. 24/7 Space News .
AEROSPACE
NASA's using augmented reality to transform air traffic management
by Frank Tavares for Ames News
Moffett Field CA (SPX) Nov 13, 2020

NASA researchers using augmented reality technology to test uncrewed vehicle air traffic management software during NASA's fourth and final Technical Capability Level demonstration of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management project. Video: Augmented Reality for Drone Air Traffic Management

If you're an avid smartphone user, you've probably encountered augmented reality before. Whether it's a filter to give yourself cat ears and whiskers, or collecting creatures that appear in the real world through a videogame, these technologies that create digital overlays on top of the physical world are increasingly becoming a part of our lives.

NASA is using the same technologies to make useful information about all kinds of vehicles in our skies, like drones, more widely available to those who need it. Whether for emergency response, managing air traffic, or local governance, visualizing complex data through augmented reality makes it easier for people on the ground to be aware of the operations of the uncrewed vehicles that will increasingly populate our skies.

"When you see vehicles like drones a few hundred feet above your head, you're a lot more curious about what's going on than with a plane that's several thousands of feet in the sky," said Joey Mercer, a researcher at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. "We wanted to make some of the invisible information about the automated traffic systems managing these vehicles, and the vehicles themselves, more easily accessible from the ground."

The software to make this happen was developed at the Airspace Operations Laboratory at Ames. It creates a digital overlay with information about flight patterns, a vehicle's mission, and more - essential information as such vehicles become integrated into our day to day lives. Airspace operators, local public officials, emergency responders and more may have needs for awareness of what's happening in their local airspace.

As more unconventional aircraft integrate into these environments, it's important for them to do so safely and with appropriate communications to local communities. The software leverages the capabilities of a commonly available mixed-reality headset, Microsoft HoloLens, to visualize this data in the real world. By naturally swiping and selecting items through hand gestures and eye-tracking technology, NASA is helping air traffic management happen in a far more interactive way than it has previously.

The headsets are very useful for certain scenarios, but to make information even more accessible, this augmented reality software can also be used on smartphone devices. In the future, when you see someone with their phone out and pointed towards the sky while walking down the street, they may be looking at data related to a drone flying overhead instead of taking a selfie.

Augmented reality contributes to NASA's future in Advanced Air Mobility, or AAM, which aims to develop air transportation systems that move people and cargo between places previous not served or underserved by aviation. New technologies help address the unique challenges that come with drones and other uncrewed vehicles, where vehicles don't necessarily have a set flight path or trajectory like larger aircraft, and are also more visible to the ground-based public.

For smaller uncrewed aircraft in urban environments, augmented reality allows researchers on the ground to help test air traffic management systems by overlaying real-world environments with interactive data visualizations, including other simulated aircraft.

This technology underwent a field evaluation during NASA's fourth and final Technical Capability Level demonstration, or TCL4, of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management, or UTM, project. Researchers used HoloLens devices to run the prototype augmented reality software to track the drones participating in the demonstration in real-time, visualizing data gathered and spatial relationships between multiple flight paths and objects in the real world. The software can also be used to visualize simulated drones in the same airspace.

"Uncrewed aircraft are more and more becoming a part of our lives," said Mercer. "As we look at how to safely integrate these vehicles into already complex city infrastructures and airspaces, augmented reality is a great tool, with a lot of potential for how we think of managing our skies in the future."


Related Links
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management
Advanced Air Mobility at NASA
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


AEROSPACE
BAE nabs $1.7B for 38 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for Germany
Washington DC (UPI) Nov 12, 2020
BAE Systems was awarded a $1.7 billion deal for production of 38 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for the German Air Force, the company announced Thursday. Construction of the aircraft will start in 2021 at BAE Systems' worksites in Lancashire, England, according to the company. "Germany's decision to purchase additional Typhoons reinforces the aircraft's position as one of the world's most successful combat military aircraft," said Charles Woodburn, chief executive of BAE Systems. "T ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

AEROSPACE
Dartmouth to conduct ISS research with NSF grant

Crops bred in space produce heavenly results

The Personal Preference Kit: What Astronauts Take With Them To Space

NASA Commercial Crew program kicks off spaceflight renaissance

AEROSPACE
Tesla's Elon Musk tests positive -- and negative -- for virus

ESA dual EO satellite launch fails minutes after takeoff

Astronauts board ISS from SpaceX's 'Resilience'

SpaceX launches four astronauts to ISS

AEROSPACE
Mars Is Getting a New Robotic Meteorologist

Preparing for a human mission to Mars

Gravity Assist: Mars Takes a Breath, with Jen Eigenbrode

Escape from Mars: how water fled the red planet

AEROSPACE
China Focus: 18 reserve astronauts selected for China's manned space program

State-owned space giant prepares for giant step in space

China's Xichang launch center to carry out 10 missions by end of March

Eighteen new astronauts chosen for China's space station mission

AEROSPACE
China launches new mobile telecommunication satellite

EMXYS news release Series A funding round closed

Telesat finalizes deal with Canadian Government to bridge Canada's digital divide

Kleos Space raises 13.8 million USD to progress next satellite clusters

AEROSPACE
Earth may have recaptured a 1960s-era rocket booster

Smaller than ever - exploring the unusual properties of quantum-sized materials

Smart concrete could pave the way for high-tech, cost-effective roads

New PlayStation hits market as console battle with Xbox begins

AEROSPACE
Life's building blocks can form in interstellar clouds without stellar fusion

Climate Stabilization on Distant Worlds

Ariel moves from blueprint to reality

Cysteine synthesis was a key step in the origin of life

AEROSPACE
Researchers model source of eruption on Jupiter's moon Europa

Radiation Does a Bright Number on Jupiter's Moon

New plans afoot beyond Pluto

Where were Jupiter and Saturn born?









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.