[ { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7164355194", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.6915852", "title": "Urban Air Mobility for Emergency Medical Services: A Cost-Timeliness-Equity Multi-Objective Model for Vertiport Siting", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Yang yang", "Chong Peng", "Mengjie Zhang", "Zuopeng Xiao", "Jianzhong Huang" ], "first_author": "Yang yang", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Baseline (sea)", "Convergence (economics)", "Constraint (computer-aided design)", "Pareto principle", "Adaptation (eye)", "Reduction (mathematics)", "Emergency medical services", "Multi-objective optimization" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6915852" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4317632687", "doi": "10.2514/6.2023-2195", "title": "Simulated Vision-based Approach and Landing System for Advanced Air Mobility", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-19", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Evan Kawamura", "Chester V. Dolph", "Keerthana Kannan", "Thomas Lombaerts", "Corey A. Ippolito" ], "first_author": "Evan Kawamura", "venue": "AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum", "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-2195.vid Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft require precision approach and landing systems (PALS) in several environments, such as urban, suburban, and rural. It is challenging to implement current state-of-the-art methods approved for automated approach and landing for AAM operations with challenges such as GPS degradation in urban environments and visual navigation aids like the glideslope and localizer being narrow and not allowing alternative incoming landing angles at vertiports. However, existing technology and systems, i.e., the instrument landing system (ILS) with glideslope and localizer indicators that use vision, IR, radar, or GPS methods, provide baseline perception and sensing requirements for AAM aircraft approach and landing. This paper focuses on vision-based PAL and computer vision feature correspondence methods to demonstrate a baseline navigation system while adhering to the Federal Aviation Administration requirements and regulations about heliport design (FAA AC 150/5390-2C), which is one of the closest references for vertiport requirements and regulations. The coplanar pose from orthography and scaling with iterations (COPOSIT) algorithm determines pose estimation, which feeds into an Extended Kalman filter that combines IMU with vision to create a vision-based approach and landing (VAL) sensor fusion navigation solution for GPS-denied environments. The VAL navigation solution provides promising simulation results for AAM PALS with Hough circle detection and feature correspondence, which demonstrate robustness to false positives. This paper incorporates moderately high-fidelity simulations with computer graphics rendering to show a distributed sensor network to track an AAM aircraft during approach and landing to compare with the aircraft's onboard vision-based navigation solution.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Computer vision", "Global Positioning System", "Artificial intelligence", "Rendering (computer graphics)", "Robustness (evolution)" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-2195" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W306135544", "doi": null, "title": "ASSESSING TILTROTOR TECHNOLOGY: A TOTAL LOGISTICS COST APPROACH", "year": 1991, "publication_date": "1991-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mark M. Hansen" ], "first_author": "Mark M. Hansen", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "The feasibility and competitive potential of tiltrotor aircraft technology in the short-haul scheduled passenger transportation market is studied through optimization of transport systems combining tiltrotor and turboprop service. A total logistics cost function is used, the arguments for which are tiltrotor frequency, turboprop frequency, tiltrotor market share, and in one case the number of vertiports. When the system involves one center city vertiport and one airport at the city periphery, total cost may be minimized when tiltrotor market share is either greater than 50% or 0. Conditions when tiltrotor is definitely feasible or definitely infeasible are represented by functional relationships between the difference in per seat aircraft operating cost and the ratio of per flight aircraft operating cost, the parameters of which reflect the size of the market, traveler valuations of the cost of airport-vertiport access, and traveler valuations of time spent waiting for flights. Curves relating optimal tiltrotor market share to tiltrotor per seat operating cost exhibit discontinuities as the optimum shifts from exclusive tiltrotor service, to mixed service, to exclusive turboprop service. When multiple vertiports are allowed, the optimum number is almost always 10 or fewer and, for most markets, fewer than 4. However, the total logistics cost is fairly insensitive to the number of vertiports, as long as frequencies at any given number are set to their optimum values. Even under extreme conditions when the optimum number of vertiports is 16, the multiple vertiport system market share is, in most cases, only marginally greater than that of a system involving just one vertiport. However, the multiple vertiport system is better able to compensate for constraints on tiltrotor aircraft size. This is particularly important because the sizes receiving the most consideration are smaller than optimum for markets of several hundred passengers or more. If at all possible, however, civil tiltrotor aircraft should be upsized to reduce total aircraft operating cost.", "keywords": [ "Turboprop", "Engineering", "Market share", "Service (business)", "Operating cost", "Total cost", "Operations management", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Aeronautics", "Finance", "Aerospace engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/359093" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4390617132", "doi": "10.1121/10.0024242", "title": "Deep learning based prediction of urban air mobility noise propagation in urban environment", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Younghoon Kim", "Soogab Lee" ], "first_author": "Younghoon Kim", "venue": "The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America", "publisher": "Acoustical Society of America", "abstract": "A deep learning based method is proposed to predict the urban air mobility (UAM) noise propagation in the urban environment. This method aims to efficiently estimate the noise impact of UAM flights on the complex urban area. The noise hemisphere was created via the comprehensive multirotor noise assessment framework to determine the noise level of UAM. The noise propagation to a randomly generated three-dimensional (3D) urban area was then calculated using the ray tracing method, including atmospheric attenuation and multiple reflections. 45 000 two-dimensional noise maps were used to train and evaluate the modified convolutional neural network. The results demonstrated high accuracy, with a root mean square error of only 2.56 dB compared to the ray tracing method, while reducing computation time by more than 1800 times. This model was applied to analyze the noise impact of various UAM flight conditions and landing scenarios at a vertiport. This deep learning approach is a fast method with adequate accuracy for predicting UAM noise impact in 3D urban environments. Also, it can inform the development of noise based strategies for UAM operations.", "keywords": [ "Noise (video)", "Computer science", "Environmental science", "Mean squared error", "Computation", "Ray tracing (physics)", "Ambient noise level", "Artificial neural network", "Acoustics", "Remote sensing", "Meteorology", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 13, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0024242" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4317568734", "doi": "10.2514/6.2023-0127", "title": "Landing Trajectory Prediction for UAS Based on Generative Adversarial Network", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-19", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jun Xiang", "Junfei Xie", "Jun Chen" ], "first_author": "Jun Xiang", "venue": "AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum", "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-0127.vid Models for trajectory prediction are an essential component of many advanced air mobility studies. These models help aircraft detect conflict and plan avoidance maneuvers, which is especially important in Unmanned Aircraft systems (UAS) landing management due to the congested airspace near vertiports. In this paper, we propose a landing trajectory prediction model for UAS based on Generative Adversarial Network (GAN). The GAN is a prestigious neural network that has been developed for many years. In previous research, GAN has achieved many state-of-the-art results in many generation tasks. The GAN consists of one neural network generator and a neural network discriminator. Because of the learning capacity of the neural networks, the generator is capable to understand the features of the sample trajectory. The generator takes the previous trajectory as input and outputs some random status of a flight. According to the results of the experiences, the proposed model can output more accurate predictions than the baseline method(GMR) in various datasets. To evaluate the proposed model, we also create a real UAV landing dataset that includes more than 2600 trajectories of drone control manually by real pilots.", "keywords": [ "Trajectory", "Discriminator", "Computer science", "Drone", "Artificial neural network", "Generator (circuit theory)", "Artificial intelligence", "Generative adversarial network", "Real-time computing", "Deep learning", "Power (physics)", "Telecommunications" ], "cited_by_count": 13, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-0127" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7171968209", "doi": "10.1111/tgis.70360", "title": "A Location Model for Air–Ground Intermodal VTOL Vertiports Network Integrating Crowd Origin–Destination Flows: A Case Study in Nanjing", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-07-31", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Xinxin Zhou", "Dongle Zhao", "Runtian Wang", "Yong Tian", "Jianwu Xu", "Changbin Wu" ], "first_author": "Xinxin Zhou", "venue": "Transactions in GIS", "publisher": "Wiley", "abstract": "ABSTRACT The configuration of urban low‐altitude vertiports directly influences the efficiency and convenience of urban air mobility (UAM) transportation. This study aims to optimize the urban low‐altitude VTOL vector network (VVN) by integrating urban commuting and air–ground intermodal transportation. This study develops a data‐driven framework for city‐scale eVTOL aircraft vector network planning by integrating multi‐source geospatial data, mobile signaling‐based crowd OD flows, and an air–ground intermodal location model. Building on existing network design formulations, this study uses crowd OD flows rather than individual trips as the unit of analysis. More importantly, it proposes a pruning‐and‐reduction strategy that makes the resulting mixed‐integer optimization computationally tractable with massive amounts of observed OD data. The empirical analysis takes Nanjing, a first‐tier city in China, as the research area, integrating multi‐source large‐scale geospatial data, especially mobile signaling origin–destination (OD) flow data. The experimental results show that the pruning strategy reduces the variable scale by 99.79% while preserving the near‐equivalent solution quality. The optimized VVN layout significantly improves long‐distance trip service accessibility and overall benefits. With respect to air–ground intermodal trips, the flight segment accounts for approximately 16% of the total travel time, whereas the first and last‐mile connection times account for 84%. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize accessibility between residential communities and vertiport stations, improve interconnections for ground transportation, and enhance the construction of parking facilities at vertiports. This study implements data‐driven modeling by fusing multi‐source spatiotemporal data and coupling air–ground intermodal trip transfer/connection decisions, providing methodological references for optimizing VVN location selection in multi‐modal transportation coordination.", "keywords": [ "Geospatial analysis", "Flow network", "Cellular network", "Service (business)", "TRIPS architecture", "Variable (mathematics)", "Pruning", "Scale (ratio)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1111/tgis.70360" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7163398721", "doi": "10.3390/aerospace13060519", "title": "Speed-Based Tactical Deconfliction of Multiple Aircraft Around a Vertiport Through a Conservative Airspace Discretization Algorithm and Constraint Programming", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-03", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Imanol Iriarte", "Estela Nieto Ramos", "I. Iglesias", "Josu Del Río", "Joseba Lasa", "Santi Vilardaga", "Sergi Lucas", "Basilio Sierra" ], "first_author": "Imanol Iriarte", "venue": "Aerospace", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "This article discusses a novel aircraft coordination algorithm for automated vertiport operation. New applications of Innovative Air Mobility (IAM) including inspection, logistics and security UAVs, Urban Air Mobility (UAM) or Regional Air Mobility (RAM) present a coordination challenge, especially near vertiports, as large numbers of vehicles with different characteristics share the airspace, and so avoiding collisions, optimizing resource usage and operating with low human intervention is important.In this paper, this problem is addressed by proposing a new formulation of the aircraft coordination problem that makes use of a discretized airspace to detect potential conflicts and collisions between cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft in the surroundings of a vertiport. The proposed algorithm not only considers the cells traversed by the aircraft, but also the set of adjacent cells, making the algorithm more conservative and robust than other algorithms found in the literature, and achieving a 100% conflict-detection rate. A mathematical model of aircraft dynamics is employed to turn high-level flight plans into detailed aircraft trajectories, using those trajectories to detect potential collisions. The deconfliction problem is formulated as a mixed-integer optimization program that computes orders of pass for every conflict while minimizing the divergence between requested time of arrival (RTA) and estimated time of arrival (ETA). This problem is implemented in OR-Tools to be solved by means of the CP-SAT solver. The validity of the solution is tested by extensive simulation, showing tactical coordination of up to 25 aircraft landing on a vertiport.", "keywords": [ "Discretization", "Air traffic control", "Aviation", "Set (abstract data type)", "Constraint (computer-aided design)", "Air traffic management", "Divergence (linguistics)", "Minification" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace13060519" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4295953245", "doi": "10.4050/f-0078-2022-1152", "title": "The Safety of Advanced Air Mobility and The Effects of Wind in the Urban Canyon", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-05-10", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sharon Schajnoha", "Dr Guy Larose", "Alanna S. Wall", "Hali Barber", "Maryam Al Labbad" ], "first_author": "Sharon Schajnoha", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The safe integration of vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (VTOLs) into an urban setting requires careful consideration of the effects of the wind flows through the urban canyon, which are complex and cannot be predicted with the reliability level necessary to enable safe operations. The assessment of wind in the urban canyon is critical to the siting and design of vertiports and safe operations of VTOLs. Vertiport design guidance related to the effects of wind flows in the urban canyon is limited and draws from helipad design guidance. The guidance recommends that wind conditions be assessed across a vertiport, but the guidance does not suggest how the study should be conducted nor does it provide design thresholds for wind. RWDI, the National Research Council Canada and Transport Canada have joined forces to identify and study the wind characteristics that would be important for the aerodynamic performance of VTOL and how these characteristics would be influenced by buildings and structures in the urban environment. In the framework of this research effort, an experimental approach was developed, centered on several sites in Canadian cities, representing a range of urban densities and surrounding topographies, as wind conditions are highly dependent on the built environment, including building footprint, building features, combinations of buildings and the local climatology. The work involved a quantitative approach in which physical models of several urban sites were built, instrumented and tested in boundary layer wind tunnels. In the wind tunnel experiments, \"red flag\" wind conditions were identified and measured. Detailed data capturing these flow features were collected around roof tops of lower and taller buildings, representing prospective vertiport locations and along prospective flight paths. This paper provides the details of the wind tunnel testing conducted for one of the urban sites; a site with an existing helipad at a hospital and a low-rise parking garage. The wind tunnel measurements were compared to published helipad design thresholds and combined with long term meteorological conditions representative of the site to determine how often vertiport operations will be limited by unfavourable urban wind conditions on an annual basis and by season. The wind tunnel study provides a case study and demonstrates how to evaluate the safety of a vertiport now, based on limited availability of VTOL aerodynamic performance capabilities and into the future as more information becomes available on VTOL performance in turbulent winds.", "keywords": [ "Wind tunnel", "Aerodynamics", "Environmental science", "Canyon", "Meteorology", "Marine engineering", "Wind speed", "Footprint", "Wind direction", "Wind engineering", "Civil engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4050/f-0078-2022-1152" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4322726407", "doi": "10.2514/6.2023-1848.c1", "title": "Correction: Graph Learning based Decision Support for Multi-Aircraft Take-Off and Landing at Urban Air Mobility Vertiports", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-23", "type": "erratum", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Prajit K. Kumar", "Jhoel Witter", "Steve M. Paul", "Karthik Dantu", "Souma Chowdhury" ], "first_author": "Prajit K. Kumar", "venue": "AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum", "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Graph", "Aeronautics", "Engineering", "Theoretical computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/pdf/10.2514/6.2023-1848.c1" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4403096702", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2024.09.003", "title": "Capacity and demand forecasting in Urban Air Mobility - A simulation of air transportation in Hamburg", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Branko Bubalo" ], "first_author": "Branko Bubalo", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "This paper presents an innovative approach to urban air transportation planning through the development of a \"digital twin\" representation encompassing airspace and infrastructure elements, including route structures, existing airports, and future vertiports. The primary objective is to formulate a model that mirrors the dynamics of contemporary and prospective urban air mobility (UAM), driven by the focus on sustainability and electrification in the transportation sector. Given the multifaceted advancements in both personal aerial vehicles (PAVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), along with the emergence of cutting-edge electric aircraft, a multitude of scenarios become feasible. The air transport system we focus on, is the urban area of Hamburg, Germany, and its two inner-city airports and a prototype vertiport. Anticipating a growth in demand for air transport services for the nearly 1.9 million current residents of Hamburg over the next two decades, we assume various feasible scenarios, which in turn would result in an increasing energy demand. Our SIMMOD simulation model utilizes flight schedules for each airport in Hamburg, to which flights are incrementally added until practical capacity is reached at 80% above baseline levels. Our findings reveal that, as demand increases at Hamburg Airport and average operational delay approaches the level-of-service (LoS) threshold of 4 minutes per flight, the necessity for expanded air traffic and ground infrastructure becomes evident. Electric grids should be dimensioned according to these demands. Our results suggest that the capacity of the Hamburg airspace is currently limited by the main airport, and that the Airbus production facility in Hamburg-Finkenwerder can substantially augment its capacity by constructing a parallel taxiway alongside its runway. Moreover, vertiport capacity primarily is limited by factors such as UAV parking and charging positions, drone speeds, turnaround times, available airspace, degree of autonomy and the length of service routes.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Demand forecasting", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2024.09.003" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7103993942", "doi": "10.1016/j.trd.2025.105086", "title": "Drone adoption for sustainable urban food delivery: economic and environmental benefits", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-11-05", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Chandresh Kumbhani", "Ravi Kant", "Ravi Shankar" ], "first_author": "Chandresh Kumbhani", "venue": "Transportation Research Part D Transport and Environment", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Sustainability", "Sustainable development", "Economic impact analysis", "Environmental impact assessment", "Climate change" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2025.105086" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4402688778", "doi": "10.2514/6.2024-4078", "title": "Reserved or Not? - Scheduled Urban Air Mobility Services in a Hub-and-Spoke Network", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-07-27", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jungu Kang", "Sang Hyun Kim" ], "first_author": "Jungu Kang", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has emerged as a new mode of transportation in congested cities, with many previous studies focusing on on-demand services. This study examines schedule-based UAM services in a hub-and-spoke network and, based on the analysis results, shows that reservations are necessary for better passenger service. Given the vertiport locations identified in our previous study, a hub-and-spoke network is constructed using a k-medoids clustering algorithm. All vertiports within each cluster are connected to the corresponding hub vertiport, and all hub vertiports are connected to establish UAM routes. Flight interval and aircraft allocation are then determined to fairly serve the potential UAM demands. As a case study, a hub-and-spoke network with two hub vertiports and eight spoke vertiports is proposed for the Seoul metropolitan area. Two service types—one requiring reservations like air transportation and one without reservations like public transportation—are modeled and simulated using a discrete-event simulation. The simulation results are evaluated from the passenger perspective (waiting time, rejection rate, and delay) and the operator perspective (vehicle utilization and load factor). The results show that the rejection rate and load factor are slightly in favor of the unreserved service, but the waiting time and especially the delay are significantly predominant in the reserved service. This is because the seat capacity of aircraft is a hard constraint, different from bus and subway. In addition, the waiting time at the transfer hubs is much shorter in the reserved service. Therefore, this study concludes that the reservation service is necessary in the scheduled operations of UAM, especially in a hub-and-spoke network that requires a transfer. This analysis can be used to support strategic decision making for UAM operators, such as establishing flight schedules by route and determining the type of service.", "keywords": [ "Computer network", "Spoke-hub distribution paradigm", "Computer science", "Telecommunications", "Transport engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-4078" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4413294501", "doi": "10.1016/j.tra.2025.104632", "title": "Planning UAM network under uncertain travelers’ preferences: A sequential two-layer stochastic optimization approach", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-08-18", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tao Guo", "Hao Wu", "Qing-Long Lu", "Constantinos Antoniou" ], "first_author": "Tao Guo", "venue": "Transportation Research Part A Policy and Practice", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Urban Air Mobility (UAM) holds significant promise for enhancing travel efficiency and improving regional accessibility. However, policymakers face a fundamental challenge: infrastructure planning decisions must often be made before demand is known. This study develops a single-stage stochastic optimization framework with sequential decision layers that mirrors real-world planning constraints. It allows agencies to determine vertiport locations and trip allocations before individual mode choices are realized, incorporating behavioral uncertainty via discrete choice modeling and Monte Carlo simulation. To ensure computational tractability at realistic scales, an improved greedy algorithm (GRD-U) is introduced and benchmarked against established heuristics. Experiments on synthetic instances show that cost-saving potential is greatest in larger regions with low road connectivity, as well as unicentric or dispersed demand patterns. A real-world case study in the Munich Metropolitan Area confirms the framework’s applicability, demonstrating notable improvements in generalized travel cost savings, demand coverage, and accessibility compared to existing siting strategies. A sensitivity analysis highlights how UAM performance responds to changes in operational parameters, such as cruise speed, pricing strategies, and vertiport quantity. The framework offers a transparent and behaviorally grounded tool for early-stage UAM planning. It enables public agencies to anticipate demand patterns under uncertainty, weigh trade-offs between investment scale and system performance, and align infrastructure planning with equity and efficiency goals. These contributions provide practical decision support for cities navigating the complexities of UAM deployment", "keywords": [ "Layer (electronics)", "Computer science", "Mathematical optimization", "Operations research", "Engineering", "Mathematics", "Materials science" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2025.104632" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4411952058", "doi": "10.4050/f-0081-2025-0386", "title": "Infrastructure Design Criteria for Accommodating Hydrogen Electric Vertical and Takeoff Landing (H 2 eVTOL) Aircraft Technologies at Vertiports", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-05-20", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "WSP", "Gaël Le Bris", "WSP", "Loup-Giang Nguyen" ], "first_author": "WSP", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Hydrogen-electric vertical takeoff and landing (H2eVTOL) (or fuel cell-electric VTOL) aircraft technologies are poised to emerge in the next coming decades and start operating from existing heliports and new vertiports. This paper assesses how key H2eVTOL design features interact with the ground infrastructure and how facility designers can address H2eVTOL specific facility requirements–especially the supply of hydrogen to the aircraft. Vertiport design should maximize compatibility are important to facilitate the accommodation of hydrogen technologies, minimize the need for extensive capital investments, and promote safety and operational efficiency. Considerations should be given to factors such as general aircraft configuration, electric and hybrid propulsion systems, and refueling infrastructure. The definition of notional aircraft concepts representing the evolution of critical VTOL aircraft over the next coming decades can help aviation facility planners and designers understand the type of vehicles they need to account for and also evaluate the future hydrogen demand. The lack of aviation-specific standards, especially when it comes to fire prevention, might adversely impact vertiports. Strategies are proposed for mitigating the effects of hydrogen operations at space-constrained facilities.", "keywords": [ "Takeoff", "Takeoff and landing", "Aerospace engineering", "Aeronautics", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Electrical engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4050/f-0081-2025-0386" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4391301452", "doi": "10.2514/6.2024-0874", "title": "High Density Vertiplex: Scalable Autonomous Operations Flight Test", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-04", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Robert G. McSwain", "Jacob R. Schaefer", "Louis J. Glaab", "James Unverricht", "Jeffrey R. Homola", "Quang V. Dao", "Faisal G. Omar", "Bryan J. Petty" ], "first_author": "Robert G. McSwain", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The NASA High Density Vertiport project has completed a multi-aircraft flight test of a scalable autonomous vertiport prototype system. These tests included end to end system integration testing of hardware and software, operational procedure testing of defined roles and responsibilities within a vertiport environment, and human factors data collection. This paper provides an overview of the flight test setup, scenarios, and summary results.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Test (biology)", "Scalability", "Flight test", "Simulation", "Operating system" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-0874" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4385644692", "doi": "10.1016/j.matpr.2023.07.370", "title": "Design optimization of drone BLDC motor for delivery service applications", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-08-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Deepak BBVL", "Davinder Pal Singh", "Sampath Kumar Kuppa", "M Jayanthi Rao" ], "first_author": "Deepak BBVL", "venue": "Materials Today Proceedings", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 10, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.07.370" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2124530193", "doi": "10.2514/6.2011-6898", "title": "Civil Tiltrotor Aircraft Operations", "year": 2011, "publication_date": "2011-06-04", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Larry A. Young", "William Chung", "Alfonso C. Paris", "Dan Salvano", "Ray Young", "Huina Gao", "Victor H. L. Cheng", "Ken Wright" ], "first_author": "Larry A. Young", "venue": "11th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations (ATIO) Conference", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The goal of the current study is to investigate the benefits and challenges of operating a notional fleet of civil tiltrotor aircraft (10-, 30-, 90-, and 120-passenger vehicles), in the commercial transport role, in the projected Next Generation airspace system. Considerable effort was expended in modeling and performing ACES airspace simulations of this civil tiltrotor (CTR) fleet. An extensive set of airport networks (assuming on- or near-airport property vertiports for CTR VTOL or STOL operations) were also modeled in the airspace simulations. In particular, the networks were mapped to three primary regions: the Northeast Corridor, an Atlanta regional network, and a Las Vegas regional network. Using JPDO demand/capacity projections for 2025 as a baseline, the potential impact of CTR fleet introduction to these regional networks was assessed. The NAS-wide average delay decreased from ~22 minutes for the conventional fixed-wing fleet baseline to 7-8 minutes with the combined introduction of the CTR fleet throughout all three primary regional networks. The study will next consider the operational implications of this notional CTR fleet in supporting major regional and/or National emergencies and disaster relief efforts. The CTR disaster relief analysis is being performed by means of specialized simulation tools. This work re-emphasizes the unique role of rotorcraft in supporting such life-saving missions.", "keywords": [ "Aeronautics", "Aerospace engineering", "Computer science", "Marine engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 13, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2011-6898" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7123348313", "doi": "10.1109/mspec.2026.11345561", "title": "First Air Taxi Service will Launch in Dubai in 2026: The City Plans to Build Four Vertiports to Support Joby's Passenger eVTOLs", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "article", "language": null, "authors": [ "Elan Head" ], "first_author": "Elan Head", "venue": "IEEE Spectrum", "publisher": "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers", "abstract": "Ten years ago, ride-sharing giant Uber embraced a scifi future in which clean, quiet electric aircraft would shuttle passengers around crowded cities. Uber's well-funded Elevate initiative, which included a white paper and three high-profile annual summits, effectively launched the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) industry, promising investors, regulators, and the general public that these futuristic flying taxis were “closer than you think.”", "keywords": [ "Taxis", "Launched", "Service (business)", "White paper", "Public transport", "QUIET", "Customer service" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/mspec.2026.11345561" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3168346770", "doi": null, "title": "Drones for Medical Delivery Considering Different Demands Classes : A Markov Decision Process Approach for Managing Health Centers Dispatching Medical Products", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-06-08", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Amin Asadi", "Sarah Nurre Pinkley" ], "first_author": "Amin Asadi", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "We consider the problem of optimizing the distribution operations of a hub using drones to deliver medical supplies to different geographic regions. Drones are an innovative method with many benefits including low-contact delivery thereby reducing the spread of pandemic and vaccine-preventable diseases. While we focus on medical supply delivery for this work, it is applicable to drone delivery for many other applications, including food, postal items, and e-commerce delivery. In this paper, our goal is to address drone delivery challenges by optimizing the distribution operations at a drone hub that dispatch drones to different geographic locations generating stochastic demands for medical supplies. By considering different geographic locations, we consider different classes of demand that require different flight ranges, which is directly related to the amount of charge held in a drone battery. We classify the stochastic demands based on their distance from the drone hub, use a Markov decision process to model the problem, and perform computational tests using realistic data representing a prominent drone delivery company. We solve the problem using a reinforcement learning method and show its high performance compared with the exact solution found using dynamic programming. Finally, we analyze the results and provide insights for managing the drone hub operations.