Risk-based flight planning and management for urban air mobility

What is it about?

This paper investigates a quantitative ground risk assessment method for future urban air mobility, which can be divided into three main processes: risk modelling, risk assessment andmitigation recommendation for flight planning and management. First, the aircraft kinetic models for both fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft are investigated, along with the corresponding ballistic and glide descent mode and the associated wind influence. The probabilistic impact toroad traffic and pedestrians on the ground as a result of potential crash are then derived. Withan assumed crash probability of the aircraft, the initial risk value and distribution are computed,which are used to produce a risk cost map across the mission area. Next, the flight request isprocessed based on such risk map using a common path planning algorithm, minimizing theoverall risk for the flight plan to be generated. Finally, a preliminary case study involving arotorcraft conducting urban cargo transportation service is performed to evaluate the proposedrisk assessment method in a real-world urban environment.

Featured Image

Photo by Gerson Repreza on Unsplash

Photo by Gerson Repreza on Unsplash

Why is it important?

With the technological development of e-VTOL and UAV, urban air trafficin the future has become a research area of widespread concern. Nowadays, landresources needed for ground transportation will not increase with the populationexpansion and the traffic demand brought by megacities. Therefore, the development of air traffic systems is the future direction of the development of urbantraffic systems. Integrating UAM into urban and suburban airspace is challenging because it encompasses risks to air and ground property from a safety perspective. Therefore, the risk assessment of the UAM is necessary.

Perspectives