologies to be evaluated by the subprojects

Mission Activity—ARMD

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Automatic Dependent Surveillance Br Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B)

• adcast (ADS-B)

IT&E Technical Activities New tracking technology adapted for UAS improves air traffic management, particularly relating to UAS sharing airspace with manned aircraft, and enhances control and tracking of UAS

• 12

Armstrong Flight Research Center Mission Activity—ARMD

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The Garmin GDL-90 ADS-B unit generates aircraft position data that is displayed on the pilot’s multifunction instrument displays. All aircraft operating in certain U.S. airspace must adopt the ADS-B tracking technology by January 2020 to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.

The new ADS-B aircraft tracking technology includes a small blade antenna on the belly of NASA's modified MQ-9 research aircraft, and another like it atop the fuselage, that transmit and receive signals. Mission Activity—ARMD

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Operational ADS-B radio stations at Mojave Airport (NW) and near Victorville (SSE)

Armstrong Flight Research Center Edwards AFB

360° turns to evaluate antenna coverage Climbs and descents at various gross weights, airspeeds, and altitudes to inform simulation and modeling activities

This Ikhana Predator B flight track was plotted from ADS-B reports 
 recorded by the FAA Technical Center during testing in March 2012. Armstrong Flight Research Center Mission Activity—ARMD

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The LVC-DE system is a fully integrated 
 virtual and real-world simulation experience. The system generates simulated air traffic, representing radar and ADS-B-derived trajectories, to test advanced airspace integration concepts, technologies, and procedures efficiently and safely. Live Virtual Constructive-Distributed Environment (LVC-DE)

Mission Activity—ARMD

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Connectivity Connectivity

Surrogate UAS


ADS-B Equipped

ADS-B Ground Stations Air Surveillance Radars

Armstrong


Simulation Lab

Ames


Simulation Lab

Partners Traffic

ITT SBS

WJH Tech Center

Flight Monitor Server Flight Monitor Server

¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ UAS


ADS-B Equipped

¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

LVC-DE Connections

Mission Activity—ARMD

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Transition Surfaces Main Flap

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Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Project Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE) Project

Partnership between NASA’s ERA Project and the AFRL Gulfstream III

Testing flexible trailing-edge wing flaps to improve aircraft aerodynamic efficiency and reduce airport-area noise

Mission Activity—ARMD

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Supersonics/High Speed Project

§ Another step in NASA’s ongoing effort to mitigate sonic boom effects for

• verland supersonic cruise

§ No-boom research increases the capability of supersonic flight with little

• r no sonic boom effects
• n the ground

Farfield Investigation of No-Boom Thresholds (FaINT)

§ F/A-18B flew low- supersonic, high-altitude flight profiles § Cessna researchers launched a blimp that carries several microphones used to record sonic booms

FAP

F/A-18B Mission Activity—ARMD

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Fixed Wing Project X-56A Multi-Utility Technology Testbed (MUTT)

§ X-56A MUTT is used to explore integrated structural control of extremely lightweight flexible aircraft § Research system includes two center bodies, one stiff wing set, three flexible wing sets, and one ground control station

Funded by Designed and built by

Mission Activity—ARMD

Alternative Fuels Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions (ACCESS) Flight Experiment

§ Clean power technical challenge § Characterize fuel effects on aircraft particle and gas-phase emissions at cruise altitudes § Survey black carbon and gas-phase emissions and contrail properties from commercial aircraft at cruise in air-traffic corridors

The modified HU-25 Falcon from NASA's Langley Research Center probes the exhaust contrails from NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory during the first data-collection flight in the ACCESS biofuels flight test project in restricted test airspace over California's high desert. 20 Armstrong Flight Research Center Mission Activity—ARMD

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Vehicle System Safety Technology Project C-17 Cargo Aircraft Precision Formations for Increased Range and Efficiency (CAPFIRE) AvSP

§ Investigation of formation flight for drag reduction on the C-17 aircraft § Potential for 12 to 20% improvement in fuel efficiency § Partnership between NASA, AF Test Center, DARPA, and AFRL

Mission Activity—ARMD

Vehicle Integrated Propulsion Research (VIPR) § Demonstrate capability of advanced health management technologies for detecting and diagnosing incipient engine faults before they become a safety impact and to minimize loss of capability § Perform engine ground tests using a high-bypass turbofan engine. Conduct normal engine operations and

• perations with seeded mechanical and gas path faults

§ Partnership between NASA, FAA, AF Test Center, AFRL, Pratt & Whitney, and Boeing

Hybrid Electric Propulsion (HEP) Systems for Aviation

Low Carbon Propulsion

› NASA studies and industry

roadmaps have identified hybrid electric propulsion systems as promising technologies that can help meet national environmental and energy efficiency goals for aviation Potential Benefits

› Energy usage reduced by

more than 60%

› Harmful emissions reduced by

more than 90%

› Objectionable noise reduced

by more than 65%

Power Level for Electrical Propulsion System kW#class# 1)2#MW# class# 2)5#MW# class# 5)10#MW#

• Hybrid electric 50 PAX regional
• Turboelectric distributed propulsion 100

PAX regional

• Hybrid electric 100 PAX regional
• Turboelectric distributed propulsion

150 PAX

• Hybrid electric 737-150

PAX

• Turboelectric 737-150

PAX

>#10#MW# Today 10 Yr 20 Yr 30 Yr 40 Yr Projected Timeframe for Achieving TRL 6

• Turboelectric and hybrid

electric distributed propulsion 300 PAX

• All electric and

hybrid electric GA (Power level for single engine)

Spinoff Technologies Benefit More/All Electric Architectures:

• High power density electric motors

replacing hydraulic actuation

• Electrical component and transmission

system weight reduction

What is needed?

› Conceptual designs of aircraft and propulsion systems › Higher power density generators and motors › Flight-weight power system architectures and simulations › Higher energy density energy storage systems (non-NASA) › Extensive ground and flight testing

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§ Pipistrel Electro-Taurus Motor

40 kW Peak, 53 hp 30 kW continuous 240 VDC

§ Measurements

500 lbf thrust 500 ft*lbs torque 0-40,000 RPM 500 Amps Acoustic signature

Plug-and-Play Electric Propulsion Kit

AirVolt Single String Propulsor System

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LEAPTech

Leading Edge Asynchronous Propeller Technology

Team – NASA LaRC, AFRC, ARC, industry partners Joby Aviation and ESAero. July 7, 2014

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A relatively inexpensive remotely or optionally piloted glider will be towed to altitudes approaching 40,000 feet by a large transport aircraft. The glider will carry a booster rocket capable of launching payloads into low Earth orbit.

Towed Glider Air-Launch Armstrong develops a novel rocket-launching technique

The 1/3-scale twin-fuselage glider is The 1/3-scale twin-fuselage glider is pictur pictured with its Dr ed with its Dryden r yden remotely emotely Operated Integrated Dr Operated Integrated Drone (DROID) tow

• ne (DROID) tow

plane on the ramp at NASA Ar plane on the ramp at NASA Armstr mstrong.

• ng.

Mission Activity—Exploration and Space Technology

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Auto-GCAS Automated Ground Collision Avoidance System

50 to 100 aviation deaths could be prevented each year § Takes control from the pilot

› Directs pilot through correct avoidance maneuver in non-autopilot equipped aircraft

§ F-16 auto-GCAS

› 2010 Risk Reduction Project › 103 flights, 1670 recoveries › 2013 production fielding Sponsors:

§ Small UAV test and evaluation

› Implemented algorithm on smart phone › 21 flights, 208 recoveries

Mission Activity—Advanced Planning and Partnerships