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Markov decision process", "Computer science", "Process (computing)", "Markov process", "Operations research", "Markov chain", "Engineering", "Machine learning", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://export.arxiv.org/pdf/2106.04729" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4379374029", "doi": "10.3403/30426830", "title": "Vertiports - Infrastructure and equipment for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) of electrically powered cargo unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-06-05", "type": "standard", "language": "en", "authors": [], "first_author": null, "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "49.020", "keywords": [ "Aeronautics", "Aerospace engineering", "Marine engineering", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12259/309939" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7163507260", "doi": "10.2514/6.2026-4751", "title": "Certifiability-Aware Vision-Assisted Decision-Support Framework for Reliable Vertiport Identification in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Operations", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-04", "type": "conference-paper", "language": null, "authors": [ "Arshad Basha Shaik" ], "first_author": "Arshad Basha Shaik", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Future Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations will depend on reliable landing-zone awareness systems that can identify, verify, and support landings at distributed vertiports even under low-visibility conditions. Traditional auto-land systems are designed for instrumented runways, while emerging AAM sites may lack standardized infrastructure. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) perception has advanced rapidly but remains uncertified for flight-critical use. This paper proposes a certifiability-aware, vision-assisted decision-support framework that fuses RGB, IR, and Radar sensing for vertiport identification. AI-based perception is restricted to advisory and monitoring roles, providing candidate landing-pad detections that are validated by deterministic, rule-based logic implementing geometric, spatial, and database consistency checks. This segregation ensures explainability, traceability, and alignment with DO-178C/ARP-4754A principles. A preliminary validation using an urban IR–vision dataset originally developed for urban infrastructure detection - illustrates the transferability of hybrid perception techniques across domains. The concept demonstrates a path toward trustworthy, certifiable autonomy in AAM: AI contributes perceptual richness, while deterministic reasoning supports assurance and repeatability.", "keywords": [ "Identification (biology)", "Key (lock)", "Reliability (semiconductor)", "Component (thermodynamics)", "Automation" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2026-4751" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3129265731", "doi": "10.1109/cse50738.2020.00020", "title": "Lightweight Digital Signature Solution to Defend Micro Aerial Vehicles Against Man-In-The-Middle Attack", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-12-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yucheng Li", "Cong Pu" ], "first_author": "Yucheng Li", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Micro aerial vehicles, a.k.a. drones, have become an integral part of a variety of civilian and military application domains, including but not limited to aerial surveying and mapping, aerial surveillance and security, aerial inspection of infrastructure, and aerial delivery. Meanwhile, the security and privacy of drones are gaining significant attention due to both financial and strategic information and value involved in aerial applications. Due to the lack of security features in communication protocols, an adversary can easily interfere with on-going communications or even seize the control of drone. In this paper, we propose a lightweight digital signature protocol, also referred to as DroneSig, to protect drones from man-in-the-middle attack, where an adversary eavesdrops the communications between Ground Control Station (GCS) and drone, and impersonates the GCS and sends fake commands to terminate the ongoing mission or even take control over the drone. The basic idea of the DroneSig is that the drone will only execute the new command after validating the received digital signature from the GCS, proving that the new command message is coming from the authenticated GCS. If the validation of digital signature fails, the new command is rejected immediately and the Return-to-Launch (RTL) mode is initiated and forces the drone to return to takeoff position. We conduct extensive simulation experiments for performance evaluation and comparison with existing Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Data Encryption Standard (DES), and Triple DES (3DES). The simulation results show that the proposed DroneSig can achieve better performance in terms of energy consumption, computation time, CPU cycle, memory usage, and code size, indicating a viable and competitive approach defending drones against man-in-the-middle attack.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Adversary", "Computer security", "Encryption", "Computer science", "Command and control", "Signature (topology)", "Protocol (science)", "Digital signature", "Telecommunications" ], "cited_by_count": 23, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/cse50738.2020.00020" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3194618355", "doi": "10.1109/metroaerospace51421.2021.9511669", "title": "Safe Landing Area Determination (SLAD) for Unmanned Aircraft Systems by using rotary LiDAR", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-06-23", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Gennaro Ariante", "Salvatore Ponte", "Umberto Papa", "Giuseppe Del Core" ], "first_author": "Gennaro Ariante", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The use of Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPV), or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), is constantly growing, thanks to their versatility, flexibility of use, low cost and capability of reuse, even in environments that are very dangerous or impossible for the human. UAVs are mostly used during various operation tasks (military, scientific or civil), as search and rescue, disaster assessment, urban traffic monitoring, war zone defense monitoring, 3D mapping, archaeological site prospection, delivery of small packages and others. Estimation of features around the flight path and surveillance of areas where there is a high number of vehicles are of extreme importance for typical UAV missions. This paper focuses on a system capable of monitoring crowded areas or impervious sites, identifying a safety area for appropriate vertical landing or takeoff maneuver of the UAV with a high level of accuracy and robustness, even without using GNSS-derived navigation information, and with on-board terrain hazard detection and avoidance (DAA) capabilities. We propose a support control system for vertiport airspace design that must precede practical operations in the framework of urban air mobility (UAM). The system is composed by a mechanically rotating real-time LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) sensor, used for perception and localization (ranging) of obstacles in a surveillance volume, linked to a Raspberry Pi 3 as SBC (Session Board Controller), and interfaced to a GCS (Ground Control Station) by wireless connection for data management and 3D information transfer.", "keywords": [ "Lidar", "Ranging", "Real-time computing", "Computer science", "Global Positioning System", "Terrain", "GNSS applications", "Robustness (evolution)", "Remote sensing", "Aeronautics", "Simulation", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 15, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/metroaerospace51421.2021.9511669" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7164988944", "doi": "10.1016/j.jairtraman.2026.103064", "title": "Integrating mobile location data into vertiport siting optimization for UAM airport access: A case study of the Chicago multi-airport region", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-17", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Qilei Zhang", "Sen Wang" ], "first_author": "Qilei Zhang", "venue": "Journal of Air Transport Management", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "This study presents a case analysis focused on identifying optimal vertiport locations for airport shuttle services serving two major international hub airports in the Chicago metropolitan region. Anonymized mobile location data, derived from revealed-preference tract-to-airport flows in the Chicago multi-airport region, are used to calibrate airport-access demand at census-tract resolution. To simulate realistic market uptake, the study integrates a behaviorally informed multinomial logit choice model that places Urban Air Mobility (UAM) alongside private vehicles, public metro transit, and TNC ridesharing services in a shared airport-access choice set into a mixed-integer linear programming framework that maximizes expected generalized travel cost savings under infrastructure, throughput, and operational constraints. The results indicate that optimal vertiport locations function primarily as “intermodal interceptors” situated near major surface bottlenecks rather than simply maximizing door-to-door coverage of dense residential areas. Sensitivity analyses reveal that network viability is driven by cost efficiency rather than aircraft performance. Per-mile fare remains the dominant network-geometry lever: mean dispersion has a large negative elasticity with respect to fare ( E = − 2 . 47 , ρ = − 0 . 99 ), indicating a consistent contraction of the optimal network as airborne distance becomes more expensive. By contrast, cruise speed produces only a weak and non-monotone topology response, even though it modestly improves total time savings among the trips that remain served. Furthermore, capacity constraints in early deployment phases force the network to prioritize long-distance, high-value trips, creating an inherent tension between efficient utilization and broad accessibility. These findings are synthesized into a probabilistic siting heatmap that distinguishes robust corridors from contingent sites, supporting scenario-based planning that prioritizes cost efficiency, reduces controllable ground-side frictions, and stages infrastructure expansion as operating assumptions improve during the early stages of UAM implementation.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Probabilistic logic", "Flow network", "Software deployment", "TRIPS architecture", "Facility location problem", "Vehicle miles of travel", "Situated", "Multinomial logistic regression", "Price elasticity of demand" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2026.103064" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7127442424", "doi": "10.2514/6.2026-2275", "title": "Autonomous Deployment of Solar-Powered Drone Vertiports on Mars: Parachute-Assisted Landing, Terrain Hazard Detection, and Self-Leveling Infrastructure", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-08", "type": "conference-paper", "language": null, "authors": [ "Fahad Mannan", "Logan Moore", "Akram Mostafanejad", "Mostafa Hassanalian" ], "first_author": "Fahad Mannan", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The paper aims to propose a hypothesis about a sustainable drone vertiport system for Mars which will be feasible to perform the exploration and data collecting tasks for a longer period. In this hypothesis we plan to deploy the drone vertiport with adjustable landing gears from a certain height containing drones and equipped with renewable power generation system with the help of solar energy. In this case, the vertiports will be aided by temporary parachutes and thrusters which will guide the vertiport to have a vertical and proper landing. The vertiport will be equipped with weather station, solar panels for generating power to support the system, and capsules with contact-based charging systems to charge and house the drones.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Software deployment", "Terrain", "Mars Exploration Program", "Plan (archaeology)", "Renewable energy", "Hazard", "Solar power" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2026-2275" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4391330115", "doi": "10.2514/6.2024-2485", "title": "Autonomous Landing of eVTOL Vehicles for Advanced Air Mobility via Deep Reinforcement Learning", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-04", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sabrullah Deniz", "Yufei Wu", "Zhenbo Wang" ], "first_author": "Sabrullah Deniz", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The development of Advance Air Mobility (AAM) is revolutionizing air transportation by introducing autonomous aircraft, particularly electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, for efficient movement of people and cargo in urban and remote areas. The majority of aircraft operating in the AAM system are expected to be eVTOL vehicles, which will utilize vertiports as their base of operations. However, unlike traditional airports and general aviation aircraft, the placement of vertiports within densely populated urban areas poses distinct challenges in effectively managing the air traffic flow associated with these facilities. The complexity of this challenge is amplified as the frequency of scheduled landings and take-offs increases. This paper focuses on the critical aspect of autonomous landing for eVTOLs in the context of AAM. Specifically, we propose a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) approach to enhance the reliability and safety of eVTOL autonomous landing, considering various algorithms and scenarios. By leveraging and customizing DRL algorithms for the eVTOL landing task, the accuracy and robustness of the landing operations are enhanced. To evaluate the effectiveness of our approach, extensive simulations are conducted, and the performance of our algorithm is analyzed under different scenarios and environmental conditions. We utilize the AirSim simulation environment integrated with Unreal Engine (UE), providing a realistic virtual platform for testing and validating the performance of our algorithm. Extensive simulations and evaluations conducted within the AirSim-UE environment provide compelling evidence of the exceptional landing precision and efficiency achieved by the proposed method.", "keywords": [ "Reinforcement learning", "Computer science", "Aeronautics", "Automotive engineering", "Human–computer interaction", "Aerospace engineering", "Simulation", "Artificial intelligence", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-2485" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2125646383", "doi": "10.7589/0090-3558-43.1.97", "title": "ORAL RABIES VACCINE (ORV) BAIT UPTAKE BY CAPTIVE STRIPED SKUNKS", "year": 2007, "publication_date": "2007-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Susan M. Jojola", "Stacie J. Robinson", "Kurt C. VerCauteren" ], "first_author": "Susan M. Jojola", "venue": "Journal of Wildlife Diseases", "publisher": "Wildlife Disease Association", "abstract": "Aerial delivery of oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits has proven effective in large-scale efforts to immunize wildlife against rabies, and in North America this strategy currently is being used to immunize foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus and Vulpes vulpes), raccoons (Procyon lotor), and coyotes (Canis latrans). Skunks are also a major reservoir and vector of rabies, but at present oral vaccines for use in skunks are not licensed. Furthermore, given differences in morphology (smaller jaws) and behavior (food handling and consumption), it is unknown if baits currently used in ORV campaigns would be effective for skunks. Because oral vaccine delivery is contingent upon puncture of the vaccine container (VC), baits need to be sufficiently attractive to elicit selection and consumption. Manipulation of the bait to facilitate vaccine ingestion by the target species is a critical element for an effective ORV bait. The objectives of this study were to assess manipulation and consumption of current ORV baits by striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis). We conducted four independent trials with penned animals and various baits to assess bait selection frequency, VC puncture frequency, and consumption. Video recorded trials were used to assess attractiveness of baits and consumption behavior of skunks. Bait characteristics, such as texture, size, and flavor influenced selection and consumption. Fish and chicken flavors were preferred and vaccine containers within selected baits were likely to be punctured. Vaccine ingestion seemed more likely if VCs were directly coated with the bait matrix. To make baits attractive to skunks and to ensure puncture of the VC, modifications to current baits should consider a smaller size, a meat-flavored matrix, a slightly pressurized VC, and a direct coating of matrix on the VC.", "keywords": [ "Rabies", "Biology", "Vulpes", "Rabies vaccine", "Veterinary medicine", "Rabies virus", "Virology", "Medicine", "Ecology", "Predation" ], "cited_by_count": 22, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-wildlife-diseases/volume-43/issue-1/0090-3558-43.1.97/ORAL-RABIES-VACCINE-ORV-BAIT-UPTAKE-BY-CAPTIVE-STRIPED-SKUNKS/10.7589/0090-3558-43.1.97.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4388553081", "doi": "10.1016/j.engappai.2023.107363", "title": "A novel mathematical model and a hybrid grouping evolution strategy algorithm for an automated last mile delivery system considering wind effect", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-11-09", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "M.T. Ahmadi", "Seyed Hessameddin Zegordi" ], "first_author": "M.T. Ahmadi", "venue": "Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Last mile (transportation)", "Heuristic", "Time horizon", "Operations research", "Mathematical optimization", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Mile", "Artificial intelligence", "Computer network", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 11, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engappai.2023.107363" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7153822269", "doi": "10.1002/met.70173", "title": "Hybrid Deep Learning‐Based Networks for Deterministic and Probabilistic Wind Nowcasting Within a Wake Vortex Warning System for Vertiport Operations", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-03-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sooseok Lee", "Frank N. Holzäpfel", "Anton Stephan", "Dieter Moormann" ], "first_author": "Sooseok Lee", "venue": "Meteorological Applications", "publisher": "Wiley", "abstract": "ABSTRACT Accurate wind prediction is essential for forecasting the transport and decay of wake vortices that might cause an adverse impact to light aircraft operations. This paper proposes an innovative framework for deterministic and probabilistic wind nowcasting, designed to be integrated into a Wake Vortex Warning System for Vertiports (WVWS‐V) near major airports. The study presents and tests different deterministic nowcasting models. The superior approach employs a hybrid concept combining complex Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT), two‐dimensional Convolutional Neural Networks (2D‐CNN), Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) networks, and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM), enabling it to capture both the general patterns and abrupt fluctuations of wind occurring intermittently and repeatedly. The proposed hybrid model achieved a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.75 m/s for wind speed and 9.1° for wind direction over a 20‐min prediction horizon, outperforming all other evaluated models including the statistical persistence prediction method serving as baseline. The probabilistic nowcasting establishing 95% confidence intervals of wind speed and direction utilizes a multivariate‐Mixture Density Network (MDN) with weighted Mahalanobis distance. The MDN‐based model provides a narrower probability range than the statistical persistence baseline model, with average improvements by 0.91 m/s for wind speed and 12.05° for wind direction. The comparison of the statistical persistence baseline and other machine learning architectures demonstrates that the proposed models achieve superior performance, enabling the WVWS‐V to ensure safe and reliable light aircraft operations at vertiports.", "keywords": [ "Nowcasting", "Probabilistic logic", "Wind speed", "Statistical model", "Hybrid system", "Range (aeronautics)", "Wind power", "Wake turbulence", "Wake" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1002/met.70173" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4283207685", "doi": "10.2514/6.2022-3911", "title": "A Graph-based Reinforcement Learning Framework for Urban Air Mobility Fleet Scheduling", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-06-20", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Steve M. Paul", "Souma Chowdhury" ], "first_author": "Steve M. Paul", "venue": "AIAA AVIATION 2022 Forum", "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-3911.vid Optimal scheduling of the fleet of aircraft comprising an urban air mobility (UAM) network is key to economically viable and sustainable integration of UAM networks within our existing urban and suburban transportation ecosystems. To this end, this paper firstly formulates the UAM fleet scheduling problem as a Markov Decision Process (MDP) over a graph space, with the graph representing the network of vertiports (and their dynamic properties, e.g., demand) being served by these aircraft. A simulation environment that incorporates real-world constraints associated with aircraft characteristics (e.g., max speed and battery capacity), passenger transport demand and electricity pricing is developed and used to evaluate schedules modeled by this MDP. The event-triggered action of each aircraft is determined in a decentralized manner using a novel policy model embodied by a neural network comprising a Graph Neural Network (GNN) based encoder and a Multi-head attention (MHA) based decoder. A policy gradient based reinforcement learning (RL) method is used to train this model. Motivated by the emerging work in learning to solve combinatorial optimization problems, this GNN-based policy model is expected to capture the local and global structural information of the UAM network, allowing the trained policies to generalize across demand and aircraft initialization scenarios. Compared to a simple feasible randomized baseline and a typical multi-layer neural network based policy, our method demonstrates a remarkable 25% better performance in terms of the estimated average daily profit.", "keywords": [ "Reinforcement learning", "Computer science", "Markov decision process", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Artificial neural network", "Operations research", "Mathematical optimization", "Distributed computing", "Markov process", "Artificial intelligence", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 14, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-3911" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3093642103", "doi": "10.1109/icns50378.2020.9222887", "title": "Design of a Rapid, Reliable Urban Mobility System for the DC Region", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-09-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mary Taylor", "Lauren Flenniken", "Nembhard Jason", "Anderson Barreal" ], "first_author": "Mary Taylor", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The Washington D.C. region is ranked 5th in the U.S. by GDP per capita and 3rd worst for traffic congestion causing friction in the local economy. A confluence of technological advances enables Urban Air Mobility (UAM) transportation systems to bypass road congestion and transport passengers in electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing vehicles. Analysis of travel demand profiles have identified the initial phase of a Rapid, Reliable Urban Mobility System (RRUMS) for the D.C. Region servicing private jet owners and first-class passengers from local airports to and from central business districts, assuming relaxed aerial vehicle and FAA restrictions. A stochastic simulation with random variables for vehicle speed, boarding times, vertiport operation times, and passenger inter-arrival times identified the need for a 5 node network with 70 vehicles, 3 landing pads, and 2 UAM vehicle parking space at the business Vertiports, servicing 369 flights per day. A Return on Investment of 122% can be achieved with a break-even in 2 years on an investment of $160M.", "keywords": [ "Takeoff", "Per capita", "Transport engineering", "Investment (military)", "Traffic congestion", "Computer science", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/icns50378.2020.9222887" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4308093914", "doi": "10.1109/dasc55683.2022.9925838", "title": "A Flight Replanning Tool for Terminal Area Urban Air Mobility Operations", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-09-18", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Anne S. Suzuki", "Quang V. Dao" ], "first_author": "Anne S. Suzuki", "venue": "2022 IEEE/AIAA 41st Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "In this paper we describe and evaluate a flight replanning tool, called the trial planner, for terminal area air transport applications. The trial planner employs predefined airspace structures to generate rerouting options between vertiports. In a simplified definition, vertiports are facilities that provide services for managing the take-off and landing of autonomous or manned electric vertical take-off or landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The airspace structures involved in our test cases are arrival routes that consisting of predefined entry points to which a transitional path is computed dynamically from the current position of the aircraft. Rerouting options include both the transitional path and approach segment along the arrival route. These rerouting options are not vetted for potential conflicts with other operations until a human operator commits to a choice and forwards the flight plan modification for approval from an automated airspace management service. A selected rerouting option is executed by loading a flight plan file to the aircraft ground control station. We conducted a qualitative evaluation of the trial planner using ratings provided by flight crews and air transportation human factors experts with relevant experience from air traffic control. The trial-planner was evaluated against operator rated trust in the route recommendations and rated adequacy of the explanations for the route options. In this paper, we detail the logic and implementation of the trial planner, as well as report the results of the evaluation of the implementation herein.", "keywords": [ "Planner", "Flight plan", "Terminal (telecommunication)", "Air traffic control", "Path (computing)", "Operator (biology)", "Plan (archaeology)", "Service (business)", "Computer science", "Control (management)", "Air traffic management", "Position (finance)" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/dasc55683.2022.9925838" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4391302328", "doi": "10.2514/6.2024-0525", "title": "Progressive Development of Fleet Management Capabilities for a High Density Vertiplex Environment", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-04", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Gita Hodell", "Jeffrey R. Homola" ], "first_author": "Gita Hodell", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The High Density Vertiplex (HDV) Subproject, as part of NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) project, has been developing a reference automation architecture with a far-term view of scalable, high-density operations in and around vertiport terminal areas. One of the components of that architecture under development has been focused on fleet management capabilities to support multiple AAM operations from a supervisory role of a Fleet Manager. This capability relies on connectivity and information exchanges with other services for airspace and vertiport management as well as with flight crews responsible for operation execution. This paper will present this capability with a focus on its integration into the simulation and flight testing performed by HDV, as well as its user interface developments.", "keywords": [ "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-0525" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4413833193", "doi": "10.3390/aerospace12090777", "title": "Suitability Assessment and Route Network Planning for Low-Altitude Transportation in Urban Agglomerations Using Multi-Source Data", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-08-28", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jiayi Liu", "Gaoru Zhu", "Xin Yang", "Yiling Shen" ], "first_author": "Jiayi Liu", "venue": "Aerospace", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "As low-altitude transportation becomes essential to global integrated transport systems, developing extensive and well-structured networks in urban agglomerations is crucial for fostering regional synergy and enhancing three-dimensional transport. Focusing on the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration, this study integrates multi-source data within a three-stage research framework: (1) node suitability assessment, (2) route optimization, and (3) network structure evaluation. It systematically evaluates the suitability of county-level general aviation airports and township-level vertiports. Building on the suitability analysis, a hierarchical route network is constructed using a modified gravity model augmented by spatial correction mechanisms. Finally, spatial syntax analysis, supplemented with equity and robustness assessments, is applied to evaluate network accessibility, topological efficiency, and resilience. The key findings are as follows: (1) The suitability classification identifies 43 Class A, 86 Class B, and 71 Class C general aviation airports, revealing a spatial pattern characterized by higher density in the east, lower density in the west, and a multi-nodal clustering structure. Township-level vertiports markedly increase terminal-node coverage. (2) The optimized hierarchical network includes 114 primary, 180 secondary, and 366 tertiary routes, bridging previous regional connectivity gaps. (3) High values of network integration, choice, spatial intelligibility, and equity-adjusted accessibility indicate robust performance, fairness in service distribution, and resilience under potential disruptions. This study offers a methodological paradigm for the systematic development of low-altitude transport networks and provides valuable references for evidence-based planning of urban agglomeration air mobility systems and the strategic development of regional low-altitude economies.", "keywords": [ "Urban agglomeration", "Transport engineering", "Altitude (triangle)", "Environmental planning", "Geography", "Computer science", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Economic geography" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/9/777/pdf?version=1756388521" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2031278274", "doi": "10.1080/09670874.2010.522265", "title": "Improving the efficacy of aerial poisoning of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) through reduced fragmentation of bait", "year": 2010, "publication_date": "2010-10-25", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Graham Nugent", "D. Morgan", "Richard Clayton", "Bruce Warburton" ], "first_author": "Graham Nugent", "venue": "International Journal of Pest Management", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "In New Zealand, aerial delivery of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) baits to poison introduced brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) is a key pest management tool. GPS-guided