NASA administrator Daniel Goldin has revealed a new joint programme with the US Federal Aviation Administration, the US Department of Defense and industry to establish a top-level technology roadmap for the US and global air transport system.
The national research and development plan is co-ordinated by the US National Science and Technology Council and will identify and explore technologies that could improve safety, security, efficiency and environmental compatibility in the air transport system.
Speaking at the US Department of Transportation's Aviation in the 21st Century conference in Chicago on 6 December, Goldin said the programme is part of a vision that needs developing if gridlock is to be avoided. "If we don't quickly address the situation, then same-day air transportation will be in jeopardy. We can no longer tolerate evolutionary measures that will continue to clog the system."
New technologies being explored include neural networks that could reduce the number of lines of code needed on an aircraft, while also making them smarter; systems that would intervene when a pilot takes inappropriate action that could endanger the aircraft; and synthetic vision systems to provide clear vision at night and in bad weather. A computer-based system that would allow the pilot to control the aircraft, using only throttles, has been flight tested.
The programme will have a broader reach than safety, with key goals being to develop technologies to improve the efficiency of the air transport system, to improve security in aircraft and at airports and to provide a basis for a future reduction of aircraft noise and emissions.
Source: Flight International
