Unsettled Issues in Advanced Air Mobility Certification

Advanced air mobility (AAM) refers to urban transportation systems that move people and goods by air. This has significant implications for reducing traffic congestion in cities and for providing an integrated approach to urban mobility. With the emergence of drone technology and the possibility of more autonomous aircraft, interest has grown considerably in AAM. Unsettled Issues in Advanced Air Mobility Certification discusses the impact of AAM on private sector solution providers including aerospace and technology companies and goes into solutions for urban planners and transportation professionals for better integration across all AAM modes.

A Method for Continuous Study of Soaring and Windhovering Birds

Avian flight continues to inspire aircraft designers. As the scales of autonomous aircraft reduce to those of birds and large insects, new control challenges are apparent when attempting to hold steady flight in turbulent atmospheric wind. Some birds, however, are capable of remarkably stable hovering flight in the same conditions. This work describes the development of a wind tunnel configuration that facilitates the study of flapless windhovering (hanging) and soaring bird flight in wind conditions replicating those in nature. Updrafts were generated by flow over replica “hills” and turbulence was introduced through upstream grids. Successful flight tests with windhovering nankeen kestrels (Falco cenchroides) were conducted, verifying that the facility is suitable for future studies investigating the flight of soaring and windhovering birds in smooth and turbulent flows. The wind tunnel allows the flow characteristics to be carefully controlled and measured, providing great advantages over outdoor flight tests. Also, existing wind tunnels may be readily configured using this method, eliminating the need for the development of dedicated bird flight wind tunnels.

A Semi-Autonomos Drone for Surveillance and Security

A semi-autonomous aircraft to provide a real time surveillance in combat and rescue operation. It will fly autonomously ahead of user to find out the threats like distant enemies and traps like landmines. It will provide data about their position and things or ammunitions they have. It will use infrared and thermal imaging for night vision and powerful metal detection to find landmines and other traps. All data can be transmitted directly to the user on a helmet display or wrist screen. It will also provide warning about its findings. For positioning the threats it will provide GPS coordinates of threat. User can also operates it using the control unit.