broadcast baiting systems should expose all possums to large amounts of toxic bait, but some possums still survive despite being poisoned. This sub-lethal poisoning might reflect bait fragmentation, so we measured bait size before and after broadcast sowing from helicopter-slung buckets with spinners used to fling bait laterally. Mean bait size was smaller after sowing than before. The amount of fragmentation differed between operations and between buckets. Small fragments were concentrated under the flight path suggesting that they were caused by the spinner. Fragmentation increased with spinner speed. Removing the spinner resulted in less fragmentation. Use of spinners may therefore adversely affect poisoning efficacy by producing sub-lethal bait fragments. Solutions to this bait fragmenation problem include reducing spinner speed, removing the spinner, or development of shatterproof baits. A reduction in the amount of fragmentation is likely to reduce the need to sow large numbers of baits, so our findings could enable major reductions in toxin use.", "keywords": [ "Brushtail possum", "Biology", "Fragmentation (computing)", "Toxicology", "Integrated pest management", "PEST analysis", "Sowing", "Zoology", "Ecology", "Agronomy", "Botany", "Marsupial" ], "cited_by_count": 15, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2010.522265" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3210321117", "doi": "10.1007/s13272-021-00553-3", "title": "Efficient and fair traffic flow management for on-demand air mobility", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-10-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Christopher Chin", "Karthik Gopalakrishnan", "Hamsa Balakrishnan", "Maxim Egorov", "Antony D. Evans" ], "first_author": "Christopher Chin", "venue": "CEAS Aeronautical Journal", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Air traffic control", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Schedule", "Time horizon", "Taxis", "Air traffic management", "Operations research", "Transport engineering", "Mathematical optimization", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 12, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/142600" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4382050705", "doi": "10.1109/icuas57906.2023.10156184", "title": "Implementing Urban Air Mobility in a Multi-Level Regulatory Framework: Perspectives from the EU", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-06-06", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mario Barbano", "Valentina Costa" ], "first_author": "Mario Barbano", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper discusses the challenges arising from the extended use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) within urban contexts targeting people and freight mobility purposes. First of all, drivers and barriers are examined from the operational and planner’s perspective, considering Urban Air Mobility (UAM) as part of the future transportation ecosystem. After a brief overview of the relevant European Union (EU) regulatory framework, issues concerning access to ground infrastructure and U-space governance will be examined, with a focus on Article 18(f) Regulation (EU) 2021/664 and recent European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) guidance on this provision (AMC-GM). A uniform EU regime on UAM, as part of a strategy encompassing Innovative Air Mobility (IAM) as a whole, should be implemented with a certain degree of flexibility in order to adapt it to the peculiarities of each area, especially as far as access to airspace and ground infrastructure (vertiports, etc.) is concerned. For this reason, the role of local authorities remains crucial.", "keywords": [ "European union", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Aviation", "Agency (philosophy)", "Planner", "Order (exchange)", "Corporate governance", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Environmental economics", "Computer science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/icuas57906.2023.10156184" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2538903157", "doi": "10.1109/prttc.1995.518063", "title": "Intermodal air facilities for the 21st century", "year": 2002, "publication_date": "2002-11-19", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ron Reber" ], "first_author": "Ron Reber", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Transportation in the next century will have to be much more flexible and convenient than today's systems in order to handle the volume of people and cargo that is projected. In order to improve our transportation system in a cost effective way we will need innovative means of tying our existing systems together and making each one more efficient. Historically, air transportation has been handled as an independent system with little thought given to access to other major modes other than automobiles. As a result we have created a very inefficient and time consuming air network which cannot be easily integrated with other systems, unlike the Europeans and Japanese who have integrated their systems very well. Tiltrotor technology gives us the opportunity to develop intermodal facilities, called vertiports, which can easily tie all transportation modes together in convenient locations with a minimum amount of land and relatively small costs. Vertiports can be an inexpensive means of providing communities with improved air transportation while reducing air and ground congestion that is becoming a major problem to all travelers.", "keywords": [ "Tying", "Order (exchange)", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Ground transportation", "Engineering", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/prttc.1995.518063" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3035219900", "doi": "10.2514/6.2020-3200", "title": "Multibody Dynamics of winged Hybrid Airship Payload delivery System", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-06-08", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Om Prakash" ], "first_author": "Om Prakash", "venue": "AIAA AVIATION 2020 FORUM", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Recent developments in Hybrid-airships indicates its potential as aerial delivery vehicle of goods as well as personnel. The addition of wing to conventional Airship not only adds to its lifting capability but enhances its controllability with addition of ailerons for lateral control. The wing locations directly affect its stability and control aspects. This paper presents scope for multibody modeling and simulation of winged hybrid airship, and its application for payload delivery,", "keywords": [ "Payload (computing)", "Controllability", "Aileron", "Aerospace engineering", "Multibody system", "Scope (computer science)", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Vehicle dynamics", "Control engineering", "Aeronautics", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2020-3200" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4411951897", "doi": "10.4050/f-0081-2025-0186", "title": "A Comparative Study of the Use of Experimental and Computational Techniques to Assess Turbulence Above the FATO to Support the Design and Operations of Vertiports in the Built Environment", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-05-20", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "RWDI", "Guy L. Larose", "RWDI", "RWDI", "RWDI", "Maryam Al Labbad", "Sharon Schajnoha", "J. Chen" ], "first_author": "RWDI", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Turbulence conditions at hospital heliports in the built environment are routinely assessed at the design stage through experimental, physical testing in boundary layer wind tunnels. Wind tunnel testing is the gold standard to evaluate wind conditions on and around buildings where human safety is of the upmost concern. Numerical techniques, such as computation fluid dynamics (CFD) are continuously improving and may offer a viable alternative to wind tunnel testing in some cases. Within the CFD toolbox, there are several techniques to simulate a flow field in an urban or suburban context. These techniques have advantages and disadvantages in terms of ease of use, efficiency, costs, level of fidelity, and reliability. This paper compares high-fidelity CFD tools to wind tunnel testing for two vertiport case studies in different urban settings with different wind climates. The results of this research inform the selection of the right tool to support vertiport design and operations and to protect public safety.", "keywords": [ "Turbulence", "Computer science", "Industrial engineering", "Engineering", "Meteorology", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4050/f-0081-2025-0186" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400341538", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2407.00947", "title": "Fleet Size and Spill for UAM Operation under Uncertain Demand", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-07-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shangqing Cao", "Xuan Jiang", "Emin Burak Onat", "Bo Zou", "Mark M. Hansen", "Raja Sengupta", "Anjan Chakrabarty" ], "first_author": "Shangqing Cao", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "Variation and imbalance in demand poses significant challenges to Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations, affecting strategic decisions such as fleet sizing. To study the implications of demand variation on UAM fleet operations, we propose a stochastic passenger arrival time generation model that uses real-world data to infer demand distributions, and two integer programs that compute the zero-spill fleet size and the spill-minimizing flight schedules and charging policies, respectively. Our numerical experiment on a two-vertiport network shows that spill in relatively inelastic to fleet size and that the driving factor behind spill is the imbalance in demand.", "keywords": [ "Environmental science", "Computer science", "Business", "Marine engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2407.00947" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3183368491", "doi": "10.2514/6.2021-3203", "title": "Noise Exposure Maps for Urban Air Mobility", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-07-28", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jinhua Li", "Hok K. Ng", "Yun Zheng", "Sebastian Gutierrez-Nolasco" ], "first_author": "Jinhua Li", "venue": "AIAA AVIATION 2021 FORUM", "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-3203.vid A noise exposure map is “a scaled geographic depiction of an airport, its noise exposure contours, noise-sensitive facilities, and land uses in the airport surrounding area” developed in accordance with the FAA’s 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 150. This paper is the first to explore the applicability of airport noise exposure maps to Urban Air Mobility (UAM). The FAA’s airport noise compatibility planning program is first described. Then the applicability of the noise exposure map to Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is explored. Finally, new airspace infrastructure, including vertiport locations and UAM routes from NASA’s UAM engineering simulations, and local noise-sensitive facility locations and land use information were collected and processed to develop the noise exposure maps of UAM near the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The DNL noise contours resulting from a six-passenger electric quadrotor prototype vehicle are predicted using NASA’s AIRNOISEUAM software. The noise exposure maps of UAM are generated automatically using Python’s data analysis and visualization libraries. The results have applications for UAM’s noise compatibility planning, noise-reducing route planning, and vertiport location selection.", "keywords": [ "Noise (video)", "Computer science", "Acoustics", "Environmental science", "Artificial intelligence", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-3203" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2314027172", "doi": "10.2514/6.2011-2605", "title": "Improved Surface Layer Wind Modeling for Autonomous Parafoils in a Maritime Environment", "year": 2011, "publication_date": "2011-05-23", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Charles W. Hewgley", "Oleg A. Yakimenko" ], "first_author": "Charles W. Hewgley", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper investigates the use of atmospheric boundary layer theory to produce more accurate wind estimates for guiding an autonomous parafoil during the last portion of its flight before touchdown. The problem of wind estimation for a prototype autonomous parafoil aerial delivery system is first explained, followed by the simple assumptions for wind estimation that its guidance algorithm makes. A logarithmic wind profile model in the atmospheric surface layer is then introduced. The parameters and limitations of this model are discussed, along with the characteristics of this model that make it especially useful over the surface of the ocean. Finally, the incorporation of this model into the guidance algorithm of the prototype aerial delivery system is discussed, and subsequently evaluated in flight tests against the original algorithm that did not include the logarithmic surface layer wind model.", "keywords": [ "Layer (electronics)", "Computer science", "Marine engineering", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Materials science" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2011-2605" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4205295206", "doi": "10.2514/6.2022-2159", "title": "A Convex Approach to Multi-phase Trajectory Optimization of eVTOL Vehicles for Urban Air Mobility", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-03", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yufei Wu", "Zhenbo Wang", "Boris Benedikter", "Alessandro Zavoli" ], "first_author": "Yufei Wu", "venue": "AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum", "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-2159.vid Ground transportation in urban areas faces increasingly severe congestion; however, roads cannot be expanded unlimitedly. Under the urban air mobility (UAM) concept, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft can use the third dimension of the urban space for various transportation needs. However, the energy required to complete an UAM mission by an eVTOL vehicle must be less than the available energy stored in the battery pack. Furthermore, eVTOL vehicles must fly along the feasible paths, such as avoiding collisions with any obstacles to arrive at the destination vertiport safely. The objective of this paper is to develop a convex optimization approach for the trajectory optimization of a multi-phase eVTOL mission, including cruise, descent, and landing under various operational constraints in real time. Simulation results are provided to compare the convex optimization approach with a pseudospectral optimal control method.", "keywords": [ "Descent (aeronautics)", "Cruise", "Computer science", "Takeoff", "Trajectory", "Convex optimization", "Mathematical optimization", "Automotive engineering", "Simulation", "Regular polygon", "Aerospace engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-2159" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2766729955", "doi": "10.1038/s41598-017-14615-2", "title": "Factors influencing the success of aerial rabies vaccination of foxes", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-10-24", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Joerg Henning", "Emanuele Giorgi", "Ricardo J. Soares Magalhães", "Paolo Tizzani", "Paolo Viviani", "N. Pejovic", "Mevlida Hrapović", "Carsten Jochen Pötzsch" ], "first_author": "Joerg Henning", "venue": "Scientific Reports", "publisher": "Nature Portfolio", "abstract": "Sylvatic rabies has been eradicated from most of Central Europe, but cases still occur in the Balkans. Oral rabies vaccination of foxes is an effective method for controlling the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the success of aerial vaccination campaigns conducted in Montenegro by identifying ecological, environmental and climatic factors that influenced the prevalence of antibodies to the rabies vaccine. To monitor the bait uptake and the serological responses to vaccination, foxes were shot by hunters. Of 175 shot foxes, 142 foxes (81.1%) had consumed baits. Of these only a total of 81 (57.0%) tested positive for rabies vaccine antibodies, possibly, due to the delayed uptake of bait in which the rabies vaccine was already inactivated. We found that low vaccination responses were associated with high fox density and bait delivery in open areas. In high fox density habitat, bait uptake might be delayed as other food and prey options for foxes are abundant. Similarly, delayed bait uptake probably occurred in open areas as such areas are less frequently used by foxes. The findings of this study suggest that efficacy of oral rabies vaccination by aerial delivery is associated with landscape features.", "keywords": [ "Rabies", "Vaccination", "Serology", "Biology", "Wildlife", "Veterinary medicine", "Virology", "Ecology", "Medicine", "Immunology", "Antibody" ], "cited_by_count": 13, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-14615-2.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7160719282", "doi": "10.13140/rg.2.2.15035.78881", "title": "Safety Management Systems of UAM, Design Parameters Evaluations, Vertiport Design Specifications, and FAA Certifications, Regulations Operations Under the Supervision of: Submitted By", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sumon Sarkar", "Tokir Khan" ], "first_author": "Sumon Sarkar", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Management system", "Systems design", "System safety", "Risk management" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.15035.78881" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416923394", "doi": "10.1109/dasc66011.2025.11257355", "title": "Bio-Inspired Algorithm for Designing an Adaptive Cyclic Corridor for Uas Traffic Management", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-09-14", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Matthieu Verdoucq", "Rodolphe Fremond", "Zeynep Bilgin", "Murat Bronz" ], "first_author": "Matthieu Verdoucq", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper presents a novel bio-inspired method for designing cyclic airspace corridors to support highthroughput, bidirectional flows of Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Very Low Level. We adapt the Slime-Mold Algorithm to generate corridors by modeling vertiports as attractors, nofly zones as repulsors, and using a discretized pheromone field to guide agent behavior. Agents operate in three roles: explorers, exploiters, and trail-thickeners, and interact solely via pheromone diffusion and decay. A food timer mechanism regulates exploration based on the average spacing between vertiports. From the resulting pheromone distribution, a Catmull-Rom spline is fitted to extract a smooth, continuous corridor. The design is evaluated using five criteria: vertiport proximity, no-fly zone avoidance, self-intersection, curvature smoothness, and total length. We evaluate our approach on three large-scale urban scenarios with up to 15 vertiports and$\\mathbf{1 0}$no-fly zones. Results show convergence within 200 iterations, rapid adaptation to topological changes, and the potential to support more complex corridor structures giving promises to the method's suitability for real-time, dynamic airspace design in UAS traffic management.", "keywords": [ "Timer", "Convergence (economics)", "Discretization", "Field (mathematics)", "Curvature", "Spline (mechanical)", "Vehicle dynamics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://enac.hal.science/hal-05525389/document" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7172208747", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.7216697", "title": "Multi-Source Geospatial Data-Driven Multi-Objective Spatial Optimization for Vertiport Location in Urban Air Mobility: A Pareto Trade-Off Analysis in Shanghai", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Xinxin Zhou", "Chenyu Zhang", "Runtian Wang", "Hongye Wang", "Changbin Wu" ], "first_author": "Xinxin Zhou", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Geospatial analysis", "Multi-objective optimization", "Pareto principle", "Big data", "Position (finance)", "Geocoding", "Tracing", "Spatial analysis" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.7216697" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4386162126", "doi": "10.3390/futuretransp3030057", "title": "Integrating Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft into Public Airspace: A Scenario Study", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-08-25", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Raj Bridgelall", "Shawn White", "Denver Tolliver" ], "first_author": "Raj Bridgelall", "venue": "Future Transportation", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "The successful deployment of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) requires the safe integration of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in non-segregated airspace. However, a lack of practical deployment demonstrations can slow the regulatory progress. This study presents a practical deployment framework for the integration of eVTOL aircraft into public airspace, in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) special airworthiness criteria. This study focused on a corporate use case to provide a comprehensive scenario for enhancing intra-company mobility. The scenario supports early implementation and demonstration goals by removing reliance on air traffic management systems or air traffic controller separation services. The practical deployment framework included facility selection, route planning, terrain mapping, collision avoidance, aircraft selection, infrastructure requirements, vertiport placement, electric chargers, ground handling, operational staff, and cost estimates. Planners can use the framework as a template to inform the implementation of real-world AAM services using eVTOL aircraft.", "keywords": [ "Software deployment", "Takeoff", "Air traffic control", "Takeoff and landing", "Aviation", "Aeronautics", "Transport engineering", "Separation (statistics)", "Runway", "Airworthiness", "Aviation safety", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7590/3/3/57/pdf?version=1692947659" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4320486705", "doi": "10.33012/2023.18603", "title": "Network-Based Augmentation System (NBAS) Architectures Optimized to Support Urban Air Mobility (UAM)", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-02-13", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jiyun Lee", "Gihun Nam", "Dongchan Min", "Andrew K. Sun", "Sam Pullen" ], "first_author": "Jiyun Lee", "venue": "Proceedings of the Institute of Navigation ... International Technical Meeting/Proceedings of the ... International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Integrity-assured navigation is essential to support highly automated operation of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) at lower altitudes in urban or suburban area. This paper develops a Network-based Augmentation System (NBAS) architecture which utilize GNSS pseudorange corrections and monitoring information of reference stations installed at multiple vertiports to improve navigation accuracy and integrity. A new monitoring concept of enhancing detection capability for spatially-decorrelated errors is proposed by combining information of vertiports located farther from users. Simulations are conducted to compare the performance of the NBAS system to that of the conventional Ground-based Augmentation Systems (GBAS) architecture (i.e., single reference station) assuming the use of a dual-frequency and dual-constellation (GPS and Galileo) GNSS and the dual-frequency divergence-free smoothing method. Simulation results show a significant reduction in both ionosphere-induced and ephemeris-failure threats by utilizing the multiple monitor capability of networked ground stations and UAM vehicles.", "keywords": [ "GNSS applications", "Computer science", "Global Positioning System", "Real-time computing", "Pseudorange", "GNSS augmentation", "Smoothing", "Remote sensing", "Telecommunications", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.33012/2023.18603" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3186149635", "doi": "10.2514/6.2021-2457", "title": "Urban Air Mobility Vehicle and Fleet-level Life-Cycle Assessment Using a System-of-Systems Approach", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-07-28", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Prajwal Shiva Prakasha", "Veatriki Papantoni", "Björn Nagel", "Urte Brand", "Thomas M. Vogt", "Nabih Naeem", "Patrick Ratei", "Stefany Villacís" ], "first_author": "Prajwal Shiva Prakasha", "venue": "AIAA AVIATION 2021 FORUM", "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-2457.vid Can Urban Air Mobility (UAM) systems constitute viable and sustainable mobility solutions? This question has increasingly been concerning scientists, companies, policy makers, and authorities as more and more UAM vehicle concepts are seeing the light of day. In order to come closer to answering this question and to demonstrate the dependencies and impacts of the numerous parameters used to describe a highly complex system of a fleet of UAM vehicles operating in an urban environment, this paper employs a System of Systems (SoS) approach. A collaborative SoS framework with an agent-based simulation is introduced, which connects the UAM vehicle design, fleet performance, vertiport network, and re-energizing infrastructure with a Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA). The framework is used to simulate four exemplary UAM fleet-operation scenarios based on two cities and two operational modes, namely urban and suburban operations. Different vehicle design configurations, e.g. multirotor and lift + cruise vehicles, are evaluated in each scenario based on respectively realistic Concepts of Operations (CONOPS). Additionally, two different points in time, namely 2025 and 2050, are considered and assessed for powering the vehicles by taking into account the characteristics of batteries as well as the underlying electricity mix for their operation. Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide battery and lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered. The SoS framework helps to asses various UAM metrics such as the average wait time for a passenger, the ideal number of aircraft needed for transporting all passengers within given time, the energy required on a vehicle and fleet level, sustainability metrics, e.g. the global warming potential associated with the energy carriers and many more. The capability to explore a wide design space and to visualize the dependencies between the system parameters and their impacts on different SoS metrics provides stakeholders with a helpful tool for their decision making.", "keywords": [ "Cruise", "Sustainable transport", "Electricity", "Transport engineering", "Sustainability", "Computer science", "Automotive engineering", "Systems engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 16, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://elib.dlr.de/147792/1/Urban%20Air%20Mobility%20Vehicle%20and%20Fleet-level%20Life-Cycle%20Assessment%20Using%20a%20System-of-Systems%20Approach_AIAA_Aviation_2021.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4401879232", "doi": "10.1109/access.2024.3449283", "title": "Efficient Strategies for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flights: Analyzing Battery Life and Operational Performance in Delivery Services Using Stochastic Models", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Francisco Airton Silva", "Vandirleya Barbosa", "Luiz Nelson Lima", "Arthur Sabino", "Paulo A. L. Rêgo", "Luiz F. Bittencourt", "Jae-Woo Lee", "Dugki Min", "Tuấn Anh Nguyễn" ], "first_author": "Francisco Airton Silva", "venue": "IEEE Access", "publisher": "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers", "abstract": "In the rapidly evolving field of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, there is burgeoning interest from sectors such as logistics, online retail, and government agencies. The impetus for this interest is largely due to technological progress and innovation. This paper presents a model based on stochastic Petri nets (SPN) for evaluating the operational efficiency of drone delivery systems, with an emphasis on the completion times for tasks executed by either individual or multiple collaborating drones. Recognizing the limitation of drones’ operational duration, chiefly hindered by battery life, the paper suggests the creation of strategic charging stations and the adoption of cooperative delivery tactics as potential solutions, albeit with inherent costs. Two SPN models were developed within this study: one depicting solo drone missions and another depicting cooperative missions with package transfers between drones. These models facilitate the examination of several performance indicators, such as Utilization Level, Mean Mission Time, Delivery Rate, and the probability of delivering a set number of packages within a designated period. By utilizing Design of Experiments (DoE) methods for sensitivity analysis, the study pinpoints essential factors that impact the performance of deliveries and offers strategies for the enhancement of drone delivery networks. The paper concludes by asserting that strategic placement of charging stations coupled with collaborative delivery efforts can effectively mitigate the limitations posed by drones’ battery life, thereby augmenting the overall efficacy and feasibility of drone-based delivery services. The SPN models provide a robust predictive framework for drone delivery performance, aiding in improved planning and allocation of resources. The findings underscore the advantages of cooperative drone operations in urban logistics and call for additional research on the optimization of charging station placement and the refinement of collaborative drone strategies.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Battery (electricity)", "Automotive engineering", "Operations research", "Aeronautics", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 10, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2024.3449283" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7113900971", "doi": "10.33097/jncta.2025.09.11.2904", "title": "Development Directions for Korean UAM/AAM Vertiport Design Guidelines: Based on International Standards of FAA, NASA, and EASA and Domestic Demonstration Cases", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-11-30", "type": "article", "language": null, "authors": [ "남서울대학교 대학원 빅테이터콘텐츠융합학과 교수", "Chang-Duk Kim" ], "first_author": "남서울대학교 대학원 빅테이터콘텐츠융합학과 교수", "venue": "The Journal of Next-generation Convergence Technology Association", "publisher": null, "abstract": "본 연구는 도심항공교통(UAM) 및 첨단항공교통(AAM)의 상용화를 위한 핵심 인프라인 버티포트(Vertiport)의 한국형 설계 가이드라인 개발 방향을 제시하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 이를 위해 미국 연방항공청(FAA), 미국 항공우주국 (NASA), 유럽항공안전청(EASA)의 국제 설계·운영 기준을 비교·분석하고, 제주, 김포, 인천 등 국내 실증사례를 검토하 였다. 분석 결과, 한국형 버티포트 설계에는 도심 밀집 환경에 적합한 모듈형·복합형 공간구성, 안전성 확보를 위한 이·착륙 및 지상 지원 설비 기준, 에너지·통신 인프라 연계, 환경·소음 규제 대응 전략이 필요함을 확인하였다. 또한, 국제 기준을 토대로 한 15단계 설계 절차와 안전·보안 요구사항, 법·제도 개선 방안을 제안하였으며, 다중용도 활용과 기상 악화·야간 운영 대비방안도 포함하였다. 본 연구 결과는 향후 버티포트의 국가 표준화, 지자체 정책 수립, 민간사업자 모델 개발에 기여할 수 있으며, UAM/AAM 운영의 안전성과 수용성을 높이기 위한 실증 및 시뮬레이션 기반 후속연구의 기초자료로 활용될 수 있다.", "keywords": [ "Standardization", "International standard", "Commission", "Government (linguistics)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.33097/jncta.2025.09.11.2904" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4207005566", "doi": "10.1109/icot54518.2021.9680627", "title": "Research on The New Drones Design to Improve Transportation of Supplies and Medical Care for Remote Mountain Area in Taiwan", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-12-16", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yen-Huai Ma", "Tzong-Hann Shieh", "Lon‐Chen Hung", "Lin‐Chuan Tsai" ], "first_author": "Yen-Huai Ma", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "With the development of science and technology, drone transportation has gradually become an important transportation and has an impact on many places. In the past, there were many rural and mountain tribes in the world or in Taiwan. They were roadless or had to across the mountains to transport materials with couple hours. This is very inconvenience for the residents in the remote villages and mountain tribes, and even important medical supplies such as blood, medicine or other healthcare items cannot be delivered immediately. This paper proposes a new type of UAV model design to solve the above transportation problem in remote mountainous areas in Taiwan, especially in medical supply delivery. The paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed new UAV models. In addition, the flight advantages of the new UAV model in Taiwan mountainous terrain also with be discussed in this paper. The purpose of this research is to use new drones to improve the transportation of supplies and medical care in remote mountain tribes in Taiwan, which will promote more timely, efficient, and economical transportation of supplies and medical care by drones, therefore so that people can get help as soon as possible in the emergency.