Autonomy & Decision Making: Pilot Rule Sets

The objective of this task was to define and baseline the information set required by an intelligent system to fly safely in UK airspace. A thorough analysis of the static and real time data sets that are required by the intelligent system will be derived from a comparison exercise with a civil piloted conventional aircraft and an information system functional design was generated.

Initially, we set out to scope and bound the information requirements analysis. The output from this was then used to define the information categories to be examined and the depth of data that has to be presented. This data and information was documented to a sufficient level to enable a prototype/research UAS system to be specified.

TGC investigated and documented all sources of information available to the pilot during pre-flight planning, and during flight in order for a UAS information architecture to be defined. Areas of information investigated include:

• Maps and Charts
• Weather Data
• Aircraft Displays and Instrument Data
• Navigation Data
• Checklists and Emergency Procedures.
• Human Pilot’s own knowledge and experience 

Where information sources are regularly combined to support pilot decision making processes, these sources were identified and documented. The output from this study was a report containing the results of the information and knowledge sources.

Information Architecture Design

We produced an information reference architecture design in order to organise and partition the various data and information sources in a logical manner. The architecture took into account various attributes such as currency of the information, static/dynamic nature, low level and abstracted data, together with uncertain datasets.

The reference architecture was documented in a graphic within an accompanying report to describe the components and structure.