Enhancing Smart Mobility at NASA Ames with Comprehensive Airspace Awareness.
THE STARTING POINT: GAME-DAY AIRSPACE SECURITY
As the landscape of aerial mobility evolves, the integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and manned aircraft into the national airspace poses significant challenges. NASA Ames Research Center, a leader in aeronautics innovation, sought a solution to track both cooperative and non-cooperative UAS and manned aircraft. The system needed to seamlessly integrate with NASA’s existing architecture to support the development of UAS Traffic Management (UTM) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystems, ensuring safety and operational efficiency.
The Problem
With the rapid proliferation of UAS and the potential for congestion in low-altitude airspace, NASA required a comprehensive surveillance solution. The challenge was to:
- Detect and track both cooperative UAS (which broadcast their position using Remote-ID) and non-cooperative UAS (which do not).
- Detect and track both cooperative manned aircraft (which broadcast their position using ADS-B) and non-cooperative manned aircraft (which do not).
- Integrate the data into NASA’s UTM platform for enhanced situational awareness.
- Develop a system capable of providing airspace awareness to help shape future UTM and AAM architectures and operational concepts.
— Al Jones, Chief of Police, Arlington, TX
FROM EVENT PROTECTION TO EVERYDAY POLICING
To meet these challenges, we partnered with NASA Ames and deployed Hidden Level sensors at the research center. These sensors provided advanced detection capabilities, offering a real-time, 3D view of the airspace. By integrating data from multiple sensor sources, including cooperative UAS data and active radar systems, we created a comprehensive 3D airspace picture.
Key steps
- Deployed Hidden Level Sensors: Installed cooperative and non-cooperative UAS detection sensors at NASA Ames, ensuring real-time data capture across a wide airspace.
- Multi-Sensor Integration: Collected and fused data from various sensors, including active radar and ADS-B receivers, to detect and track UAS and manned aircraft in a unified framework.
- 3D Airspace Visualization: Created a 3D common operating picture (COP) of the airspace by integrating all sensor data into NASA’s UTM platform. This provided NASA with comprehensive visibility into both manned and unmanned flight operations.
- API Integration: Integrated AMS API data and multiple sensor feeds into NASA’s XTMClient and Federal USS architecture, ensuring seamless data flow and enhancing situational awareness for air traffic management.
1. Enhanced Airspace Awareness: The system provided real-time detection and tracking of cooperative and non-cooperative UAS and manned aircraft, delivering a clear and comprehensive airspace picture for NASA’s UTM and AAM research.
2. Support for UTM and AAM Concepts of Operations: By integrating advanced surveillance technologies, Hidden Level assisted in the development of operational concepts and architectures that support safe and efficient airspace management, directly influencing ongoing UTM and AAM ecosystem development.
3. Scalable Airspace Surveillance: The successful integration of Hidden Level sensors and active radar with NASA’s platform demonstrated that a scalable, real-time surveillance solution can be deployed in complex airspaces, meeting the needs of both UTM and AAM systems.
Conclusion
By deploying Hidden Level sensors and integrating them into NASA Ames’ existing UTM architecture, we provided a comprehensive solution that enhances airspace awareness for both cooperative and non-cooperative UAS and manned aircraft. This project contributed significantly to the development of UTM and AAM systems, supporting NASA’s vision for the future of smart mobility in aerial operations.
AMS CAPABILITIES AND PUBLIC SAFETY BENEFITS
- Cooperative & Non-Cooperative UAS Detection: Provides complete visibility of both Remote ID–compliant and non-emitting (dark) drones operating in local airspace.
- Real-Time Operator and Takeoff Geolocation: Pinpoints the location of drone operators and takeoffwithin seconds, enabling rapid enforcement and safer incident response.
- Predictive Analytics for Preemptive Planning: Identifies recurring launch hotspots and seasonal activity trends, allowing agencies to anticipate risks and deploy proactively.
- Custom Alert Zones: Enables agencies to divide coverage areas—such as stadium lots, parks, or neighborhoods—and route alerts directly to the officers responsible for those zones. During large events, for example, a bike officer assigned to Parking Lot A receives real-time notifications for activity in that area only, ensuring faster, localized response.
- Passive, Title 18-Compliant Operation: Uses only ambient RF signals to monitor airspace legally and privately, without capturing personal data or communications.
- Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) Delivery: Provides continuous access to real-time and historical airspace data through a secure cloud platform—no hardware maintenance, instant scalability, and seamless integration with public-safety workflows.
SETTING THE STANDARD FOR SMART, SECURE SKIES
Arlington transformed drone detection from a stadium-day tool into a city-wide safety asset—a model now being studied by agencies nationwide as a blueprint for integrated airspace awareness.
By combining advanced detection, predictive analytics, and DFR support, Arlington is setting a new standard for proactive airspace management. This collaboration showcases how forward-thinking cities can enhance public safety, streamline operations, and build the foundation for a more connected and secure urban airspace.
.avif)
%20(1).avif)