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Terrain", "Medical care", "Health care", "Rural area", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Environmental planning", "Computer science", "Geography", "Engineering", "Medicine" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/icot54518.2021.9680627" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2979251853", "doi": null, "title": "Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Market Study", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-10-05", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Rohit Goyal", "Colleen Reiche", "Chris Fernando", "J.D. Jacquie Serrao", "Shawn C. Kimmel", "Adam P. Cohen", "Susan Shaheen" ], "first_author": "Rohit Goyal", "venue": "NASA STI Repository (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)", "publisher": "National Aeronautics and Space Administration", "abstract": "The Booz Allen Team explored market size and potential barriers to Urban Air Mobility (UAM) by focusing on three potential markets Airport Shuttle, Air Taxi, and Air Ambulance. We found that the Airport Shuttle and Air Taxi markets are viable, with a significant total available market value in the U.S. of $500 billion, for a fully unconstrained scenario. In this unconstrained best-case scenario, passengers would have the ability to access and fly a UAM at any time, from any location to any destination, without being hindered by constraints such as weather, infrastructure, or traffic volume. Significant legal and regulatory, weather, certification, public perception, and infrastructure constraints exist, which reduce the market potential for these applications to only about 0.5% of the total available market, or $2.5 billion, in the near term. However, we determined that these constraints can be addressed through ongoing intra-governmental partnerships, government and industry collaboration, strong industry commitment, and existing legal and regulatory enablers. We found that the Air Ambulance market is not a viable market if served by electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles due to technology constraints but may potentially be viable if a hybrid VTOL aircraft are utilized. The barriers and challenges we characterized in this study can be stratified according to their applicability or potential mitigation through technology as well as market maturity (Figure 1). In the near term, high cost of service will be a key economic challenge. We found potential for significant reduction in service cost through increased vehicle and component efficiency, and automation in a more mature market scenario. Weather conditions also pose a challenge to the UAM market, though there is potential for mitigation of some of these impacts through technology such as sensors enabling operations in low visibility. However, even in a mature market with advanced technology, disruptions are still likely to occur due to weather events such as thunderstorms and strong winds. High density operations will likely stress the current Air Traffic Management (ATM) system in the near term, but technology and new initiatives such as the Air Traffic Management -eXploration project (ATM-X) will enable safe and efficient integration of UAM into the National Airspace System (NAS). Current battery technology creates a barrier in the near term, especially for the Air Ambulance market, as battery weight and extensive recharging times would be needed for these operations. Advancements in battery technology, as well as use of hybrid VTOLs, could significantly reduce this barrier in the longer term. As UAM emerges as a viable mode of transportation in the near term, adverse energy and environmental impacts, particularly noise, may impact community acceptance and potentially persist as the market matures into larger-scale operations. For non-technology related challenges, we found that infrastructure constraints will create a significant barrier to UAM in the near term but could be addressed in the longer term through development and expansion of vertiports. Competition from existing modes of transportation such as ride-sharing (e.g., Lyft, Uber) and ground taxis pose a key barrier to UAM in the short term, which will likely evolve into competition from other emerging technologies such as autonomous cars and electric trains in the longer term. Weather events will influence other components of the operation such as passenger comfort (e.g., extreme temperatures, turbulence) and infrastructure (e.g., winter weather causing cracks and degradation in vertiports). There is also potential for these impacts to be heightened in the longer term from the increased frequency of adverse weather such as thunderstorms due to changing climatic conditions. We also found that the public has strong concerns about safety as a passenger in a piloted UAM, including lasing of pilots, unruly passengers, and sabotage. They would prefer that all passengers pass through a security screening process before boarding a vehicle. They would also prefer to use UAM for longer regional trips, such as flying from Washington, DC to Baltimore, MD or San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA. A longer term automated UAM vehicle market will face challenges due to public apprehension about automation and unmanned operations, and a preference to fly with passengers they know in an autonomous (unmanned) operational scenario.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Government (linguistics)", "Service (business)", "Takeoff", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Marketing", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 17, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20190001472" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1520828228", "doi": null, "title": "DESIGN OF LOAD CONFIGURATIONS FOR THE M-4A HIGH SPEED AERIAL DELIVERY CONTAINER XI. LOAD CONFIGURATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL COMBAT MEALS, TRAINING GRENADES (INERT), AND CARBINES AND AMMUNITION", "year": 1962, "publication_date": "1962-03-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "SCHEMBOR,EDWARD H.", "YOUNG,A.S." ], "first_author": "SCHEMBOR,EDWARD H.", "venue": "Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "An analysis was made of the loading configurations of three separate loads in the M-4A High Speed Aerial Delivery container. T HE LOADS WERE: (1) individual combat meals; (2) inert hand grenade ; and (3) carbines and ammunition. Factors considered were resistance to damage, space utilization, ease of loading, and ease of distribution. Shock ratings were determined for the rations to predict the resistance of two load designs to the impact forces developed. The first load configuration of 144 intermediate cartons sustained i pact forces at velocities up to 35 fps. The second load configuration of 108 intermediate cartons sustained impact forces at velocities up to 53 fps. A load configuratio of six cases of inert hand grenades was dropped at an impact velocity of 35 fps. Wit the addition of cushioning material, the same load was dropped at 49.5 fps, but was not capable o withstanding the impact forces. A load consisting of five caliber 30 M-1 carbine and nine boxes of caliber 30 ammunition was dropped twice to obtain resulting impact velocities of 35 and 49.5 fps. No significant damage occurre . (Author)", "keywords": [ "Ammunition", "Cushioning", "Inert", "Projectile", "Structural engineering", "Engineering", "Container (type theory)", "Cartridge", "Crusher", "Mechanical engineering", "Materials science", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0278585" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3164504475", "doi": "10.14512/tatup.28.2.46", "title": "The vision of delivery drones", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-07-02", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michael Nentwich", "Delila M. Horváth" ], "first_author": "Michael Nentwich", "venue": "TATuP Zeitschrift für Technikfolgenabschätzung in Theorie und Praxis", "publisher": "Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS)", "abstract": "The vision of drone-based delivery is not without presuppositions. To fully realize this vision, it is imperative to overcome the many technical and regulatory obstacles. Given the considerable depth of engagement of this technology – the airspace around us, which has so far only been used by birds and the occasional helicopter, would change profoundly – a number of typical technology assessment (TA) questions are on the table: Are there any safety concerns? Are there any environmental risks? Could criminals or terrorists misuse the technology? Are we going to face societal conflict in view of divergent interests? Is the current regulatory framework sufficient, or do we need new rules? This article provides a broad outline of this topic, gives first answers to the above mentioned questions, and concludes that an encompassing participatory TA study is needed.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Presupposition", "Citizen journalism", "Face (sociological concept)", "Table (database)", "Engineering ethics", "Political science", "Public relations", "Computer science", "Computer security", "Sociology", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.14512/tatup.28.2.46" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2890105738", "doi": "10.1111/ajt.15113", "title": "The final frontier? Exploring organ transportation by drone", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-09-11", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Joseph R. Scalea", "Stephen Restaino", "Matthew Scassero", "Stephen T. Bartlett", "Norman M. Wereley" ], "first_author": "Joseph R. Scalea", "venue": "American Journal of Transplantation", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "To the Editor: Technical, immunologic, and patient care advancements have improved transplant outcomes, but geography and organ transportation remain impediments to access to transplantation. Organs are moved using a complex network of couriers, commercial aircraft, and transplant personnel. Reliance on commercial aircraft schedules and couriers add cold ischemia time (CIT) and may prohibit transplantation altogether.1Stewart DE Kucheryavaya AY Klassen DK Turgeon NA Formica RN Aeder MI Changes in deceased donor kidney transplantation one year after KAS implementation.Am J Transplant. 2016; 16: 1834-1847Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (182) Google Scholar Private charters can be used; however, this comes at great expense. If transplantable organs were moved by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, ill-timed commercial flights or expensive charters could be avoided, improving access to transplantation.2Handford C Reeves F Parker P Prospective use of unmanned aerial vehicles for military medical evacuation in future conflicts.J R Army Med Corps. 2018; 164: 293-296Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar,3Lin CA Shah K Mauntel LCC Shah SA Drone delivery of medications: review of the landscape and legal considerations.Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2018; 75: 153-158Crossref PubMed Scopus (25) Google Scholar A discussion of transportation innovation is timely. Recent kidney allocation system (KAS) changes allowing for greater organ sharing (Table 1) have increased access to transplantation, particularly for sensitized patients.1Stewart DE Kucheryavaya AY Klassen DK Turgeon NA Formica RN Aeder MI Changes in deceased donor kidney transplantation one year after KAS implementation.Am J Transplant. 2016; 16: 1834-1847Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (182) Google Scholar,4DuBay DA MacLennan PA Reed RD et al.The impact of proposed changes in liver allocation policy on cold ischemia times and organ transportation costs.Am J Transplant. 2015; 15: 541-546Crossref PubMed Scopus (28) Google Scholar However, with increased sharing, the average distance traveled by a kidney has increased significantly. For some kidneys (eg, high calculated panel reactive antibody kidneys) the distance has increased 60% to 706 miles.1Stewart DE Kucheryavaya AY Klassen DK Turgeon NA Formica RN Aeder MI Changes in deceased donor kidney transplantation one year after KAS implementation.Am J Transplant. 2016; 16: 1834-1847Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (182) Google Scholar CITs have also increased and more than 22% of kidneys are now transplanted after 24 hours. As a result, delayed graft function (DGF) rates increased from 25% to 31%.1Stewart DE Kucheryavaya AY Klassen DK Turgeon NA Formica RN Aeder MI Changes in deceased donor kidney transplantation one year after KAS implementation.Am J Transplant. 2016; 16: 1834-1847Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (182) Google Scholar More efficient transportation might allow for the benefits of the new KAS without sacrificing CIT or increasing DGF rates.TABLE 1Geographic sharing of organs based on changes to the kidney allocation system (KAS) in the United StatesBefore KASAfter KAS% ChangeP valueN%N%Local856978.6780568.5−12.90<.0001Regional9618.8145012.744.3<.0001National137112.6214118.849.4<.0001Changes in organ sharing observed with the new KAS. There is significantly more regional and national kidney sharing. Fewer kidneys are transplanted locally. Data taken from www.unos.org. Open table in a new tab Changes in organ sharing observed with the new KAS. There is significantly more regional and national kidney sharing. Fewer kidneys are transplanted locally. Data taken from www.unos.org. To begin exploring organ drones, we partnered with the University of Maryland UAS test site. Furthermore, we developed several novel technologies (eg, HOMAL, Human Organ Monitoring and Quality Apparatus for Long-Distance Travel, patent pending) to monitor organ status (temperature, pressure, and vibration) and location during UAS flight. Following consent and Institutional Review Board approval, we obtained a 57-year-old deceased donor kidney. The total CIT at allocation was 19.0 hours, the creatinine was 0.5 mg/dL, and the Kidney Donor Profile Index was 70%. The organ was loaded onto a DJIM600 drone (Figure 1A, B). These data were then pushed to a ground-based server, and thereafter to the users’ smartphones in real-time. We performed a series of HOMAL validation studies during which the organ drone was slowly and/or rapidly accelerated. Thereafter, we tested the stability of the organ drone in hover at altitudes of 100 and 200 feet (Figure 1C; see supplementary video file online). Next, a total of 14 distance organ drone missions were flown at speeds ranging from 30 to 42 miles per hour over distances of 1.5-3.0 miles. Kidney biopsies taken before and after drone flight were read by a senior kidney transplant pathologist and failed to show damage related to extrinsic forces. Organ drone findings were then compared with fixed-wing flight (Figure 1D). During fixed-wing flight, the organ experienced more vibration (>2.0g) than during drone travel (<0.5g, P < .01; Figure 1E). These differences were most prominent during takeoff and during landing. A full report of these findings will be published in the engineering literature. It is unclear how many additional deceased donor kidneys could be transplanted if organ drones were implemented. However, approximately 20% of kidneys in the United States are discarded. While data are unavailable, it is likely that a portion of these would be accepted if faster travel (and thus shorter CITs) was available. Beyond kidneys, similar extrapolations could be calculated for liver, pancreas, and thoracic transplants. There are several additional major hurdles to overcome ahead of organ drone transportation. The first is speed. Drones can be engineered to fly from hospital-to-hospital, unlike an airplane. Thus, if a ", "keywords": [ "United Network for Organ Sharing", "Transplantation", "Medicine", "Drone", "Scopus", "Organ transplantation", "Frontier", "Surgery", "MEDLINE", "Political science", "Law", "Liver transplantation" ], "cited_by_count": 44, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1111/ajt.15113" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4387546377", "doi": "10.1109/tvt.2023.3323682", "title": "Stochastic Geometry-Based Trajectory Design for Multi-Purpose UAVs: Package and Data Delivery", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-10-11", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yujie Qin", "Mustafa A. Kishk", "Mohamed‐Slim Alouini" ], "first_author": "Yujie Qin", "venue": "IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology", "publisher": "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers", "abstract": "With the advancements achieved in drones' flexibility, low cost, and high efficiency, they obtain huge application opportunities in various industries, such as aerial delivery and future communication networks. However, the increasing transportation needs and expansion of network capacity demands for UAVs will cause aerial traffic conflicts in the future. To address this issue, in this article, we explore the idea of multi-purpose UAVs, which act as aerial wireless communication data relays and means of aerial transportation simultaneously to deliver data and packages at the same time. While UAVs deliver the packages from warehouses to residential areas, we design their trajectories which enable them to collect data from multiple Internet of Things (IoT) clusters and forward the collected data to terrestrial base stations (TBSs). To select the serving nearby IoT clusters, UAVs rank them based on their priorities and distances. From the perspectives of data and package delivery, respectively, we propose two algorithms that design the optimal UAVs trajectory to maximize the transmitted data or minimize the round trip time. Specifically, we use tools from stochastic geometry to model the locations of IoT clusters and TBSs. Given the nature of random locations, the proposed algorithm applies to general cases. Our numerical results show that multi-purpose UAVs are practical and have great potential to enhance the energy/time-efficiency of future networks.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Trajectory", "Computer science", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Stochastic geometry", "Base station", "Distributed computing", "Real-time computing", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 14, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/18623/1/Stochastic_Geometry.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4403763296", "doi": "10.3390/aerospace11110876", "title": "U-Space Contingency Management Based on Enhanced Mission Description", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-10-24", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jose Luis Munoz-Gamarra", "Juan José Ramos", "Zhiqiang Liu" ], "first_author": "Jose Luis Munoz-Gamarra", "venue": "Aerospace", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Loss of communication, low battery, or bad weather conditions (like high-speed wind) are currently managed by performing a return to launch (RTL) point maneuver. However, the execution of this procedure can pose a safety threat since it has not been considered within the mission planning process. This work proposes an advanced management of contingency events based on the integration of a new U-space service that enhances mission description. The proposed new service, deeply linked to demand capacity balance and strategic deconfliction services, assigns alternative safe landing spots by analyzing the planned mission. Two potential solutions are characterized (distinguished primarily by the number of contingency vertiports assigned): contingency management based on the assignment of a single alternative vertiport to each mission (static) or the allocation of a set of different contingency vertiports that are valid during certain time intervals. It is proven that this enhanced mission planning could ensure that U-space volumes operate in an ultra-safe system conditions while facing these unforeseen events, highlighting its importance in high-risk scenarios like urban air mobility deployments.", "keywords": [ "Contingency", "Space (punctuation)", "Computer science", "Process management", "Business", "Philosophy", "Epistemology", "Operating system" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/11/11/876/pdf?version=1729777656" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W293745910", "doi": null, "title": "SAFE HELIPORTS THROUGH DESIGN AND PLANNING. A SUMMARY OF FAA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT", "year": 1994, "publication_date": "1994-02-08", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Robert Dean Smith" ], "first_author": "Robert Dean Smith", "venue": "Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "During the last decade, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published several dozen research and development (R&D) reports dealing with the planning and design of landing sites for vertical flight aircraft. These landing sites include helipads at airports, heliports, helistops, vertiports, and unimproved sites. Vertical flight aircraft include helicopters, tiltrotor, and tiltwing. These reports would make a stack that is several feet high. Airport, heliport, and vertiport planners and designers should be familiar with FAA R&D efforts in this area. We recognize, however, that many people do not have the time to read all of the published material. In addition, without a road map through all of this material, it may be difficult to see how multiple documents fit together to tell a coherent story on a particular subject of interest. With this in mind, the FAA has prepared this summary to assist you in becoming familiar with the results of these efforts. Airport, Helicopter, Heliport, Landing Site, Rotorcraft, Tiltrotor, Vertical flight.", "keywords": [ "Aeronautics", "Aviation", "Engineering", "Subject (documents)", "Transport engineering", "Aerospace engineering", "Computer science", "Library science" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA279034" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4402685771", "doi": "10.2514/6.2024-3726", "title": "An Eco-Social Approach to Sustainable UAM Network Design", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-07-27", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mariah Barsotti", "Zhenyu Gao", "John-Paul Clarke" ], "first_author": "Mariah Barsotti", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban air mobility (UAM) is a transformative concept in which novel aircraft configurations operate at lower altitudes in and around metropolitan areas, facilitate a variety of services, and promote public well-being. Nevertheless, the integration of UAM into complex urban environments poses a variety of intricate challenges. Foremost among these integration challenges is that a viable UAM system must be both environmentally and societally sustainable. In this study, we focus on mitigating the negative environmental and societal impacts of the UAM system from a network design and planning perspective. Specifically, we propose an eco-social approach to designing a UAM network that exists harmoniously within the environmental and societal constraints of complex urban environments. The approach consists of eco-social factors identification, geospatial data integration, network topology formulation, and vertiports and flight corridors optimization. We showcase the proposed approach through a design case study conducted in the City of Austin.", "keywords": [ "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-3726" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4407928797", "doi": "10.1016/j.sca.2025.100107", "title": "A multi-objective supply chain model for disaster relief optimization using neutrosophic programming and blockchain-based smart contracts", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-02-25", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Alisha Roushan", "Amrit Das", "Anirban Dutta", "Uttam Kumar Bera" ], "first_author": "Alisha Roushan", "venue": "Supply Chain Analytics", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Efficient supply chain models are crucial for ensuring swift medical intervention and the timely delivery of essential supplies in disaster management. This study focuses on optimizing disaster relief efforts in meteorological disasters , specifically flash floods triggered by cloudburst events. We propose a multi-objective supply chain model that minimizes both cost and time during emergencies by employing drones for rapid response and delivery to inaccessible areas. The model leverages Dijkstra’s algorithm to identify the shortest emergency routes and integrates Neutrosophic Compromise Programming (NCP) and the Weighted Sum Method (WSM) to optimize drone deployment for cost-effectiveness and timely intervention. Pentagonal Type-2 Fuzzy Variables (PT2FV) manage uncertainty and accurately represent real-world disasters. The study also introduces a smart contract framework to enhance transparency and accountability in logistics and rescue operations. These smart contracts govern the assignment of drone-based delivery tasks, ensuring that supplies are optimally allocated and transported via the most efficient routes. The system verifies task completion and maintains a transparent record of the logistics process . The robustness of the model is validated through sensitivity analysis, while the smart contract system is confirmed through unit testing, demonstrating its reliability under varied conditions. This work aligns with Industry 5.0 , integrating human-centric decision-making, drones, intelligent systems, and blockchain-based smart contracts to automate and effectively manage disaster, facilitating seamless collaboration between humans and machines.", "keywords": [ "Blockchain", "Smart contract", "Supply chain", "Computer science", "Programming paradigm", "Operations research", "Business", "Computer security", "Engineering", "Programming language" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sca.2025.100107" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2391508069", "doi": null, "title": "Optimization in Multiphase Homing Trajectory of Parafoil System Based on IAGA", "year": 2011, "publication_date": "2011-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Xie Yarong" ], "first_author": "Xie Yarong", "venue": "Electronics Optics & Control", "publisher": "Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics", "abstract": "Design and optimization of homing trajectory is essential for accurate aerial delivery of parafoil system.In order to realize accurate and safe landing of parafoil system,classic multiphase homing trajectory was adopted according to the maneuverability and basic flight characters of the parafoil itself.The trajectory optimization issue was transformed into a parameter optimization issue by use of the geometric relationship between each trajectory.Then the basic genetic algorithm was improved,and an effective solution was obtained by using the Improved Adaptive Genetic Algorithm(IAGA).The result of simulation demonstrated that: 1) the method is feasible;2) the proposed algorithms can prevent premature convergence and improve convergence speed efficiently;and 3) the designed homing trajectory can fullfil the requirements of fixed-point landing and upwind landing.", "keywords": [ "Homing (biology)", "Trajectory optimization", "Trajectory", "Convergence (economics)", "Computer science", "Control theory (sociology)", "Optimization problem", "Genetic algorithm", "Algorithm", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-DGKQ201102016.htm" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4363675922", "doi": "10.1386/ijfd_00049_1", "title": "Green food transformation systems: Role of young people in engagement and digital literacy", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-04-10", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bent Egberg Mikkelsen", "Mukti Ram Chapagain" ], "first_author": "Bent Egberg Mikkelsen", "venue": "International Journal of Food Design", "publisher": "Intellect", "abstract": "Food and agriculture systems have been under pressure due to climate change. Food production and consumption are known to cause up to one-third of climate impact as they occupy a large part of land for animal feeding and a significant amount of food is wasted. To reduce climate impact, therefore, food systems need to incorporate constructive approaches. These include aspects of production, distribution, consumption and disposal. It requires new digital insight and capacity-building to interpret the changes. Schools can provide an excellent arena for these changes because of their infrastructure and wide reach in society. Against this backdrop, the Sense, Science and the Magic of Food (SESAM) programme set out to study whether learning about food systems transformation could be achieved by incorporating contemporary digital technologies. The SESAM programme took place in four elementary schools (teachers: n = 12, pupils: n = 300). We developed four learning stations with a food and cultivation theme, as well as digital themes such as a simple aquaponics plant with data collection sensors, a programmable robotized raised growing bed, an artificial light-driven vertical mini farm and an autonomous programmed drone-based delivery service. The report shows that the programme was able to create important learning around food systems transformation in a school setting and was perceived as a relevant route to Education for Sustainable Development Goals (ESDG). In particular, the strong focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning principles, project-based learning and the digital element was rated high. On the negative side, we found that teachers’ competencies are a crucial element and that a programme of this kind is time-consuming and needs the right type of external assistance if it was to be scaled up.", "keywords": [ "Transformation (genetics)", "Digital transformation", "Literacy", "Sociology", "Psychology", "Computer science", "Pedagogy", "World Wide Web", "Chemistry" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1386/ijfd_00049_1" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7150061151", "doi": "10.2514/1.d0556", "title": "Integrating Social and Economic Sustainability in Urban Air Mobility Network Planning", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-04-05", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mariah Barsotti", "John-Paul Clarke", "Zhenyu Gao" ], "first_author": "Mariah Barsotti", "venue": "Journal of Air Transportation", "publisher": "American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics", "abstract": "Urban air mobility (UAM) is an innovative concept with the potential to create numerous economic opportunities. However, the integration of UAM into existing urban environments presents significant challenges. Factors such as aircraft noise, community acceptance, and economic feasibility are primary concerns for investors, governments, and users. Recognizing the critical role of network and infrastructure design in a sustainable UAM system, this work focuses on enhancing UAM’s social and economic sustainability from a network planning perspective. Specifically, the authors plan the configurations of vertiports and flight corridors in a city by considering several key socioeconomic and environmental factors. The proposed methodology consists of social and economic factors identification, geospatial data integration, vertiport location selection, and flight corridor optimization. The methodology is applied in a detailed case study of the Austin, Texas, metropolitan area, in which the authors present and discuss a series of sustainable UAM network planning results across various cost-benefit scenarios.", "keywords": [ "Sustainability", "Metropolitan area", "Work (physics)", "Plan (archaeology)", "Geospatial analysis", "Socioeconomic status", "Key (lock)", "Urban planning", "Urban sustainability" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/1.d0556" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2303426630", "doi": null, "title": "Development and Flight Testing of an Autonomous Parafoil-Load System Demonstrator", "year": 2006, "publication_date": "2006-09-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Thomas Jann" ], "first_author": "Thomas Jann", "venue": "elib (German Aerospace Center)", "publisher": "Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)", "abstract": "Because of their capability of wind penetration and precise landing aerial delivery and recovery of payloads using gliding parachutes have been subject to several investigations [eg. 1-6]. In Germany, the Institute of Flight Research of DLR has developed and flight tested two instrumented test vehicles ALEX-I and -II (Small Autonomous Parafoil Landing Experiment) of about 100 kg payload each. The small size and weight of the vehicles allows using personnel ram air parachutes and help to keep the costs of flight testing low.", "keywords": [ "Payload (computing)", "Flight test", "Aeronautics", "Aerospace engineering", "Engineering", "Simulation", "Marine engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Computer science", "Computer security" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://elib.dlr.de/89542/" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2312622092", "doi": "10.2514/6.1979-1819", "title": "Missile aerodynamics - Past, present, future", "year": 1979, "publication_date": "1979-08-17", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jack N. Nielsen" ], "first_author": "Jack N. Nielsen", "venue": "Aircraft Systems and Technology Meeting", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Foreword I AM deeply appreciative of the honor of being invited to deliver the Wright Brothers Lectureship in Aeronautics for 1979 in memory of those ingenious aeronautical pioneers who first reduced sustained powered aerial flight to practice. This is the first Wright Brothers lecture devoted to the subject of missiles. While any connection between missile aerodynamics and the Wright Brothers may not be obvious at first glance, there are several important connections. The use of the airplane for the aerial delivery of missiles accounts to a large degree for the extensive current importance of missiles and the engineering and scientific efforts which have gone into the advancement of missile aerodynamics since World War II. Also there is much commonality in the fields of missile aerodynamics and airplane aerodynamics, and each field has benefited from new developments in the other.", "keywords": [ "Aerodynamics", "Aerospace engineering", "Missile", "Aeronautics", "Computer science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.1979-1819" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400862826", "doi": "10.3397/nc_2024_0035", "title": "On the modeling of urban air mobility vehicle takeoff and landing operations in the FAA Aviation Environmental Design Tool", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-07-14", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Stefan J. Letica", "Stephen A. Rizzi" ], "first_author": "Stefan J. Letica", "venue": "NOISE-CON proceedings", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles are anticipated to operate in close proximity to the public. A possible barrier to the introduction of UAM vehicles as a transit