鈥楤est of Session鈥� Awards in Space Systems and Digital Flight Rules Reflect Impactful Innovations in Advanced Air Mobility and Spaceflight
Khalifa University’s Intelligent and Autonomous Aerospace Systems Group (FALCON Program) has won two ‘Best of Session’ awards, at the AIAA/IEEE 43rd Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC) 2024, held in San Diego, US. The event is one of the most prestigious and longest running international annual gatherings of industry leaders, professionals, and experts in avionics systems for atmospheric and space flight.
The two awards for the Space Systems and Digital Flight Rules sessions highlight the university’s commitment to address key contemporary challenges in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Space Domain Awareness (SDA), areas that are crucial for the future of aviation and spaceflight operations.
The paper at the Space Systems session titled 鈥楻esident Space Objects Tracking Using Estimation-Based Data Fusion鈥� addresses the important challenge of orbital congestion due to the increasing number of Resident Space Objects (RSOs). It proposes a Space-Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) system designed to enhance the tracking of RSOs and support the evolution of SDA into an effective Space Traffic Management (STM) framework. This is key to mitigating the risks associated with the Kessler syndrome, a scenario where the density of objects in Low Earth orbit (LEO) is high enough to cause collisions that generate more debris, while ensuring satellite operations remain safe and efficient.
The paper at the Digital Flight Rules sessions on 鈥業ntelligent Cyber-Physical System for Advanced Air Mobility and UAS Traffic Management鈥� focuses on integrating conventional Air Traffic Management (ATM) with Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM) to ensure the safe and efficient operation of increasingly automated and autonomous flight vehicles. It discusses the integration of ATM, UTM/AAM, and Space Traffic Management (STM) into a cohesive Multi-Domain Traffic Management (MDTM) system, crucial for managing the complexities includes an expansion of both low-altitude and high-altitude operations.
The FALCON program is led by Dr. Roberto Sabatini, Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Vice President of Technical Operations at the . With several industrial and academic partners across five continents, the FALCON program aims to establish a transdisciplinary research and training center devoted to future aviation and spaceflight systems.
This initiative focuses on highly automated and autonomous flight vehicles, ground-based infrastructure, and decision support systems for the optimal management of airspace, traffic flows, and missions. Key contributors to the DASC 2024 award-winning articles were PhD student Khaja Faisal Hussain, Post-Doctoral Fellows聽Dr. Nour Eldin Safwat听补苍诲听Dr. Kathirvan Thangavel, and聽Dr. Alessandro Gardi, Assistant Professor, from the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
Professor Sabatini said: 鈥淥ur success at DASC 2024 is a testament to the hard work and innovative spirit of our research group. By addressing critical challenges in advanced air mobility and space domain awareness, we are not only contributing to the advancement of aerospace technology but also paving the way for safer, more efficient, and sustainable management of airspace resources. Khalifa University’s innovative work on MDTM systems, coupled with thorough preparation and strong alignment with industry needs, led to these significant recognitions. I am very proud of our team’s achievements and their commitment to excellence in research and innovation.”
Clarence Michael
English Editor Specialist
15 October 2024
