T0079-S Autonomous Flight Manager for Human-in-the-Loop Immersive Simulation and Flight Test of Terrestrial Rockets

Program start date is on hold until Space Act Agreement is signed.  Placeholder date of January 2014 is used as placeholder.

This study proposes the development of an Autonomous Flight Manager (AFM) technology payload and an operator/pilot ground control station for immersive simulation and pilot-in-the-loop control demonstration for NASA and commercial aerospace suborbital reusable launch vehicles. This technology development project proposes to leverage and enhance existing state-of-the-art capabilities in the Draper Laboratory Guidance Embedded Navigator Integration Environment (GENIE) and the Draper Laboratory fixed-base lunar lander cockpit. The key elements of the technology development include project: 1) the AFM for varying level of human supervisory control and interaction with the vehicle, 2) an optical camera on-board the GENIE system for transmitting high-definition video to the ground control station, 3) flight controls and displays for insight into the vehicle states and performance, and 4) a modular and transportable pilot ground control station.