solution is their community noise impact, particularly around vertiports. The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) is the mandated tool to assess aircraft noise and other environmental impacts due to federal actions at civilian airports, vertiports, or in U.S. airspace for commercial flight operations. However, AEDT was designed to model fixed-wing aircraft and conventional helicopter operations, not UAM vehicles. Prior work by the authors showed significant differences in noise contours of UAM departures and approaches when modeling operations as fixed-wing and helicopter types in AEDT. This paper identifies the sources of those differences. Additionally, a NASA time-marching simulation tool is used to generate noise exposure data for equivalent operations to help identify differences associated with the integrated noise model implemented in AEDT and offer possible changes to assess UAM community noise impact more consistently with simulation-based modeling.", "keywords": [ "Takeoff", "Aeronautics", "Aviation", "Takeoff and landing", "Aerospace engineering", "Engineering", "Environmental science", "Transport engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3397/nc_2024_0035" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4405615266", "doi": "10.3390/drones8120770", "title": "Parametric Analysis of Landing Capacity for UAV Fleet Operations with Specific Airspace Structures and Rule-Based Constraints", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-12-19", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Peng Han", "Xinyue Yang", "Kin Huat Low", "Yifei Zhao" ], "first_author": "Peng Han", "venue": "Drones", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "As Urban Air Mobility (UAM) moves toward implementation, managing high-density, high-volume flights in urban airspaces becomes increasingly critical. In such environments, the design of vertiport airspace structures plays a key role in determining how many UAVs can operate safely and efficiently within a specific airspace. Existing studies have not fully explored the complex interdependencies between airspace structure parameters and fleet operation capacity, particularly regarding how various structural components and their configurations affect UAV fleet performance. This paper addresses these gaps by proposing a multi-layered funnel-shaped airspace structure for vertiports, along with an adjustable parameter model to assess factors affecting landing capacity. The proposed design includes the assembly layer, upper layer, lower layer, and approach point, forming the basis for fleet operations, divided into three phases: arrival, approach, and landing. By modeling fleet operations with various constraints and time-based algorithms, simulations have been conducted to analyze the impact of changing airspace structure parametric dimensions on UAV fleet operation capacity. The results reveal that fleet capacity is closely influenced by two limitations: the distance traveled in each phase and the availability of holding points at each layer. These findings provide valuable insights and contribute to future airspace design efforts for UAM vertiports.", "keywords": [ "Parametric statistics", "Aeronautics", "Computer science", "Aerospace engineering", "Engineering", "Mathematics", "Statistics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/8/12/770/pdf?version=1734614686" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7167921813", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.21900502", "title": "Innovative Air Mobility Challenges the Air Traffic Management Paradigm: A European Approach to Safe and Efficient Operation of Vertical Take-Off and Landing Capable Aircraft and Vertiports", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Karolin Schweiger", "Arinc Tutku Altun", "Arife Aycan Mutlu", "Jan Niklas Burgkart", "Michael Anger", "Akash Mishra", "José Ignacio Rodríguez Modrono", "Paolomaria Cappello", "Víctor Gordo", "Alberto Mangas Pita", "Cesar A. Nava-Gaxiola", "Giovanni Riccardi", "Edoardo Fornaciari", "Sara McNamee Freire", "Raquel Moldes Teijeiro", "Elisa Morales", "Michael Hardt", "Carlota Bettremieux Rodríguez", "Barbara Franco García", "Y Seprey", "Marzia Corsi", "Bernd Bassimir", "Alvin Benjamin Owusu-Afriyie", "Nathalie Kuehn", "Andrew Hately", "Schuchardt, Bianca Isabella", "Iliev, Boyan", "Kolago, Marie", "Pfister, Emily" ], "first_author": "Karolin Schweiger", "venue": "elib (German Aerospace Center)", "publisher": "Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)", "abstract": "Existing airspace structures, flight and operating procedures historically designed for conventional aircraft fall short of addressing the operational characteristic of VCA and vertiports particularly with respect to manoeuvrability, automation, digitalisation, and performance. Current European regulations for VCA and vertiports impose stricter flight planning requirements, such as the selection of diversion location. However, neither existing ATM nor the U-space framework provide the necessary information required by VCA operators. To address this gap, this paper examines four operational challenges: where to locate a vertiport, how to operate a vertiport, how to manage VCA at a vertiport, and how to operate and manage VCA within a network of vertiports. A consortium of 33 European partners investigated these challenges through three case studies in different operating environments (French Riviera, Balearic Islands, Rome), using ICAO's Global ATM Operational Concept as a guiding principle. The proposed concepts were validated through expert judgement, fast-time and human-in-the-loop simulation. The results show that the digital infrastructure of U-space provides an appropriate baseline for collecting and distributing vertiport-related information to all stakeholders. Nevertheless, current U-space regulation neither sufficiently addresses this use case nor supports VCA integration, instead VCA are treated as strictly segregated operations. In parallel, remotely piloted VCA lack a regulatory baseline for integration, while ATM does not yet provide the digital maturity and low-altitude coverage required for highly automated VCA operations. This paper elaborates the current European regulatory framework for VCA, identifies required evolutions in U-space and ATM, and demonstrates how vertiports can be digitally integrated into a traffic management system. The successful deployment of IAM ultimately depends on an interoperable integration of ATM and U-space, leading to a progressive digitalisation of the ATM paradigm.", "keywords": [ "Air traffic control", "Air traffic management", "Aviation", "Work (physics)", "Air transport", "Air pollution" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21900502" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2185842282", "doi": null, "title": "Joint Medical Distance Support and Evaluation (JMDSE) Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) & Joint Precision Air Delivery Systems (JPADS)", "year": 2009, "publication_date": "2009-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Richard Benney", "Andrew Meloni", "Michael M. Henry", "S. K. Patel", "Lcdr Gregory Cook", "Larry Goodell" ], "first_author": "Richard Benney", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "We will describe the technology to be used in JMDSE, a FY09 new start JCTD. DUSD AS&C is the proponent organization for JCTDs and JMDSE is being managed by a Joint Department of Defense (DoD) team with USJFCOM as the Operational Manager and NSRDEC as the Technical Manager. JMDSE is focused on low weight payloads (Micro Light Weight (10-150lbs) and Ultra Light Weight (200-700lbs)) JPADS for delivery of small medical bundles, sensors, robots and Psychological Operations (PSYOP) payloads along with Command and Control (C2) compatible litters from fixed wing, rotary wing and unmanned aerial systems (UASs). JMDSE will focus heavily on US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) aerial delivery requirements.", "keywords": [ "Joint (building)", "Aeronautics", "Robot", "Engineering", "Focus (optics)", "Computer science", "Operations management", "Systems engineering", "Simulation", "Operations research", "Artificial intelligence", "Civil engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.nps.edu/Academics/Centers/ADSC/papers/JPADS%20-%20Benney%20-%20JMDSE,%20JCTD%20and%20JPADS.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4407414631", "doi": "10.2514/6.2025-0582", "title": "Managing Congestion in Advanced Air Mobility Operations Using a Bi-Level Optimization Approach", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-03", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Haochen Wu", "Max Z. Li", "Jeffrey M. Henderson", "Erin M. Bongo", "Lesley A. Weitz" ], "first_author": "Haochen Wu", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is exploring integration of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations – comprising Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) operations – into the National Airspace System. Extensible Traffic Management (xTM) concepts will leverage industry-provided services for some traffic management services to allow AAM operations to grow without adverse effects on legacy air traffic operations and services. In far-term operations, multiple fleet operators and industry-provided services will use a common set of constrained resources like airspace and vertiports. This paper will evaluate the use of a bi-level, decentralized optimization approach to manage congestion and reduce delays for complex AAM operations with multiple fleet operators and service providers. Numerical results are shown for a Los Angeles-based vertiport network.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-0582" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4206294383", "doi": "10.1109/mspec.2022.9676362", "title": "Flying Pallets Without Pilots: A drone startup will test a radical new vision of long-range cargo transport in Europe", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Philip E. Ross" ], "first_author": "Philip E. Ross", "venue": "IEEE Spectrum", "publisher": "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers", "abstract": "Delivering things by drone began as a stunt in 2012, when a model airplane dropped a burrito by parachute to a hungry customer waiting below. The concept then graduated, first to a proof-of-principle venture in Iceland using multicopters, then to a well-funded Amazon project in the United Kingdom. But these and similar attempts to solve the last-mile problem―the mile leading to the customer―have largely been disappointing. Amazon recently scaled back its drone-based delivery project in the U.K.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Aeronautics", "Mile", "Engineering", "Airplane", "Pallet", "Last mile (transportation)", "Launched", "Test (biology)", "Range (aeronautics)", "Transport engineering", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/mspec.2022.9676362" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2754321591", "doi": "10.23919/chicc.2017.8027506", "title": "A flight control system for parafoils based on improved PID control approach", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-07-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hao Sun", "Qinglin Sun", "Jin Tao", "Shuzhen Luo", "Zhengqiang Chen" ], "first_author": "Hao Sun", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The PID control technique which is improved by linear extended state observer (LESO) is applied to the design of the flight control system for parafoils with Global Position System(GPS). Firstly, in this paper, the nonlinear dynamics model of the parafoil system is outlined. Then, method of guidance and the theory of LESO is presented in detail. Next, the control system using improved PID control technique is introduced integrally. The results of simulation and flight test are presented and analyzed at the end of the paper. The results of the improved controller show the great superiority to the traditional PID controller. In the flight test, the error of the trajectory tracking is less than twenty meters and the control strategy has great application value on the precision aerial delivery system.", "keywords": [ "PID controller", "Control theory (sociology)", "Control system", "Trajectory", "Control engineering", "Flight test", "Computer science", "Controller (irrigation)", "Nonlinear system", "Attitude control", "Control (management)", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.23919/chicc.2017.8027506" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4287122904", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2106.04729", "title": "A Markov Decision Process Approach for Managing Medical Drone Deliveries", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-06-08", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Amin Asadi", "Sarah Nurre Pinkley", "Martijn Mes" ], "first_author": "Amin Asadi", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "We consider the problem of optimizing the distribution operations at a drone hub that dispatches drones to different geographic locations generating stochastic demands for medical supplies. Drone delivery is an innovative method that introduces many benefits, such as low-contact delivery, thereby reducing the spread of pandemic and vaccine-preventable diseases. While we focus on medical supply delivery for this work, drone delivery is suitable for many other items, including food, postal parcels, and e-commerce. In this paper, our goal is to address drone delivery challenges related to the stochastic demands of different geographic locations. We consider different classes of demand related to geographic locations that require different flight ranges, which is directly related to the amount of charge held in a drone battery. We classify the stochastic demands based on their distance from the drone hub, use a Markov decision process to model the problem, and perform computational tests using realistic data representing a prominent drone delivery company. We solve the problem using a reinforcement learning method and show its high performance compared with the exact solution found using dynamic programming. Finally, we analyze the results and provide insights for managing the drone hub operations.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Markov decision process", "Computer science", "Markov process", "Process (computing)", "Operations research", "Markov chain", "Engineering", "Machine learning", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2106.04729" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4393308972", "doi": "10.3390/info15040186", "title": "Locating Electrified Aircraft Service to Reduce Urban Congestion", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-03-29", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Raj Bridgelall" ], "first_author": "Raj Bridgelall", "venue": "Information", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "The relentless expansion of urban populations and the surge in e-commerce have increased the demand for rapid delivery services, leading to an increase in truck traffic that contributes to urban congestion, environmental pollution, and economic inefficiencies. The critical challenge this poses is not only in managing urban spaces efficiently but also in aligning with global sustainability goals. This study addresses the pressing need for innovative solutions to reduce reliance on truck transportation in congested urban areas without compromising the efficiency of freight delivery systems. This study contributes a novel approach that leverages electrified and autonomous aircraft (EAA) cargo shuttles to shift the bulk of air transportable freight from road to air, specifically targeting underutilized airports and establishing vertiports in remote locations. By applying data mining techniques to analyze freight flow data, this research identifies key commodity categories and metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) where the implementation of EAA services could significantly mitigate truck-induced congestion. The findings reveal that targeting a select few commodities and MSAs can potentially decrease truck traffic, with electronics emerging as the dominant commodity category, and cities like Los Angeles and Chicago as prime candidates for initial EAA service deployment. Stakeholders in urban planning, transportation logistics, and environmental policy will find this study’s insights beneficial. This work lays a foundation for future innovations in sustainable urban mobility and logistics.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Service (business)", "Aeronautics", "Computer science", "Business", "Engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/15/4/186/pdf?version=1711701726" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2064828349", "doi": "10.1002/pen.760110405", "title": "The mechanical properties of textile materials as influenced by complexity and rate of testing", "year": 1971, "publication_date": "1971-07-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Frank Figucia", "Louis I. Weiner", "Roy C. Laible" ], "first_author": "Frank Figucia", "venue": "Polymer Engineering and Science", "publisher": "Wiley", "abstract": "Abstract Fibrous structures of high complexity, as introduced by ply and twist, have been subjected to high and low speed tensile tests. The ratio of strength at high speed to low speed is always greater than one, but decreases with increasing complexity of fibrous structure. The ratio of elongation to break at high speed to that at low speed is always less than one and also decreases with increasing structure complexity. The ability to absorb energy markedly increases with increasing complexity of geometry at low strain rates, characteristic of an Instron. The reasons for this additional energy absorption are discussed. Tests at high rates of strain point out the inability of many complex textile structures to translate their superior energy absorption characteristics to high strain rates. The results obtained and the principles demonstrated are applied to the development of improved materials for use in aerial delivery and ballistic applications.", "keywords": [ "Materials science", "Elongation", "Textile", "Ultimate tensile strength", "Composite material", "Strain rate", "Tensile testing", "Absorption (acoustics)", "High energy", "Strain (injury)", "Engineering physics" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.760110405" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4407414661", "doi": "10.2514/6.2025-0455", "title": "April-Tag Detection via Deep Learning CNN Models", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-03", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Fahad Mannan", "Jorge Augusto Quiroga", "Sihua Shao", "Mostafa Hassanalian" ], "first_author": "Fahad Mannan", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "April-tag detection is a pivotal technology in robotics, offering anchor points in the environment to help autonomous systems navigate and execute tasks with precision. In this research, we leverage April tags as set points for drones to perform precise landings on bio-inspired tree-like vertiports, forming a critical component of the Sustainable Vertiport Framework for Autonomous Drone Swarm Methane Emission Measurement over Orphaned Wells (STEER) project. This system aims to autonomously and efficiently quantify methane emissions from widely dispersed orphaned wells, utilizing a self-contained, solar-powered infrastructure. Methane emissions from abandoned oil wells are a significant environmental concern. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approximately 7.11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and methane are emitted annually from 2.15 million unplugged orphaned wells in the United States—a figure projected to rise as more wells are abandoned. STEER's ultimate goal is to provide a scalable solution to detect and mitigate these emissions. The precision landing of drones, a key component of this system, occurs upon mission completion. This process employs April tag detection powered by a convolutional neural network (CNN), enabling accurate recognition of tags via video feeds from the drones’ stereo cameras. A custom Robot Operating System (ROS) program transitions the drone from return-to-base mode into precision landing mode, aligning it with the identified April tag within the vertiport capsule. This study investigates the effectiveness of the CNN model across varying distances and orientations between the drone and the tag. The findings will establish tolerances for landing confidence and optimize the placement of tags within the vertiport design. By addressing these parameters, the research aims to enhance the reliability and efficiency of the autonomous system, contributing to more effective environmental monitoring and mitigation strategies.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Artificial intelligence", "Deep learning", "Convolutional neural network" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-0455" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4411842761", "doi": "10.55121/tdr.v3i1.449", "title": "Integrating 5PL Frameworks with Drone-Based Last-Mile Delivery: A Model for Future-Ready Logistics", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-06-29", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tejinder Singh Lakhwani" ], "first_author": "Tejinder Singh Lakhwani", "venue": "Transportation Development Research", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The rapid evolution of logistics service providers from 1PL to 5PL has underscored the growing need for intelligent, data-driven orchestration across the supply chain. Simultaneously, drone-based delivery has emerged as a promising solution to last-mile challenges, particularly in urban congestion zones and infrastructure-deficient rural areas. However, current deployments of drone logistics remain largely siloed and unintegrated with broader digital logistics platforms. This paper proposes a novel conceptual framework that embeds drone-based last-mile delivery within the orchestration architecture of fifth-party logistics (5PL) systems. Leveraging a multi-agent digital twin model, the study integrates technologies such as IoT for real-time tracking, AI-based metaheuristics (ALNS, PSO, NSGA-II) for route and hub optimization, and blockchain for SLA compliance. A simulation case based on India’s rural healthcare supply chain and ONDC clusters demonstrates substantial improvements in delivery time (↓65%), operational cost (↓40%), and carbon footprint (↓90%) over conventional 4PL systems. Sensitivity analyses under weather fluctuations, demand surges, and battery degradation validate the model’s resilience and adaptability. The findings position 5PLs as future-ready orchestrators of autonomous delivery systems and offer actionable insights for policymakers, supply chain managers, and technology developers toward building sustainable and scalable drone logistics ecosystems.The framework emphasizes interoperability and modular deployment, ensuring ease of integration with evolving logistics platforms.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Last mile (transportation)", "Mile", "City logistics", "Computer science", "Business", "Engineering", "Transport engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.55121/tdr.v3i1.449" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4306950146", "doi": "10.33012/2022.18322", "title": "Optimization of UWB Network Placement Using Genetic Algorithm Supporting Drone Taxi Landing in Ertiport", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-10-20", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Doyeon Jung", "Euiho Kim" ], "first_author": "Doyeon Jung", "venue": "Proceedings of the Satellite Division's International Technical Meeting (Online)/Proceedings of the Satellite Division's International Technical Meeting (CD-ROM)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Accurate positioning of a drone taxi during takeoff and landing is a very important aspect regarding flight safety. However, in an urban environment where the demand of passenger is concentrated, it is difficult to obtain a reliable global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal. Thus, the positioning result is unreliable. Therefore, we propose an ultra wideband (UWB) network on the vertiport to replace GNSS to obtain accurate positioning. Since the positioning performance of the UWB networks depends on the placement of UWB anchors, it is necessary to optimize the layout of UWB. The optimization process takes into account airborne UWB ranging error characteristics and Fresnel hole effects that depend on the received signal strength (RSS) such that the actual positioning accuracy of a drone taxi can be well predicted. In this paper, the landing path of a drone taxi set as the tag, and the UWB anchors installed in the vertiport were set as the anchor, and we optimized the UWB anchors layout about landing path of the drone taxi. As an optimization algorithm, we propose a binary genetic algorithm using a multi-objective fitness function consisting the number and positioning error of UWB. Then, we conducted hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) to confirm that flight controller that is deployed position estimation algorithm of optimized UWB positioning network complete the flight following the mission path. As a result, positioning error has similar pattern to positioning accuracy of simulation result based on genetic algorithm and flight controller completed the flight along the mission path.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Genetic algorithm", "Computer science", "GNSS applications", "Real-time computing", "Global Positioning System", "Ultra-wideband", "Ranging", "Simulation", "Telecommunications" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.33012/2022.18322" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4389421519", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2312.02505", "title": "Evaluating eVTOL Network Performance and Fleet Dynamics through Simulation-Based Analysis", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-12-05", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Emin Burak Onat", "Vishwanath Bulusu", "Anjan Chakrabarty", "Mark M. Hansen", "Raja Sengupta", "Banavar Sridar" ], "first_author": "Emin Burak Onat", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "Urban Air Mobility (UAM) represents a promising solution for future transportation. In this study, we introduce VertiSim, an advanced event-driven simulator developed to evaluate e-VTOL transportation networks. Uniquely, VertiSim simultaneously models passenger, aircraft, and energy flows, reflecting the interrelated complexities of UAM systems. We utilized VertiSim to assess 19 operational scenarios serving a daily demand for 2,834 passengers with varying fleet sizes and vertiport distances. The study aims to support stakeholders in making informed decisions about fleet size, network design, and infrastructure development by understanding tradeoffs in passenger delay time, operational costs, and fleet utilization. Our simulations, guided by a heuristic dispatch and charge policy, indicate that fleet size significantly influences passenger delay and energy consumption within UAM networks. We find that increasing the fleet size can reduce average passenger delays, but this comes at the cost of higher operational expenses due to an increase in the number of repositioning flights. Additionally, our analysis highlights how vertiport distances impact fleet utilization: longer distances result in reduced total idle time and increased cruise and charge times, leading to more efficient fleet utilization but also longer passenger delays. These findings are important for UAM network planning, especially in balancing fleet size with vertiport capacity and operational costs. Simulator demo is available at: https://tinyurl.com/vertisim-vis", "keywords": [ "Cruise", "Transport engineering", "Energy consumption", "Idle", "Computer science", "Fleet management", "Operations research", "Heuristic", "Simulation", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2312.02505" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4379653779", "doi": "10.2514/1.i011245", "title": "Data-Driven Approach Toward Airspace Design for Regional Air Mobility Operations in Korea", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-06-07", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Junghyun Kim", "Seul-Ki Kim" ], "first_author": "Junghyun Kim", "venue": "Journal of Aerospace Information Systems", "publisher": "American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics", "abstract": "As the Korean government agencies have recently announced the first official road map for urban air mobility (UAM) with the aim of introducing a new aviation transportation system, many companies in South Korea have initiated projects to design airspace infrastructure for UAM operations at the early stage of development. Given that the agencies tentatively plan to expand UAM to regional air mobility (RAM) operations at the mature stage of development, this research specifically focuses on establishing airspace infrastructure for upcoming RAM operations in South Korea. The proposed methodology leverages three different algorithms: 1) a partitioning-based clustering algorithm for placing vertiport locations, 2) a density-based clustering algorithm for predicting areas of convective weather, and 3) the Latin hypercube sampling-based probabilistic road map (LHS-based PRM) algorithm for generating an adaptive airspace network. The resulting airspace, constructed by the proposed methodology, takes into account airspace restriction areas such as prohibited areas or military operation areas. The main contribution of this research is to employ a data-driven approach using machine learning and LHS-based PRM algorithms to dynamically establish airspace infrastructure to be potentially used for upcoming RAM operations in South Korea.", "keywords": [ "Cluster analysis", "Aviation", "National Airspace System", "Air traffic control", "Flight plan", "Computer science", "Latin hypercube sampling", "Operations research", "Transport engineering", "Real-time computing", "Engineering", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/1.i011245" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4312364158", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-658-30034-0_7", "title": "Ausblick", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "de", "authors": [ "Ulrich Häp", "Christina Pastor Brandt" ], "first_author": "Ulrich Häp", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Humanities", "Philosophy" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-30034-0_7" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4210638446", "doi": "10.1109/globecom46510.2021.9685060", "title": "Joint Path Planning of Truck and Drones for Mobile Crowdsensing: Model and Algorithm", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-12-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zijia Wang", "Baoxian Zhang", "Cheng Li" ], "first_author": "Zijia Wang", "venue": "2021 IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Drones (also known as unmanned aerial vehicles) has been widely utilized to enhance the performance of mobile crowdsensing (MCS) where the drones can greatly increase the service range by serving as mobile task executors. In this paper, we consider the joint use of truck and drones for effective task execution in the MCS model. In this model, drones are dispatched to depart from the truck, execute one or multiple tasks, and converge with the truck for data collection and battery replacement. In this process, the truck can serve as a mobile drone hub as well as a mobile task executor. The design objective is to minimize the overall cost for truck movement, drone flying, and driver payment in the whole MCS process. We formulate this problem as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problem. Due to the NP-hardness of this problem, we propose an efficient algorithm based on variable neighborhood search for efficient joint task assignment and path planning. We conduct numerical experiments and the result demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and the advantage of joint use of truck and drones for mobile crowdsensing.