NASA's expanded reliance on UASs has dramatically increased the need for alternative airports to support mission scheduling. Limited available airports meeting FAA landing restrictions will have a more profound impact on mission planning, success and cost as longer duration aircraft use is increased. Challenges include low visibility conditions and the difficult scenario of long duration mission planning with weather forecasting uncertainty. With the capability of obstacle detection, RSS' proposed PathIn system would allow for the use of airports not previously acceptable, and do so during conditions such as fog and drizzle, which conventional infrared enhanced vision systems cannot provide adequate visibility through. By providing "improved sensing capability in the terminal area where higher density and more reliable operations are required for NextGen" this sensor stands to directly support NextGen. Low visibility conditions during aircraft landing presents significant hazards to the commercial and defense sectors. The need for a capable EFVS technology, the PathIn system in particular, has been expressed to RSS by large commercial entities such as Telephonics Corporation and Gulfstream Aerospace. RSS has investigated the early commercial market for the PathIn system, which is estimated at 500 units or $450M at the outset for Gulfstream alone. DOD & DARPA agencies heavy reliance on UAVs, requiring all weather landing capabilities for successful mission execution, has increased as well. Initial conversations with Army representatives yielded similar interest as with commercial entities. As part of the Phase I effort, RSS will seek to include the requirements of these organizations such that the resulting PathIn system meets their needs.
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Langley Research Center
(LaRC)