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Truck", "Task (project management)", "Motion planning", "Process (computing)", "Mobile robot", "Real-time computing", "Artificial intelligence", "Engineering", "Robot", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/globecom46510.2021.9685060" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3130625205", "doi": "10.3391/mbi.2021.12.2.17", "title": "Evaluating lethal toxicant doses for the largest individuals of an invasive vertebrate predator with indeterminate growth", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shane R. Siers", "Scott M. Goetz", "Rachel M. Volsteadt", "Melia G. Nafus" ], "first_author": "Shane R. Siers", "venue": "Management of Biological Invasions", "publisher": "Regional Euro-Asian Biological Invasions Centre (REABIC)", "abstract": "The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) was accidentally introduced to Guam and caused severe ecological and economic damages. Acetaminophen is an effective, low-risk oral toxicant for invasive brown treesnakes, and an automated aerial delivery system (ADS) has been developed for landscape-scale toxic bait distribution. A fixed dose of 80 mg of acetaminophen within a tablet inserted into a dead neonatal mouse (DNM) was lethal for all brown treesnakes in previous trials; however, these trials did not include very large individuals which are difficult to acquire for testing. Because most reptiles continue to grow throughout their lifespan, a small number reach much greater than average body sizes. Here, we tested effectiveness of 80 mg acetaminophen DNM baits for unusually large brown treesnakes as they became available. Our results confirmed that an 80 mg dose is lethal for the vast majority of snakes on Guam, but efficacy starts to diminish around 200 g of body mass. We also tested an alternative mouse bait configuration with 160 mg of acetaminophen that could be incorporated into the ADS to improve control of unusually large snakes. The 160 mg dose is expected to be effective for nearly all female snakes; males grow much larger and additional methods will be needed for extraordinarily large individuals. We describe a full dose-response curve for brown treesnakes to acetaminophen tablets and estimate the LD90 at 299 mg/kg and the LD99 at 578 mg/kg. To our knowledge, this is the first published dose-response curve for an invasive vertebrate with indeterminate growth.", "keywords": [ "Toxicant", "Predator", "Vertebrate", "Biology", "Indeterminate", "Predator avoidance", "Predation", "Ecology", "Zoology", "Toxicity", "Medicine", "Genetics" ], "cited_by_count": 12, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2021.12.2.17" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7129089299", "doi": "10.1016/j.tre.2026.104758", "title": "Optimizing urban transport: an optimization framework for urban air mobility site selection and route operation under real-world travel demand", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-02-16", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zheyan Fan", "Mingyang Pei", "Pengfei Chen", "Zhuoyan Wei", "Lingshu Zhong" ], "first_author": "Zheyan Fan", "venue": "Transportation Research Part E Logistics and Transportation Review", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Key (lock)", "Traffic congestion", "Site selection", "Sensitivity (control systems)", "Operator (biology)", "Transportation planning", "Aviation", "Selection (genetic algorithm)", "Level of service", "Service (business)" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2026.104758" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1521987110", "doi": null, "title": "Evaluation of Rotorwash Characteristics for Tiltrotor and Tiltwing Aircraft in Hovering Flight", "year": 1990, "publication_date": "1990-12-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Samuel W. Ferguson" ], "first_author": "Samuel W. Ferguson", "venue": "Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The rotorwash characteristics of eleven different types of tiltrotor and tiltwing aircraft in hovering flight are presented for comparison purposes. Rotorwash characteristics that have been quantified included the mean and peak outwash velocity profiles off the left wing position (azimuth = 270 degrees) and nose position (azimuth = 0 degrees). Maximum values from each of the peak velocity and peak dynamic pressure profiles are also presented as a function of distance from the rotorcraft along both the 0 and 270 degree azimuths. Calculated personnel overturning forces are presented along both azimuths for a six foot tall person. All documented results were calculated with the ROTWASH analysis program. Flight test data, as correlated with the analysis program, are presented for the XV-15 tiltrotor and the CL-84 tiltwing. These hover characteristics do not represent the worst case scenario characteristics which would be expected at a vertiport. Scenarios involving ambient winds and maneuvering flight near hover generate higher rotorwash velocities. Unfortunately, the identification and prediction of worst case scenario results for comparison purposes is not presently possible. A companion report, entitled 'Rotorwash Computer Model - Users Guide,' DOT/FAA/RD-90/25, discusses the ROTWASH analysis program. This computer program is used to predict rotorwash characteristics of helicopter, tiltrotor, and tiltwing aircraft. The program also has the capability to analyze several different types of rotorwash related hazards which might be encountered in a vertiport environment.", "keywords": [ "Azimuth", "Position (finance)", "Aerospace engineering", "Engineering", "Simulation", "Aeronautics", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA231236" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4417224413", "doi": "10.21203/rs.3.rs-8221874/v1", "title": "Research on Location-Routing Problem for Logistics UAVs Based on Bi-layer Programming", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-12-11", "type": "preprint", "language": null, "authors": [ "Jiangao Zhang", "Suyin Cui", "Pei Zhu", "Liya Wang", "Zhi Sun", "Quan Shao" ], "first_author": "Jiangao Zhang", "venue": "Research Square", "publisher": null, "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Adaptability", "Robustness (evolution)", "Scalability", "Benchmark (surveying)", "Drone", "Key (lock)", "Path (computing)", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Range (aeronautics)" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-8221874/latest.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4402688370", "doi": "10.2514/6.2024-4006", "title": "A Graph-Based Adversarial Imitation Learning Framework for Reliable & Realtime Fleet Scheduling in Urban Air Mobility", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-07-27", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Prithvi Poddar", "Steve M. Paul", "Souma Chowdhury" ], "first_author": "Prithvi Poddar", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The advent of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) presents the scope for a transformative shift in the domain of urban transportation. However, its widespread adoption and economic viability depends in part on the ability to optimally schedule the fleet of aircraft across vertiports in a UAM network, under uncertainties attributed to airspace congestion, changing weather conditions, and varying demands. This paper presents a comprehensive optimization formulation of the fleet scheduling problem, while also identifying the need for alternate solution approaches, since directly solving the resulting integer nonlinear programming (INLP) problem is computationally prohibitive for daily fleet scheduling. Previous work has shown the effectiveness of using (graph) reinforcement learning (RL) approaches to train real-time executable policy models for fleet scheduling. {However, such policies can often be brittle on out-of-distribution scenarios or edge cases}. Moreover, training performance also deteriorates as the complexity (e.g., number of constraints) of the problem increases. To address these issues, this paper presents an imitation learning approach where the RL-based policy exploits expert demonstrations yielded by solving the exact optimization using a Genetic Algorithm. The policy model comprises Graph Neural Network (GNN) based encoders that embed the space of vertiports and aircraft, Transformer networks to encode demand, passenger fare and transport cost profiles, and a Multi-head attention (MHA) based decoder. Expert demonstrations are used through the Generative Adversarial Imitation Learning (GAIL) algorithm. Interfaced with a UAM simulation environment involving 8 vertiports and 40 aircrafts, in terms of the daily profits earned reward, the new imitative approach achieves better mean performance and remarkable improvement in the case of unseen worst-case scenarios, compared to pure RL results.", "keywords": [ "Adversarial system", "Computer science", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Graph", "Job shop scheduling", "Imitation", "Artificial intelligence", "Computer network", "Mathematical optimization", "Theoretical computer science", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-4006" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4408533790", "doi": "10.1108/hff-11-2024-0857", "title": "Physics-aware wind surrogate model for UAV aerodynamic response assessment", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-03-17", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Gonzalo Veiga-Piñeiro", "Pablo Dominguez", "Enrique Aldao", "Gabriel Fontenla-Carrera", "Fernando Veiga-López", "Elena Martín", "H. González-Jorge" ], "first_author": "Gonzalo Veiga-Piñeiro", "venue": "International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow", "publisher": "Emerald Publishing Limited", "abstract": "Purpose This study aims to use dimensionality reduction techniques applied to a detailed wind flow computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-generated database to develop a fast numerical tool that predicts, using the available weather forecast data, the airflow around any urban environment. The tool is aimed for its use in path planning design and optimization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in urban mobility. Design/methodology/approach A complex urban site is selected as an example of vertiport. Geospatial data and land models are used to automate the CFD computational domain, mesh generation and terrain classification. To enhance efficiency, some mesh cells, corresponding to dense vegetation and remote buildings, are solved as porous media. After validation, a CFD database is created using a Reynolds-averaged Navier−Stokes model by sweeping different wind flow boundary conditions. The database is processed with high order singular value decomposition techniques, and interpolation methods enable real-time wind flow predictions, producing detailed maps with resolution under 1 m in approximately 1 s. Findings The surrogate model accelerates predictions by a factor of 7200 compared to direct CFD simulations while maintaining acceptable accuracy: mean relative deviations in velocity predictions near the buildings of interest are of the order of 2%. Examples of UAV trajectories and their dynamic responses are obtained using the developed tool. Originality/value The computational domain is automated using geospatial data, facilitating mesh classification and improving simulation efficiency. The surrogate model, which uses wind forecasts from the meteorological as inputs, provides real-time wind-flow predictions and improves UAV flight path design by identifying high-risk areas before take-off.", "keywords": [ "Aerodynamics", "Physics", "Aerospace engineering", "Aeronautics", "Mechanics", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 11, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.emerald.com/hff/article-pdf/35/10/3583/10389550/hff-11-2024-0857en.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W321895728", "doi": null, "title": "THE DEMAND FOR INTERCITY PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION BY VTOL AIRCRAFT. VOLUME II: APPENDICES,", "year": 1968, "publication_date": "1968-08-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Norman J Asher", "Elliot S. Wetzler", "Seymour M Horowitz", "Schneider,W. Bartz" ], "first_author": "Norman J Asher", "venue": "Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Contents: Aircraft characteristics; Distribution of local origins and destinations; Ground transportation time and cost to the airport; Aircraft costs; Rate of return on investment; Aircraft load factor; Nonpassenger revenue; Calculation of aircraft fares; Comparative cost estimates of vertiports and airports; Derivation of passengers' value of time relative to income from the 1963 census of transportation; VTOL stimulation of air travel; Location of airports and vertiports.", "keywords": [ "Revenue", "Investment (military)", "Transport engineering", "Census", "Destinations", "Business", "Finance", "Tourism", "Geography", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0677080" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4318576778", "doi": "10.1109/dessert58054.2022.10018697", "title": "Organization of a safe and efficient system of air transportation in and around an urban area using Unmanned Arial Vehicles", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-12-09", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Тетяна Федорівна Шмельова", "Yury N. Kovalyov", "Dmytro Kucherov", "Victor D. Stovba" ], "first_author": "Тетяна Федорівна Шмельова", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The paper focuses on performing safe, coordinated, and effectively integrated flights in and around an urban area using Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAV). The tasks are considered: the choice of territory for UAV flights; analysis, evaluation of terrain, and obstructions, drawing up a map indicating the risks of passing obstructions; GRID analysis of the selected fragment of territory; risk assessment according to the type of zone from “Restricted area” to “Dangerous area” obtained;finding the routes of the minimum risk and maximum safety using the method of dynamic programming. The algorithms by the UAV operators in an emergency and selecting optimal landing aerodrome/place/vertiport using decision-making methods in uncertainty are presented. Examples of finding safe routes for UAV flights are presented: monitoring and overflight of power lines, delivery of medical supplies, and decision-making models in emergencies: flights in bad weather conditions and loss of communication with UAV.", "keywords": [ "Terrain", "Computer science", "Grid", "Route planning", "Real-time computing", "Transport engineering", "Environmental science", "Operations research", "Geography", "Engineering", "Cartography" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/dessert58054.2022.10018697" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4410359546", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2025.04.050", "title": "Enhancing Accessibility in Rural Areas through Advanced Air Mobility", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Katrin Lippoldt", "Christoph Maget", "Lisa Kessler", "Klaus Bogenberger" ], "first_author": "Katrin Lippoldt", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "We address the contribution of a future Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) service to the accessibility of important facilities and thereby focus on rural areas. For our case study, we choose two different use case orientations: emergency services and leisure activities, represented by hospitals and cinemas, respectively. Both are defined as relevant points of interest (POIs), which are to be reached via a local vertiport on site. The challenge is to define suitably located vertiports as starting points that enable the population to reach these locations. This problem is initially treated as a location allocation analysis. The special feature of our method lies in the use of a k-means algorithm for the targeted clustering of vertiports. We can show that the door-to-door accessibility of the named locations is significantly improved by the use of AAM. Our method outperforms comparable approaches that are based purely on travel time-based algorithms.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Business", "Environmental planning", "Computer science", "Environmental science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2025.04.050" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4406725737", "doi": "10.1201/9781003479154-15", "title": "Routing and Navigation among Aerial Obstacles Using Deep Learning and Depth Maps for Obstacle Routing in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-22", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "V. Muthumanikandan" ], "first_author": "V. Muthumanikandan", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Drone-based delivery is a potential and very successful component of municipal logistics systems since it saves money and time in logistics delivery. Drone delivery has several advantages over ground-based delivery. Drones, in particular, can deliver items more swiftly, cheaply, on-demand, and without the need for human intervention. Many e-commerce companies, such as Amazon, Google, UPS, and DHL, employ drones to transport business packages. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of power, weight, and functions, transportation activities cannot be properly completed in a complex and dynamic environment. The bulk of current research on drone-based delivery has concentrated on single-customer and short-range delivery because of the drones’ constrained flying range and battery life. When employing drones to deliver packages, the cargo capacity, flight range, and battery capacity are crucial considerations. Several approaches have been proposed to address the problems, such as truck-drone collaboration, autonomous drone delivery, and drone delivery with recharge stations. Recently, academic and industry research communities have been paying close attention to drone delivery with multiple recharge stations due to its capacity to carry out long-distance deliveries in a single trip. In this study, we also consider the drone delivery approach with various charging stations. It is possible to use charging stations that can be installed on building rooftops to charge drones directly from a charging pad. The drone can still use the charging station even if its maximum flight range is exceeded by the client’s location. To ensure that the drone reaches the charging station prior to the battery reaching its threshold level, two nearby charging stations must be installed within a predetermined radius.", "keywords": [ "Obstacle", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Aerial imagery", "Aeronautics", "Cartography", "Artificial intelligence", "Geography", "Real-time computing", "Engineering", "Computer network", "Archaeology" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003479154-15" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4414538672", "doi": "10.1109/icc52391.2025.11160730", "title": "V2X-Enabled Air-Ground Traffic Coordination for Enhancing On-Demand Air-Taxi Mobility", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-06-08", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Aoyu Pang", "Maonan Wang", "Wenwei Yue", "Man-On Pun", "Chung Shue Chen" ], "first_author": "Aoyu Pang", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban Air Mobility (UAM) offers a promising solution to urban congestion by utilizing low-altitude airspace, effectively alleviating pressure on ground transportation. The integration of air-taxi services with existing ground transport infrastructure enables streamlined, efficient door-to-door travel. However, current research on air-taxi systems often overlooks the role of passenger decision-making in selecting the optimal boarding vertiport, a factor that can greatly impact overall system efficiency and user satisfaction. To address this problem, we propose a Unified Air-Ground Mobility Coordination (UAGMC) framework. This framework, powered by deep reinforcement learning (RL) and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication, optimizes vertiport selection and dynamically plans air-taxi routes based on real-time air and ground traffic conditions. Experimental results show that our approach reduces average travel time by 32 % compared to traditional allocation methods using proportional distribution. This framework advances overall travel efficiency and provides novel insights for integrating multimodal transportation systems.", "keywords": [ "Traffic congestion", "Reinforcement learning", "Public transport", "Selection (genetic algorithm)", "Air traffic control", "Ground transportation", "Travel time" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/icc52391.2025.11160730" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3049359242", "doi": "10.1016/j.cja.2020.07.025", "title": "Trajectory optimization of aerial slung load release for piloted helicopters", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-08-13", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Luofeng Wang", "Renliang Chen", "Xufei Yan" ], "first_author": "Luofeng Wang", "venue": "Chinese Journal of Aeronautics", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "This study aims to provide the pilot with optimal control time histories for stabilization of a helicopter after releasing the slung load in aerial delivery missions. A model with 21 degrees of freedom (21-DOF) has been developed and validated for a helicopter slung load system. The control history is generated with detailed procedure based on trajectory optimization. Effects of the objective function formulation on the results are discussed and rules are obtained to assist in the objective function determination. We conclude that the pilot should first decrease and then increase the collective control and adjust the longitudinal control to stabilize the helicopter after the in-hover slung load release. The obtained control history is reasonable and helpful for safety and efficiency improvement. Effects of path constraints and the Flight Control System (FCS) are studied. More stringent path constraints will lead to longer time spent and more controls. Stronger stiffness and weaker damping from the FCS will cause milder control histories but sharper on-axis state histories.", "keywords": [ "Trajectory", "Trajectory optimization", "Control theory (sociology)", "Control (management)", "Optimal control", "Path (computing)", "Stiffness", "Function (biology)", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Simulation", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1000936120303472/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4313201608", "doi": "10.1016/j.ifacol.2022.10.245", "title": "Passenger Experience of Simulated Urban Air Mobility Ride Quality: Responses to Large-Scale Motion", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bernard D. Adelstein", "William B. Toscano", "Fernando A. Espinosa", "Patricia S. Cowings" ], "first_author": "Bernard D. Adelstein", "venue": "IFAC-PapersOnLine", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Twenty-three participants took 10-min solo Urban Air Mobility quadrotor flights as passengers on two separate days in a six-dof large-motion simulator. One flight was in a rotor speed (i.e., RPM) controlled model; the other was under rotor blade pitch (i.e., collective) control. Both were flown in the same modeled turbulence. When ranked across test conditions, the severity of participants' self-reported simulator sickness symptoms paralleled acceleration-derived predictions of motion sickness likelihood in the following worst-to-best order: 1) RPM control; 2) collective control; and 3) preflight while still on the vertiport pad. Various objective measures revealed potential impacts of flight roughness on the learning of a visuo-manual reaction-time task and on heart and breathing rate indicators of preflight/inflight passenger stress.", "keywords": [ "Motion sickness", "Simulation", "Motion (physics)", "Aeronautics", "Rotor (electric)", "Acceleration", "Computer science", "Task (project management)", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Psychology", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2022.10.245" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2156155656", "doi": "10.2514/6.2009-2931", "title": "Development of Aerodynamic Analysis Software Tools Within the FASTWing CL Project", "year": 2009, "publication_date": "2009-05-04", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ivar J. Øye" ], "first_author": "Ivar J. Øye", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The FASTWing CL ram-air parafoil was designed for fully autonomous aerial deliveries of heavy payloads up to 6 tons, with a wing area of 300 square meters. CFD norway was in charge of the development of a flow-structure coupling tool, taking into account aerodynamic loads and structural response of the canopy. Since the geometric shape of the inflated canopy depends on the pressure distribution on the surface, a structural model must be utilized in conjunction with the fluid model in an iterative manner. Between the two separate analysis models a fluid structure interface model was established. Compared to wind-tunnel data the computed lift versus angle-of-attack slope for the fixed canopy typical was too steep. However, the results obtained on the inflated canopy clearly improved the predictions. The computed lift was in excellent agreement with the wind-tunnel data. The drag, however, was slightly overestimated. Furthermore, the aerodynamic data were used to simulate the effect of the dynamic flare during landing.", "keywords": [ "Aerodynamics", "Computer science", "Software", "Software engineering", "Systems engineering", "Aeronautics", "Aerospace engineering", "Engineering", "Programming language" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2009-2931" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4379877819", "doi": "10.2514/6.2023-3262", "title": "Urban Air Mobility Network Distribution in Chicago Metropolitan Area", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-06-08", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Qilei Zhang", "John H. Mott" ], "first_author": "Qilei Zhang", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-3262.vid Urban Air Mobility (UAM) concepts have received significant attention in recent years. The new technology accompanying this concept aims to provide another possibility of daily transport and reduce the pressure of traffic congestion and environmental pollution. The potential demand within a specific range needs to be analyzed to probe the placement and desired number of vertiports, thereby maximizing the benefits UAM operations bring. This paper investigates the feasible distribution of vertiports for UAM operations by considering the commuting demand in the Chicago metropolitan area for this new air transportation service. The problem of the optimal number of vertiports is explored, and the results demonstrate how competitive the UAM network is in time savings compared to commuting by driving. The applied techniques quantify the benefit brought by UAM and assist in providing a solid forecast for UAM stakeholders in understanding the prospective market for this new air transportation.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Computer science", "Telecommunications", "Environmental science", "Transport engineering", "Geography", "Engineering", "Mathematics", "Archaeology" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-3262" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3199511269", "doi": "10.2514/1.g006044", "title": "Frequency Domain Identification of a Multi-Input Control Equivalent Turbulence Input Model", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-09-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tom Berger", "Mark J. S. Lopez" ], "first_author": "Tom Berger", "venue": "Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics", "publisher": "American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics", "abstract": "This paper describes a frequency-domain method for the identification of multi-input control equivalent turbulence input models. Such models can be identified from flight data gathered in specific turbulent environments, such as behind a ship or near a rooftop vertiport, and used to accurately simulate an aircraft’s response to turbulence. Identification of control equivalent turbulence input models has previously been done in the frequency domain for single-input/single-output applications or using a two-step time- and frequency-domain approach for multi-input/multi-output applications. In this paper, the frequency-domain approach is extended to account for the possible correlation between the measured control inputs and aircraft states (when flight data are collected closed loop) and to handle multi-input/multi-output applications. Several simulation examples are provided that demonstrate that known turbulence models can be accurately identified, for both open- and closed-loop simulations. The results validate the multi-input control equivalent turbulence input model frequency-domain identification approach proposed in this paper.", "keywords": [ "Frequency domain", "Turbulence", "Control theory (sociology)", "Identification (biology)", "System identification", "Computer science", "Domain (mathematical analysis)", "Time domain", "Frequency response", "Control (management)", "Mathematics", "Data modeling" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/1.g006044" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412486601", "doi": "10.2514/6.2025-3487", "title": "A Spectral Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Analysis of Turbulent Flow Around a High-Rise Building", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-07-16", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Alireza Maleki", "Sheryl M. Grace", "Reda R. Mankbadi", "Vladimir V. Golubev" ], "first_author": "Alireza Maleki", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This study presents a high-fidelity Large Eddy Simulation (LES) investigation of turbulent flow over a high-aspect-ratio (AR = 7) wall-mounted rectangular cylinder, representative of a vertiport structure, under varying inflow turbulence conditions. A volumetric momentum source term is coupled with a synthetic turbulence generation method to emulate urban atmospheric disturbances with turbulence intensities of 5% and 10%. The effectiveness of this hybrid turbulence modeling approach is validated through power spectral density analysis and comparison with the target von Kármán spectra. Spectral Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (SPOD) is employed to extract coherent structures in the wake, revealing dominant modes at Strouhal numbers St ≈ 0.1, 0.2, and 1.8. A Kelvin–Helmholtz-like shear layer instability near the top of the vertiport is identified as the primary contributor to energetic fluctuations at St ≈ 1.8. The introduction of turbulence disrupts the periodicity and coherence of this structure, resulting in a noticeable reduction in SPOD energy at the dominant flapping frequency, although its spectral signature persists. Pressure coefficient visualizations further indicate that this structure exhibits a characteristic streamwise length of approximately 20% of the vertiport width and extends up to 40% of the width above the platform. For a typical vertiport size of 10 m, this corresponds to a 2 m structure reaching 4 m in height—dimensions that could pose significant aerodynamic and control challenges for eVTOL vehicles with rotor diameters on the order of 1 m. The findings highlight the critical importance of incorporating realistic inflow turbulence in the assessment of coherent aerodynamic structures and their potential impact on Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations.", "keywords": [ "Turbulence", "Proper orthogonal decomposition", "Decomposition", "Flow (mathematics)", "Mechanics", "Computer science", "Physics", "Chemistry" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-3487" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7155557476", "doi": "10.1145/3799830.3799879", "title": "Identifying Urban Air Mobility Infrastructure Hotspots in Indian Cities Using Multi-Criteria Suitability Analysis", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-12-17", "type": "conference-paper", "language": null, "authors": [ "Yamini Sharma", "Yashovardhan S. Chati", "Arunchandar Vasan" ], "first_author": "Yamini Sharma", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban Air Mobility (UAM), that uses electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft for intra-urban commute through the air, has been proposed to be a new mode of transportation for ground traffic de-congestion. Identifying suitable locations for placement of UAM infrastructure like vertiports (where eVTOLs will take off and land) is necessary for UAM adoption. Despite their potential for UAM, Indian cities have not been the focus of existing works on vertiport placement.", "keywords": [ "Focus (optics)", "Transportation infrastructure", "Ground transportation", "Mode (computer interface)", "Suitability analysis", "Air traffic control", "Work (physics)", "Urban infrastructure" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1145/3799830.3799879" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3195134088", "doi": null, "title": "SimUAM: A Comprehensive Microsimulation Toolchain to Evaluate the Impact of Urban Air Mobility in Metropolitan Areas", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-08-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Pavan S. Yedavalli", "Emin Burak Onat", "Xi Peng", "Raja Sengupta", "Paul A. Waddell", "Vishwanath Bulusu", "Min Xue" ], "first_author": "Pavan S. Yedavalli", "venue": "RePEc: Research Papers in Economics", "publisher": "Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis", "abstract": "Over the past several years, Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has galvanized enthusiasm from investors and researchers, marrying expertise in aircraft design, transportation, logistics, artificial intelligence, battery chemistry, and broader policymaking. However, two significant questions remain unexplored: (1) What is the value of UAM in a region’s transportation network?, and (2) How can UAM be effectively deployed to realize and maximize this value to all stakeholders, including riders and local economies? To adequately understand the value proposition of UAM for metropolitan areas, we develop a holistic multi-modal toolchain, SimUAM, to model and simulate UAM and its impacts on travel behavior. This toolchain has several components: (1) MANTA: A fast, high-fidelity regional-scale traffic microsimulator, (2) VertiSim: A granular, discrete-event vertiport and pedestrian, (3) FE³ : A high-fidelity, trajectory-based aerial microsimulation. SimUAM, rooted in granular, GPU-based microsimulation, models millions of trips and their exact movements in the street network and in the air, producing interpretable and actionable performance metrics for UAM designs and deployments. The modularity, extensibility, and speed of the platform will allow for rapid scenario planning and sensitivity analysis, effectively acting as a detailed performance assessment tool. As a result, stakeholders in UAM can understand the impacts of critical infrastructure, and subsequently define policies, requirements, and investments needed to support UAM as a viable transportation mode.", "keywords": [ "Toolchain", "Microsimulation", "Metropolitan area", "Value proposition", "Transport engineering", "Value capture", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Engineering", "Business model", "Business", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5709d8vr" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4283269257", "doi": "10.2514/6.2022-3458", "title": "Flight Testing In-Time Safety Assurance Technologies for UAS Operations", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-06-20", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Steven D. Young", "Ersin Ancel", "Evan T. Dill", "Andrew Moore", "Cuong Chi Quach", "Kyle M. Smalling", "Kyle Kent Edward Ellis" ], "first_author": "Steven D. Young", "venue": "AIAA AVIATION 2022 Forum", "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-3458.vid Ongoing research at NASA is driven by a strategic plan defined by the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate and a vision for future In-Time Aviation Safety Management Systems (IASMS) as described by the National Academies. In both visions, system safety awareness and provision are expanded through increased access to relevant data; integrated analysis and predictive capabilities; improved real-time detection and alerting of domain-specific hazards; decision support, and in some cases, automated risk mitigation strategies. One primary research focus is to develop means by which more timely (i.e., “in-time”) actions may be taken to mitigate precursors, anomalies, or trends that are observed during operations. In this paper, we describe such means as a collection of Services, Functions, and Capabilities (SFCs) that are supported by an underlying information system. For example, an integrated risk assessment capability is envisioned that continuously monitors safety-related metrics and margins and recommends timely operational changes. Assessment functions and/or services can be based on data analytics and predictive models derived from heterogeneous data sets that span relevant indicator metrics and their time histories. Likewise, on-board functions can identify and reduce susceptibility to precursor conditions that have led (and can lead) to aircraft loss-of-control or out-of-control accidents. This paper summarizes development and testing of such an information system tailored to hazards anticipated for future highly autonomous flight missions near and over densely populated areas. Testing is accomplished via simulation and by using small, unmanned aircraft operating over a test range at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Flight plans and test scenarios are defined to emulate several use-cases, including package delivery; reconnaissance; fire management; and urban air taxi vertiport operations. Two test phases are summarized with Phase 1 occurring in (2019-2020) and Phase 2 ongoing (2021-present). Results focus on SFC performance, technology readiness level assessment, and requirements discovery/validation. Companion papers are cited throughout for additional details on the recent testing.", "keywords": [ "National Airspace System", "Safety assurance", "Computer science", "Systems engineering", "Aviation", "Risk analysis (engineering)", "Aeronautics", "Engineering", "Reliability engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 13, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-3458" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4391754674", "doi": "10.3390/futuretransp4010010", "title": "The Optimal Size of a Heterogeneous Air Taxi Fleet in Advanced Air Mobility: A Traffic Demand and Flight Scheduling Approach", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-02-11", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Martin Lindner", "Robert Brühl", "Marco Berger", "Hartmut Fricke" ], "first_author": "Martin Lindner", "venue": "Future Transportation", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Introducing Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) as a novel transportation mode poses unique challenges due to limited practical and empirical data. One of these challenges involves accurately estimating future passenger demand and the required number of air taxis, given uncertainties in modal shift dynamics, induced traffic patterns, and long-term price elasticity. In our study, we use mobility data obtained from a Dresden traffic survey and modal shift rates to estimate the demand for AAM air taxi operations for this regional use case. We organize these operations into an air taxi rotation schedule using a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) optimization model and set a tolerance for slight deviations from the requested arrival times for higher productivity. The resulting schedule aids in determining the AAM fleet size while accounting for flight performance, energy consumption, and battery charging requirements tailored to three distinct types of air taxi fleets. According to our case study, the methodology produces feasible and high-quality air taxi flight rotations within an efficient computational time of 1.5 h. The approach provides extensive insights into air taxi utilization, charging durations at various locations, and assists in fleet planning that adapts to varying, potentially uncertain, traffic demands. Our findings reveal an average productivity of 12 trips per day per air taxi, covering distances from 13 to 99 km. These outcomes contribute to a sustainable, business-focused implementation of AAM while highlighting the interaction between operational parameters and overall system performance and contributing to vertiport capacity considerations.", "keywords": [ "Taxis", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Schedule", "Aviation", "Computer science", "Column generation", "Transport engineering", "Air traffic control", "Air quality index", "Fuel efficiency", "Operations research", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7590/4/1/10/pdf?version=1707716115" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2987043904", "doi": "10.1109/vtcfall.2019.8891595", "title": "Secure mmWave Cellular Network for Drone Communication", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-09-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Arupjyoti Bhuyan", "İsmail Güvenç", "Huaiyu Dai", "Yavuz Yapıcı", "Ali Reza Rahmati", "Sung Joon Maeng" ], "first_author": "Arupjyoti Bhuyan", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Using radio frequency (RF) coverage from the existing cellular networks is an attractive option to maintain beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) connectivity with drones. These cellular drones can connect with a ground control station (GCS) for control and data delivery wherever cellular service is available. However, RF coverage for these cellular networks has been optimized for the ground users and while they do leak upwards, reliable RF coverage exists to only about 400 feet high. As the drones are becoming more commonly used for activities ranging from emergency responses to aerial deliveries, the base stations covering users both on the ground and in the air with RF transmission cannot scale to the capacity needed to support increasing number of drones. Use of directional beams that are necessary for millimeter wave (mmWave) transmission in the 5G cellular system can reduce interference among users, and hence increase capacity compared to sector based transmissions used for 4G systems without massive MIMO (mMIMO). In this paper, considering the multiplicative capacity gains needed to support large number of drones, we propose a separate mmWave cellular network with optimized coverage for a ''drone corridor'' in the air. We present our current findings in the following areas critical to validating the effectiveness of this proposed network: 1) RF propagation characteristics towards drones in the air compared with propagation towards users on the ground; 2) use of multiple access (MA) technology for increased spectral efficiency for a swarm of drones; 3) optimal design of protected zones and beamforming to secure drone specific wireless communications.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Cellular network", "Beamforming", "Base station", "Computer science", "Computer network", "Radio frequency", "Transmission (telecommunications)", "Wireless", "Real-time computing", "Telecommunications" ], "cited_by_count": 10, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/vtcfall.2019.8891595" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7139910102", "doi": "10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2026.104611", "title": "An optimization framework for the design and operation of efficient urban air mobility systems: An application in the Île-de-France region", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-03-21", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sam Randeraad", "Marta Ribeiro", "Jan Anne Annema", "Gonçalo Homem de Almeida Correia" ], "first_author": "Sam Randeraad", "venue": "Journal of Transport Geography", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Urban Air Mobility (UAM) systems offer a three-dimensional transportation alternative by using low-altitude airspace, with the potential to reduce travel times and improve access to mobility in regions underserved by current transportation systems. To support efficient design and operation of UAM systems, we develop an integrated optimization framework in response to three interrelated challenges: (i) land use, aeronautical feasibility, community acceptance and other factors that restrict the number of potential locations for vertiports, (ii) bidirectional demand–supply interaction that needs to be considered, as the level of service influences demand for UAM and operators adjust the level of service in response to demand, and (iii) strong interactions between strategic decisions on the distribution of ground infrastructure, tactical decisions on eVTOL fleet size and operational decisions on dispatching and repositioning. Analyzing the decisions in isolation can lead to poor estimates of the overall system performance. The framework consists of (1) a knock-off criteria analysis model for the identification of a realistic set of candidate locations for vertiports, (2) integer programming models in which strategic, tactical and operational decision levels are modeled, and (3) pre-processing techniques to generate near-optimal solutions for real-world instances. By applying the framework in a large-scale real-world setting in the Île-de-France region, we demonstrate complex interactions between strategic, tactical, and operational decision levels and customer demand, revealing various trade-offs between operator profit and traveler generalized travel costs. • Provide realistic candidate vertiports in the Île-de-France region using knock-off criteria screening. • Integrate vertiport location selection with eVTOL fleet sizing and operations and demand interaction. • Identify non-linear trade-offs between operator profit and user generalized travel costs. • Conclusions on the economic viability of UAM operations. • Identification of UAM network structures with distinct vertiport roles.", "keywords": [ "Air traffic control", "Air pollution", "Poison control", "Air transport" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2026.104611" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4388562221", "doi": "10.1109/dasc58513.2023.10311113", "title": "Building a Performance Comparison Framework for Urban Air Mobility Airspace Management Concepts", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-10-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Rabeb Abdellaoui", "Fares Naser", "Izabela Stasicka", "Nabil Hagag", "Hanbong Lee", "Kushal A. Moolchandani" ], "first_author": "Rabeb Abdellaoui", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The demand for air transportation service using Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is expected to increase in the future saving travel times in urban areas. An adequate set of services for airspace network management supporting their operations will be then needed. Despite the numerous emerging topics of UAM being widely researched, an analysis of this need is yet to be explored. A multitude of stakeholders involved in the novel UAM industry are studying different airspace management concepts. These concepts are designed with different perspective and background, and tailored to individual goals and needs with no universal way of comparing them. Thus, building a performance comparison framework based on common metrics becomes essential for evaluating such concepts on a quantitative and qualitative level, independently of the country or company of operation. This paper provides a unified method for comparing, evaluating, and assessing different network designs and management concepts for UAM operations based on UAM-tailored metrics. Inspiration for suitable metrics can be drawn from common transportation means that are constantly in use such as commercial air, road, and rail transportation. A subset of key performance indicators from those three domains are considered suitable for UAM, as this emerging means of transportation has some similarities to them. Within this paper, three newly developed airspace management concepts and their applications to two different urban areas are presented first. Then, considering the applicability of existing benchmarks from the three other industries to UAM, a non-exhaustive, yet detailed list of metrics is provided to cover network, vertiport, safety, and human-centered aspects. For the initial investigation, only network-specific metrics are further analyzed and elaborated in this paper.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Air traffic management", "Set (abstract data type)", "Key (lock)", "Air traffic control", "Service (business)", "Cover (algebra)", "Transport engineering", "Risk analysis (engineering)", "Engineering", "Computer security", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/dasc58513.2023.10311113" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2315366104", "doi": "10.2514/6.2015-2108", "title": "Longitudinal Control for Ultra Light Weight Guided Parachute Systems", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-03-27", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Keith Bergeron", "Gregory M. Noetscher", "Michael Shurtliff", "Frank Deazley" ], "first_author": "Keith Bergeron", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "† Senior Electrical Engineer, AIAA Member ‡ Electrical Engineer, AIAA Member § Research Engineer, AIAA Senior Member ¶ Research Associate Longitudinal Control for Ultra-Light Weight Guided Parachute Systems Keith Bergeron*, Greg Noetscher, Michael Shurtliff, Steven Tavan US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, MA 01760 Frank Deazley Aerial Delivery Solutions LLC, 2601 Keswick Court, Kissimmee, FL 34744", "keywords": [ "Control (management)", "Computer science", "Structural engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Materials science", "Engineering", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2015-2108" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4377028657", "doi": "10.2514/1.d0332", "title": "Predeparture Flight Planning to Minimize Operating Cost for Urban Air Mobility", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-05-18", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hualong Tang", "Yu Zhang", "Joseph A. Post" ], "first_author": "Hualong Tang", "venue": "Journal of Air Transportation", "publisher": "American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics", "abstract": "Urban air mobility (UAM) is envisioned to move to highly automated and high-density operations in low-altitude urban airspace in the future. Providers of services for UAM (PSU), rather than the legacy air traffic control, are anticipated to support operators with operational planning, aircraft deconfliction, conformance monitoring, and emergency information dissemination. Such services, for hundreds to thousands of simultaneous UAM operations in constrained airspace, can only be realized with automated systems. In this study, airspace and deconfliction models for generating predeparture conflict-free four-dimensional (4-D) flight trajectories are proposed, which can be further developed into an automated flight planning tool for PSU. A semistructured scalable airspace design for future UAM is proposed (i.e., a layered airspace topology with direct routes between vertiports, avoiding physical obstacles, such as buildings, obstructions, and restricted airspace) using the visibility graph method. Based on the proposed airspace design, deconfliction strategies (e.g., flight-level assignment and departure delay) are applied to obtain predeparture conflict-free 4-D trajectories of UAM operations by solving a mixed-integer programming problem, with the objective function to minimize the operating cost of UAM operations. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is performed to investigate the impacts of three key cost parameters (electricity price, crew hourly rate, and maintenance hourly rate). The relationships of departure delay bound (maximum departure delay allowed) vs operating cost saving and departure delay bound vs delay cost to passengers are examined, as is the tradeoff between operating cost saving and passenger delay cost.", "keywords": [ "Free flight", "Air traffic control", "Crew", "Computer science", "Operating cost", "Visibility", "Separation (statistics)", "Key (lock)", "Operations research", "Flight planning", "Simulation", "Real-time computing" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/1.d0332" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3184136228", "doi": "10.2514/6.2021-2333", "title": "Accommodating Operational Uncertainty in Urban Air Mobility Operations with Strategic Deconfliction", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-07-28", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Antony D. Evans", "Maxim Egorov", "Scot E. Campbell" ], "first_author": "Antony D. Evans", "venue": "AIAA AVIATION 2021 FORUM", "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-2333.vid Strategic deconfliction is a key mechanism for achieving separation between Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations. However, operational uncertainties may degrade its effectiveness. In this paper, we quantify the effectiveness of strategic deconfliction in mitigating scheduled and unscheduled flight delays under operational uncertainty in the form of normally distributed departure and airborne errors. A range of demand levels representing early-stage UAM operations were simulated across a conceptual network of 3 vertiports in the San Francisco Bay Area. Three approaches to strategic deconfliction were simulated which varied the requirement for rescheduling into the existing schedule when an operation incurred departure or airborne error – a tight conformance requirement tied to the minimum spacing requirement; a relaxed conformance requirement comparable to that used for internal departure scheduling in Time-Based Flow Management; and no conformance requirement in which operations were never rescheduled into the existing scheduled – only replanned tactically. Results from these simulations were compared to a baseline that simulated tactical deconfliction without strategic deconfliction. Results suggest that, even at moderate demand levels and departure and airborne error variability, departure and airborne delays under strategic deconfliction are highly sensitive to how much rescheduling is required into the existing schedule. Results applying strategic deconfliction with no conformance requirement, with departure and airborne error being accommodated tactically, showed significantly improved performance – even at relatively high demand and error variability. Future work should explore the safety and gaming implications of strategic deconfliction with such relaxed conformance requirements and compare its performance to using demand capacity balancing instead of strategic deconfliction.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Schedule", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Strategic planning", "Operations research", "Reliability engineering", "Operations management", "Engineering", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-2333" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4407415282", "doi": "10.2514/6.2025-1545", "title": "Cascading Delay Mitigation With Quadratic Bézier Curve Trajectory Planning", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-03", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michael R. Variny", "Travis W. Moleski", "Jay Paul Wilhelm" ], "first_author": "Michael R. Variny", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Congested airspace conflict resolution during terminal operations is a common air traffic management issue that may produce cascading delays. Vehicles needing emergency clearance to land, at either traditional airports or vertiports, would require others on approach to move out of the way and in some instances cause a wave of delay to propagate through all vehicles on approach. Specifically, uncrewed aerial systems utilizing near-maximum arrival rates would be greatly impacted when requested to move off their approach path and may interfere with others. Vertiports further complicate crowded approaches because vehicles can arrive from many different angles at the same time to maximize landing area usage. Traditional air traffic management techniques were studied for vertiport applications specific to high-capacity operations. This work investigated methods of uniformly re-directing vehicles on approach to a vertiport that would be impacted by an emergency vehicle to minimize or avoid cascading delays. A route of time-optimal B\\'ezier curves as well as Dubins paths optimized for interception heading was generated and flown on as an alternate maneuver when an unaccounted for emergency vehicle initiated a bypass of an air traffic fleet. Comparison to flight on a holding pattern showed that the B\\'ezier and Dubins route improved delay times and mitigated a cascading delay effect.", "keywords": [ "Trajectory", "Quadratic equation", "Bézier curve", "Computer science", "Motion planning", "Control theory (sociology)", "Mathematical optimization", "Mathematics", "Geometry", "Physics", "Robot", "Control (management)" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-1545" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2510445817", "doi": "10.1007/s10646-016-1711-1", "title": "Brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) population density and carcass locations following exposure to acetaminophen", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-09-07", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Joshua B. Smith", "Kelsey L. Turner", "James C. Beasley", "Travis L. DeVault", "William C. Pitt", "Olin Eugene Rhodes" ], "first_author": "Joshua B. Smith", "venue": "Ecotoxicology", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Biology", "Population", "Ecology", "Carrion", "Range (aeronautics)", "Abundance (ecology)", "Population density", "Habitat", "Ecosystem" ], "cited_by_count": 11, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1814617" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3188260836", "doi": "10.2514/6.2021-3204", "title": "Urban Air Mobility: Preliminary Noise Analysis of Commuter Operations", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-07-28", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mihir Rimjha", "Antonio A. Trani", "Susan L. Hotle" ], "first_author": "Mihir Rimjha", "venue": "AIAA AVIATION 2021 FORUM", "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-3204.vid This study aims to estimate potential noise levels generated due to Urban Air Mobility (UAM) commuter operations in the Northern California and the Dallas-Fort Worth regions. UAM is a concept aerial transportation mode designed to bypass ground congestion using an electric vehicle with Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capabilities. UAM vehicles are expected to be significantly quieter than traditional helicopters, but operate on a much larger scale. Commuter travel demand will not be uniformly distributed with operations concentrated in a small geographical area such as Central Business Districts (CBD) and short time windows such as morning or evening peak periods. The objective of this study is to evaluate the aircraft noise annoyance generated by commuter UAM operations using flight trajectories developed in a previous study estimating UAM commuter demand. This study estimates the noise level from overflying UAM vehicles in a full day of operation (24 hours) and identifies areas where the noise levels may pose a challenge to future UAM operations. Noise estimation is performed at the Census Block group level using the Day-Night Level (DNL) metric. We run a parametric analysis considering two scenarios in each region: the UAM vehicle has a 10 dBA and 15 dBA noise reduction compared to the Robinson R-44 helicopter. The findings indicate a considerable difference between the 10 dBA and 15 dBA reduction scenarios. Although challenging, achieving a 15-dBA reduction compared to a 10-dBA reduction could reduce land area with DNL value above 50 dBA by 94% and highly-annoyed population by 91% in Northern California. Similarly, in Dallas-Fort Worth, achieving a 15-dBA reduction compared to a 10-dBA reduction could reduce the land area with DNL value above 50 dBA by 80% and a highly annoyed population by 85%. Lastly, we analyze the high-demand vertiport in the San Francisco Financial District in the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) to observe the DNL contours for the varying noise performance scenarios.", "keywords": [ "Noise (video)", "Annoyance", "Environmental science", "Aircraft noise", "Noise pollution", "Meteorology", "Noise reduction", "Population", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Geography", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 12, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstreams/a41d7616-a70a-4b8c-ab97-8e845a6714c2/download" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4399275999", "doi": "10.1080/09687599.2024.2355535", "title": "Future Flight: an opportunity for more accessible air travel?", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-06-02", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lucy Budd", "Peter M. Jones", "Stephen Ison" ], "first_author": "Lucy Budd", "venue": "Disability & Society", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "Future Flight, which involves the development and proposed adoption of new aeronautical technologies and built environments including uncrewed aircraft, air taxis and vertiports, is presented as an opportunity to revolutionise commercial air travel. This article discusses current barriers to accessible aviation and asks whether (and how) future aviation systems can be more accessible.", "keywords": [ "Air travel", "Aeronautics", "Aviation", "Aerospace engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2024.2355535" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3193617464", "doi": null, "title": "A study of Location based Air Logistics Systems with Light-ID and RFID on Drone System for Air Cargo Warehouse Case", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-11-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Nam-Jin Baik", "Nam-Kyu Baik", "Minwoo Lee", "Jaesang Cha" ], "first_author": "Nam-Jin Baik", "venue": "International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Recently Drone technology is emerging as an alternative new way of distribution systems services. Amazon, Google which are global network chain distribution companies are developing an idea of Drone based delivery service and applied for patent for Drone distribution systems in USA. In this paper, we investigate a way to adopt Drone system to Air Cargo logistics, in particular, drone system based on combination of Light ID and RFID technology in the management procedure in stock warehouse. Also we explain the expected impact of Drone systems to customs declaration process. In this paper, we address the investigated limitations of Drone by the Korean Aviation Act as well as suggest the directions of future research for application of Drone to Air logistics industry with investigated limitations.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Aviation", "Air cargo", "Service (business)", "Supply chain", "Process (computing)", "Computer science", "Business", "Engineering", "Transport engineering", "Marketing", "Aerospace engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.earticle.net/Article/A315396" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4391768525", "doi": "10.1109/itsc57777.2023.10422533", "title": "Drone Delivery Routing with Stochastic Urban Wind", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-09-24", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Minghao Chen", "Andrew W. Smyth", "Marco G. Giometto", "Max Z. Li" ], "first_author": "Minghao Chen", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban areas present unique challenges for drone-based deliveries due to the spatially and temporally variable nature of the wind field at low altitudes. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to address these challenges and ensure safe and reliable drone delivery routings in windy urban environments. Our approach incorporates the stochastic and spatially heterogeneous urban wind field using scenario-based stochastic programming and probabilistic modeling techniques. We develop stochastic mixed integer linear programs (SMILPs) that integrate realistic wind scenarios generated via large-eddy simulations (LESs) with the stochastic drone routing problem (SDRP). We employ the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm, which effectively explores the solution space and handles hundreds of customers' requests in a short time. We compare the performance of SA implementation with SMILPs implementation on small cases and show its superiority in terms of solution quality. Through simulations and performance evaluations on large-scale instances, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach under different wind conditions and number of customers. We also conduct a sensitivity analysis to investigate the influence of operational altitude (i.e., the height of the wind field) on the performance of our method. Our results provide valuable insights for optimizing drone routing decisions in windy urban environments.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/itsc57777.2023.10422533" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4387870866", "doi": "10.1109/icc45041.2023.10279648", "title": "Q-Learning-Based Time-Adapted Early Arrival Path Algorithm for Drone Delivery Using Public Transport", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-05-28", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mohammed Rahmani", "Florian Delavernhe", "Sidi‐Mohammed Senouci", "Marion Berbineau" ], "first_author": "Mohammed Rahmani", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Drone-based delivery has gained popularity in recent years, and many different delivery systems and schemes have been proposed. One of the most promising scheme concepts is based on the collaboration between a drone and a public transportation network to expand the delivery range while conserving drone battery energy and reducing delivery costs. Path planning is the main problem with this design, as the public transportation network is stochastic and time-dependent. In this paper, an inspection time-adapted early arrival path problem is formulated, which seeks the path for a drone that ensures: (i) reaching the customer as soon as possible, (ii) adapting to random fluctuations in public transportation schedules, and (iii) taking into account the battery life of the drone. To achieve these requirements, a Q-learning-based planning method is proposed. The simulation results validate the effectiveness and feasibility of Q-learning on the planning path for parcel deliveries: at any departure instant, the arrival of the drones at the customer's location was guaranteed, i.e., the resulting path is 100% reliable. In addition, the convergence of the Q-Learning algorithm was reached after only 1000 learning epochs. Furthermore, the experimental results show that the Q-Learning solution can achieve a lower early arrival time and lower power consumption compared to a random algorithm.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Path (computing)", "Motion planning", "Public transport", "Reinforcement learning", "Real-time computing", "Mathematical optimization", "Algorithm", "Operations research", "Artificial intelligence", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/icc45041.2023.10279648" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412473962", "doi": "10.1121/10.0037186", "title": "Low-noise trajectory optimization of urban air mobility in the urban environment using deep reinforcement learning", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-07-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Younghoon Kim", "Jeongwoo Ko", "Kukhwan Yu", "Soogab Lee" ], "first_author": "Younghoon Kim", "venue": "The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America", "publisher": "Acoustical Society of America", "abstract": "This study proposes a method for optimizing low-noise flight trajectory for urban air mobility (UAM) in urban environments using deep reinforcement learning (DRL). The objective is to efficiently derive flight trajectories that minimize noise impact on ground observers as UAM vehicles approach a vertiport for landing. Noise data were calculated for various flight velocities, and a deep learning (DL) model was employed to estimate noise map from noise propagation. A DRL model based on the Soft actor critic algorithm was designed, incorporating noise reward function through the trained DL model while adhering to specified flight constraints. The results confirmed that the DRL model effectively guided the UAM vehicle to the target area while accomplishing the given flight conditions. Various case studies were conducted and confirmed that the DRL model can optimize unique noise-optimized trajectories for a given simplified urban environment, vehicle initial state, and designated noise reduction zone. Also, the optimized low-noise trajectory was shown to reduce both the average noise level and the proportion of high noise impact areas compared to the reference trajectory. This DRL based trajectory optimization method is expected to contribute to the development of low-noise operational strategies for UAM vehicles in urban settings.", "keywords": [ "Noise (video)", "Trajectory", "Reinforcement learning", "Computer science", "Noise reduction", "Trajectory optimization", "Simulation", "Noise control", "Control theory (sociology)", "Artificial intelligence", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0037186" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4391301848", "doi": "10.2514/6.2024-0903", "title": "Computational and Experimental Static Stability Analysis of Rectangular Prisms", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-04", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ray Benson", "Dylan Bumpus", "Casey P. Fagley", "Timothy M. Siefers", "Mehdi Ghoreyshi", "Keith Bergeron" ], "first_author": "Ray Benson", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Rectangular prism-shaped cargo containers are investigated for future aerial delivery and helicopter sling load operations. The aerodynamic stability characteristics of two representative container shapes, the Twenty-foot-equivalent (TEU) and Internal Slingable Unit ISU-90, are analyzed using a combined computational simulation and wind tunnel experimentation campaign. Integrated forces and moments, as well as static stability, are examined for the two shapes at Mach of 0.15, and 0.2. Six models are used in total, three for each of the two container shapes, with axial, normal, and side orientations. The findings provide insights into the aerodynamic stability of rectangular prisms as cargo containers in various flight conditions, which have implications for aerial delivery and helicopter sling load operations. Specifically, the computational simulations and experimental surface flow measurements identify flow separation and reattachment processes which directly influence longitudinal, lateral and directional stability characteristics.", "keywords": [ "Stability (learning theory)", "Computer science", "Longitudinal static stability", "Mechanics", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-0903" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4379877358", "doi": "10.2514/6.2023-3401", "title": "A Blockchain Case Study for Urban Air Mobility Operational Intent", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-06-08", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Kenneth Freeman", "Norbert Gillem", "Aidan Jones", "Nishant Sharma" ], "first_author": "Kenneth Freeman", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-3401.vid To realize the potential of Urban Air Mobility (UAM), an assurance of cybersecurity is critical for public acceptance. UAM is a concept that proposes to develop short-range, pointto- point transportation systems in metropolitan areas using vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft to overcome increasing surface congestion. The growth in the development of UAM systems, and the associated data exchange and service interactions will be at risk due to numerous types of cybersecurity attacks. The intent of this work is to leverage a permissioned blockchain to simulate secure data exchange and storage for the UAM operational intent use case. In this case study, two vehicle operators are operating in the same airspace. Their intent is to fly vehicles that land at a shared vertiport, securely.", "keywords": [ "Leverage (statistics)", "Computer security", "Blockchain", "Metropolitan area", "Computer science", "Work (physics)", "Transport engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-3401" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7161246231", "doi": "10.1016/j.cstp.2026.101848", "title": "Data-driven framework for urban air mobility planning: Integrating socioeconomic and operational factors for optimal network design in São Paulo, Brazil", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-05-15", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lucas Orbolato Carvalho", "Igor Galhano Gomes", "Jaqueline Fonseca Rodrigues", "Mayara Condé Rocha Murça", "Marcelo Xavier Guterres", "Daniel Alberto Pamplona" ], "first_author": "Lucas Orbolato Carvalho", "venue": "Case Studies on Transport Policy", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has been positioned as a promising alternative for large metropolitan regions, using electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft connected in vertiport networks, with potential benefits in travel time, emissions, and noise compared with traditional transport modes. However, the early design of these networks depends on the strategic location of the vertiports in areas with a high ability to pay, integration with the existing aeronautical infrastructure, and compatibility with operational concepts developed by air navigation service providers, which recommend using helicopter routes and already certified infrastructure in the initial phases. This study proposes an income-based spatial demand analysis model for the location of UAM vertiports in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region (RMSP), using as reference the population, trip, and income data from the 2023 Origin-Destination (OD) Survey of the São Paulo Metro, the distribution of helipads registered by the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) and the network of Helicopter Special Routes (REH) connected to the urban airport system provided by the Aeronautical Information Service Web (AISWEB). Methodologically, the helipads are grouped using clustering algorithms based on income, and the medoids of the clusters are selected as candidate vertiports. The graph composed of REH waypoints and these candidate vertiports, along with the main airports of the RMSP, is then used to compute the shortest paths using an adapted Dijkstra’s algorithm. Finally, we propose a comprehensive step-by-step procedure to estimate the initial origin–destination demand for UAM. The results suggest that combining income patterns, reuse of the existing helipad infrastructure in the RMSP, and route modeling over the REH network can support an initial phase of UAM focused on maximizing market viability and demand satisfaction, in line with operational guidelines from DECEA, FAA, and Eurocontrol. An iterative network expansion using real helicopter movement data further demonstrates the framework’s scalability. Finally, a discussion of policy implications highlights the equity risks of income-based planning and proposes empirical movement data as a market-observed criterion for evidence-based network expansion decisions.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Aviation", "Geographic information system", "Service (business)", "Trip distribution", "Cluster analysis", "Network planning and design", "Geocoding", "Certification", "Civil aviation" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2026.101848" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2069926050", "doi": "10.1145/1160633.1160909", "title": "UAV airspace management system UAMS", "year": 2006, "publication_date": "2006-05-08", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Régis Vincent", "Osher Yagdar", "Andrew Agno" ], "first_author": "Régis Vincent", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "As technology advances, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are capable of more complex missions. Miniaturization results in a migration of capability from larger to smaller UAV platforms and in cost reduction. According to the DoDs Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap 2005-2030, military UAVs are now required to execute intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, strike, suppression of enemy air defense, electronic attack, communications, aerial delivery, and resupply missions. It is therefore evident that UAV developments require a more intelligent and autonomous airspace and mission management approach then ever.", "keywords": [ "Adversary", "Aeronautics", "Computer science", "Systems engineering", "Command and control", "Remotely operated underwater vehicle", "Drone", "Engineering", "Computer security", "Telecommunications", "Robot", "Mobile robot" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1145/1160633.1160909" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3020326402", "doi": "10.2514/1.g004959", "title": "Probabilistic Release Point Optimization for Airdrop with Variable Transition Altitude", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-04-20", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Andrew Leonard", "Jonathan Rogers", "Adam R. Gerlach" ], "first_author": "Andrew Leonard", "venue": "Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics", "publisher": "American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics", "abstract": "High-altitude low-opening airdrop is a technique for aerial delivery that has unique operational advantages. The primary decisions that must be made in execution of these missions are the aircraft release heading, package release point, and altitude at which the package transitions from the drogue to the main ballistic parachute. Algorithms have recently been developed to optimize these variables probabilistically to account for uncertainty in winds, package descent rate, and other factors to maximize an expected score function; although, such work optimized the release variables and transition altitude separately. This paper builds on prior work to develop a method to optimize the release point, release heading, and transition altitude in a single, combined framework to achieve a globally optimal solution. The Koopman operator is used to pull back a mission-specific score function through a family of transformations defining the system dynamics with different transition altitudes. The optimal release point, release heading, and transition altitude are selected from a gridded solution space as that which maximizes the expected score. The results show that the combined optimization approach that includes variable transition altitude produces a higher expected score value as compared to cases in which the release variables are optimized by assuming a fixed transition altitude.", "keywords": [ "Heading (navigation)", "Altitude (triangle)", "Descent (aeronautics)", "Probabilistic logic", "Variable (mathematics)", "Random variable", "Work (physics)", "Computer science", "Point (geometry)", "Trajectory optimization", "Simulation", "Control theory (sociology)" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/1.g004959" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4308092586", "doi": "10.1109/dasc55683.2022.9925806", "title": "Usability Evaluation of Fleet Management Interface for High Density Vertiplex Environments", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-09-18", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Gita Hodell", "Quang V. Dao", "Jeffrey R. Homola", "Madison T. Goodyear", "Scott Kalush", "Shraddha Swaroop", "Yoona Jun" ], "first_author": "Gita Hodell", "venue": "2022 IEEE/AIAA 41st Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "To meet the rising demand for an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) (i.e. urban and rural unmanned aircraft systems) ecosystem, the NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) is hosting a series of simulations and flight tests under the High Density Vertiplex sub-project (HDV) to prototype and study the effectiveness AAM capabilities under various operational contexts. HDV aims to develop an integrated automation architecture to support terminal area flight operations. The HDV simulations and flight tests address safety, integration, and operational challenges, while integrated systems and software demonstrate design readiness, robustness, and interoperability. During the initial HDV simulation in 2021, a prototype traffic management tool developed by NASA called the Fleet Management Interface (FMI) was tested. FMI was designed to introduce an advanced level of human-automation interaction to aid both Ground control systems operators (GCSOs) and fleet managers (FMs) in remotely managing flights under their ownership. In a human-in-the-loop simulation, a usability study was conducted with the FMI to identify optimal approaches for displaying information to human operators using subjective measures of usability, workload, situation awareness, risk, and user experience, along with qualitative feedback. This study consisted of task analysis in which GCSO and FM subjects used an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) environment to develop and execute a plan for two different traffic scenarios of remotely controlled vehicles. In each scenario, a remotely controlled vehicle completed a takeoff, active flight, and landing sequence while simulated traffic flew in the background at a rate of 20 operations per hour. In the first scenario, the controlled vehicle flew a nominal route with takeoff and landing at the same vertiport. In the second scenario, the controlled vehicle started on the nominal route, then diverted to an unplanned location mid-flight. Results showed that self-reported performance, usability, and situation awareness ratings of FMI were moderately high and perceived risk was low. Furthermore, participants described improvements that could be made to create a better user experience. For example, users suggested having the ability to review routes before assigning them, and adding more detail to operation state messages. The results from this study will inform future development of the FMI with the end goal of creating a reference automation tool for airspace management procedures in AAM. The FMI could serve to reduce dependency on traditional air navigation services through increased automation in high density vertiplex environments.", "keywords": [ "Usability", "Situation awareness", "Interoperability", "Air traffic control", "Workload", "Automation", "Computer science", "Systems engineering", "Simulation", "Engineering", "Aeronautics", "Human–computer interaction" ], "cited_by_count": 17, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/dasc55683.2022.9925806" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2038787897", "doi": "10.1080/01647959008683862", "title": "Storage ofPhytoseiulus persimilisfor aerial release (Acari: Phytoseiidae)", "year": 1990, "publication_date": "1990-03-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Charles H. Pickett", "R. K. Morrison", "Frank E. Gilstrap", "Louis F. Bouse" ], "first_author": "Charles H. Pickett", "venue": "International Journal of Acarology", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "Studies were conducted on the mobility and survival of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) after short-term refrigerated storage in a simulated aerial delivery system. Storage of P. persimilis was significantly affected by exposure to temperatures of 1.7 degrees, 7.2 degress, 12.8 degrees and 18.3 degrees C, and when stored for 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 hr. Loss of predators from the simulated hopper was reduced by decreasing the storage time and temperature. The density of predators in the release system's simulated hopper was greatest in the upper one-third of the hopper.", "keywords": [ "Phytoseiidae", "Acari", "Biology", "Predation", "Predator", "Horticulture", "Botany", "Ecology" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1080/01647959008683862" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4393819399", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.4007382", "title": "Results for the Implementation of EP-All and SPP-All heuristic.", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-08-29", "type": "dataset", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Abhishake Kundu", "Ricardo A. Gatica", "Timothy I. Matis" ], "first_author": "Abhishake Kundu", "venue": "Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)", "publisher": "European Organization for Nuclear Research", "abstract": "The results for the EP-All1 heuristic (as implemented by the authors) and SPP-All heuristic have been summarized in the table. Routes, solution time, and quality have been reported. The instances2 used were the same as used by Agatz et al. 1. Agatz, N., Bouman, P., & Schmidt, M. (2018). Optimization Approaches for the Traveling Salesman Problem with Drone. Transportation Science, 52. doi:10.1287/trsc.2017.0791 2. Bouman, P. (2018). pcbouman-eur/Drones-TSP: Traveling Salesman with Drone (Java code) v1.0.0 (Publication no. 10.5281/zenodo.1204697). from Zenodo https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1204697", "keywords": [ "Heuristic", "Computer science", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://zenodo.org/record/4007382" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3171109400", "doi": "10.1109/aero50100.2021.9438229", "title": "Demonstration of In-Flight Docking Between Quadcopters and Fixed-Wing UAV", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-03-06", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Basilio Caruso", "Murtaza Fatakdawala", "Akshata G. Patil", "George Chen", "Markus Wilde" ], "first_author": "Basilio Caruso", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Drones are being used increasingly as innovative tools in the medical field. RED (Rescue-Delivery) system is a project designed to help emergency situations by utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to deliver medical supplies. Although multiple air-based delivery methods are currently available, they all have certain limitations. Dropping a package from a fixed wing aircraft using a parachute is limited by its accuracy, while using a multirotor drone on its own to deliver a package is limited by its low endurance, range, and efficiency. Thus, a need exists for an aerial delivery system which is both accurate and quick to deliver a payload at a distant location. By using a combination of a fixed-wing mothership and a multirotor drone, the RED system will be able to conduct a fast, accurate and autonomous delivery of a payload from a base to the rescue location, and then return to the starting position. The compact design of the multirotor allows for precise maneuverability even in urbanized areas. The mothership is first loaded with the payload and the coordinates of the delivery location. Upon reaching the pre-selected area, the multirotor and payload detach from the mothership. The multirotor quickly reaches the coordinates and delivers the payload. Once the delivery is accomplished, the multirotor rendezvous and docks with the mothership. Both drones then return to the base with complete autonomy. A companion computer in each UAV is used to imitate each stage of the mission and ensure communication among each interface of the system. The communication between mothership and multirotor is accomplished through a high-speed cellular network system. The rendezvous begins with the multirotor following GPS coordinates of the mothership to align with its flightpath. Once within proximity, the final docking maneuver is initiated by the image tracking system which captures real-time video and processes it frame by frame. By using an open source python library, each video frame's data can be captured and manipulated to achieve the desired results using OpenCV. It will also present test results of the flight tests of the docking system.", "keywords": [ "Multirotor", "Drone", "Payload (computing)", "Fixed wing", "Computer science", "Simulation", "Aerospace engineering", "Aeronautics", "Real-time computing", "Engineering", "Wing", "Computer security" ], "cited_by_count": 13, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/aero50100.2021.9438229" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4396877904", "doi": "10.1109/mnet.2024.3399751", "title": "Blockchain-Based Trustworthiness in Cross-Border Data Exchange in 5G-Powered Intelligent Connected Vehicles", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-05-13", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tao Hai", "Md Zakirul Alam Bhuiyan", "Mohamed Rahouti", "Jincheng Zhou", "Jian Shen" ], "first_author": "Tao Hai", "venue": "IEEE Network", "publisher": "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers", "abstract": "Emerging applications, such as Smart Grid (SG), UAV (drone)-based delivery (logistics) involve multiple networks, including 5G-powered intelligent UAVs (drones), ground intelligent Internet-connected vehicles (IIoCVs), and Edge-assisted Internet of Things (IoT). Data exchange in these cross-border network applications faces significant challenges due to cyberattacks and faults in the network. This leads to untrustworthy situations in network automation regarding secret data access, data sensitivity, wrong regional status, and false direction. In this paper, we propose bTrust design, a blockchain-based trustworthy data exchange framework to improve these situations in network automation. The framework development consists of five procedures regarding the data provider and data requester’s trustworthiness. We adopt cloud computing to cover different terrain regions with Edge-computing units (ECUs, deployed at the IIoCVs), where one of the ECUs functions as the Edge server covering each region. When a drone claims that there is an untrustworthy action, such as compromised or incorrect data transmission against the IIoCV, the cloud authenticates the claims by inspecting the blockchain. It penalizes the compromised IIoCV if the claim is correct. Otherwise, the cloud can punish the drone itself (e.g., by reducing the trustworthiness score). As a result, bTrust enhances cross-regional data exchange trustworthiness using the blockchain that depends on a reduced trust assumption.", "keywords": [ "Blockchain", "Computer science", "Trustworthiness", "Data exchange", "Computer network", "Computer security", "Telecommunications", "Database" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/mnet.2024.3399751" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2563258444", "doi": null, "title": "INVESTIGATION OF DEPLOYMENT AND LANDING LOADS WITH A LIMP PARAGLIDER", "year": 1966, "publication_date": "1966-09-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "John W Sobczak" ], "first_author": "John W Sobczak", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Abstract : The report covers the initial evaluation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) 24-foot limp parawing for use as a manned aerial delivery system. A satisfactory application of the parawing to this use will provide the capability of offset precision aerial delivery of personnel. Aided by a navigational system, the parawing could be employed during night and during conditions of adverse visibility. The primary objective of the evaluation was the acquisition of deployment load data on the parawing. Testing, which included dummy drop tests and live drop tests, was conducted from 16 March 1966 to 20 April 1966. In general, the measured and observed characteristics of the parawing, coupled with the comments of the members of the U. S. Army Parachute Team (USAPT) who flew the wing, indicate that the parawing has potential and merits further investigation. Specifically, the loads were found to be within human tolerance and were no greater than those experienced in jumping conventional parachutes. The glide ratio of the parawing appears to be in excess of 2:1.", "keywords": [ "Aeronautics", "Software deployment", "Limp", "Offset (computer science)", "Engineering", "Runway", "Simulation", "Computer science", "Geography", "Medicine", "Cartography" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0646578.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4396816391", "doi": "10.4050/jahs.69.032010", "title": "Flying in the Strike Zone: Urban Air Mobility and Wildlife Strike Prevention", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-05-10", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Isabel C. Metz", "Cerian Henshaw", "Lisa Harmon" ], "first_author": "Isabel C. Metz", "venue": "Journal of the American Helicopter Society", "publisher": "Vertical Flight Society", "abstract": "The number and rate of wildlife strikes continue to increase worldwide. More than 30 years of wildlife strike data indicate that approximately 92% of wildlife strikes for commercial aircraft occur at or below 3500 ft above ground level. Since urban air mobility (UAM) operations are envisioned to carry cargo and passengers up to an altitude of 4000 ft above ground level, UAM operations will face increased exposure to wildlife strike risks throughout their operations. Moreover, the comparatively small size of UAM aircraft, proposed cruising speeds of up to 170 kt, and quieter electric engines are expected to reduce opportunities for threat perception and evasive maneuvers by aircraft operators and wildlife. This paper presents how well-established wildlife strike prevention measures can be adapted to meet the needs of UAM operations and how, with new technology, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), regulatory agencies, aircraft operators, communities, airspace managers, and vertiport operators can work together to enhance safety.", "keywords": [ "Wildlife", "Geography", "Aeronautics", "Meteorology", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Ecology", "Biology" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4050/jahs.69.032010" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416256720", "doi": "10.2196/80320", "title": "Family Caregivers’ Perspectives on the Potential of Drone-Based Medication Delivery in Palliative Home Care: Qualitative Focus Group Study", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-09-20", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Franziska Fink", "Sabrina Claudia Otto", "Martin Grünthal", "Anne Lehmann", "Patrick Jahn" ], "first_author": "Franziska Fink", "venue": "JMIR Human Factors", "publisher": "JMIR Publications", "abstract": "Background: Palliative care supports individuals with incurable, life-threatening illnesses, focusing on symptom management and quality of life. Access to timely care, including essential medications, is often limited, particularly in rural areas, leading to gaps in home-based care. Digital health technologies, including drone-based delivery systems, have the potential to address such logistical challenges. For these technologies to be effective, they must be adapted to the specific needs of patients and caregivers, which often differ from general health care contexts, especially in remote areas. Objective: This study aimed to identify user needs and requirements for a drone-based medication delivery system designed to supplement traditional courier services in palliative care. The study also sought to explore practical considerations for integrating drones into home-based care workflows, with the goal of informing both technical design and clinical applicability. Methods: We conducted 1 focus group (FG) and 4 semistructured individual interviews with family caregivers involved in home-based palliative care. Participants were recruited via local palliative care services in rural regions. The discussions focused on experiences with palliative care, medication logistics, needs, expectations, and concerns regarding drone-assisted delivery. Interviews and the FG were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using structured qualitative content analysis. Results: A total of 10 caregivers participated (mean age 68.6, SD 12.3 years) in this study. Six participants took part in the FG and 4 participants were part of individually conducted interviews. Caregivers frequently reported long travel distances to obtain medications, sometimes leaving patients unattended and noting medication shortages, especially in the afternoons and on weekends. Participants highlighted the potential of drones to supplement existing courier services during periods of high demand. At the same time, caregivers expressed concerns about limited technical skills, particularly regarding mobile apps for ordering deliveries, and emphasized the need for simple, user-friendly systems. . Conclusions: These findings reveal logistical gaps in palliative care medication supply and design requirements for drone-based delivery systems. There is a clear demand for faster, more reliable access to essential medication, especially during evenings and weekends. Whether drone-assisted delivery can reduce hospitalizations and support patients' wishes to remain at home warrants further research. Specialized outpatient palliative care teams are central to eHealth adoption, providing technical guidance, emotional support, and confidence in using new technologies. Their involvement in communication and training is critical. Strengthening digital health literacy requires individual training and structural adjustments to meet the needs of older caregivers and those with limited digital affinity. Concerns about losing personal interaction remain significant; digital tools should complement, not replace, face-to-face care. Timely medication access could reduce caregiver stress and improve quality of life by supporting symptom control at home. To foster acceptance, caregivers need hands-on experience. Future studies should test drone delivery in real-world settings, addressing technological, psychological, and social factors.", "keywords": [ "Focus group", "Palliative care", "eHealth", "Qualitative research", "Digital health", "Quality of life (healthcare)", "Quality (philosophy)", "Social support", "Telehealth" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2196/80320" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4407638139", "doi": "10.1109/access.2025.3543007", "title": "Employing Hybrid Pointer Networks With Deep Reinforcement Learning for Drone Routing in Delivery Using Public Transportation as Carriers", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mahmoud Masoud", "Omar Ashraf Ibrahim", "Mohammed Mamdouh Zakaria Elhenawy" ], "first_author": "Mahmoud Masoud", "venue": "IEEE Access", "publisher": "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers", "abstract": "Since the inception of Autonomous Aerial Vehicles (AAVs), also known as drones, and the rapid growth of the AAV industry, significant steps have been taken to design drones for diverse applications. Particularly in the last decade, the industry’s progress has been so swift that novel uses for drones continue to emerge regularly. One field that has demonstrated promising potential for future applications is drone-based delivery services. However, a notable challenge in utilizing drones for deliveries is their limited operational range. To address this challenge, we propose a machine learning model that leverages public transportation vehicles as carriers to extend the range of drones, integrating Hybrid Pointer Networks (HPNs) and Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) to solve the complex routing problem. The primary objective is to minimize the total flying distance covered by drones while adhering to the capacity limitations and scheduled routes of public transportation buses. Notably, our model ensures that no drone is serviced if the bus roof capacity is fully utilized. By employing HPNs, we effectively manage complicated interactions between drones, buses, and delivery points, simplifying the optimization process to achieve cutting-edge results. The model was carefully optimized and fine-tuned after being trained in a simulated environment to maximize its performance. Results show that combining drone delivery services with bus service significantly lowers energy usage and improves the system’s capacity to fulfill delivery obligations.", "keywords": [ "Reinforcement learning", "Drone", "Computer science", "Pointer (user interface)", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer network", "Artificial intelligence", "Human–computer interaction" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2025.3543007" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7125899544", "doi": "10.1080/13675567.2026.2621325", "title": "Energy-efficient drone technologies and carbon-aware systems in sustainable supply chains: innovations, challenges, and policy pathways", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-28", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jalel Euchi", "Abdeljawed Sadok", "Majdi Argoubi" ], "first_author": "Jalel Euchi", "venue": "International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "Traditional logistics networks face increasing environmental pressure from carbon-intensive operations, prompting the need for solutions that balance efficiency and sustainability. This review synthesises academic literature, industry practices and case studies to assess how energy-efficient drone hubs, renewable energy integration and carbon-aware delivery systems enable low-emission, resilient last-mile logistics. Evidence from real-world applications, including UPS's solar-charged UAVs, DHL's warehouse drone pilots and Zipline's healthcare deliveries, indicates that renewable-powered docking stations and real-time route optimisation can reduce energy consumption by 54–84% compared with conventional methods. While these systems offer reduced emissions and improved service reliability, challenges remain, notably regulatory fragmentation, battery limitations and economic barriers to clean energy adoption. The paper proposes policy measures, such as streamlined certification and targeted subsidies, and highlights the role of decentralised energy systems and AI-driven fleet coordination. The findings provide actionable guidance for advancing scalable, sustainable logistics aligned with global goals such as the EU Green Deal.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Supply chain", "Sustainability", "Key (lock)", "Sustainable development", "Emerging technologies" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2026.2621325" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4360976870", "doi": "10.1002/9781119818366.ch6", "title": "Sparse Vector Coding for Ultra‐reliable and Low‐latency Communications", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-03-17", "type": "other", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Byonghyo Shim" ], "first_author": "Byonghyo Shim", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Ultra reliable and low latency communication (URLLC) is a new service category in 5G to support latency-sensitive applications such as autonomous driving, smart factory, remote surgery, drone-based delivery, to name just a few. In order to support this new service category, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) sets a stringent requirement that a packet should be delivered with 10 −5 packet error rate within 1ms transmission period. Since a large part of the URLLC information can be classified as the control, command type information, or sensing information, the amount of information to be delivered in these cases is pretty small, meaning that the current wireless transmission mechanism designed to maximize the coding gain by transmitting the capacity-achieving long codeblock is not efficient. An aim of this book chapter is to propose a new approach to support the short packet transmission, referred to as sparse vector coding (SVC). The key idea behind the proposed SVC technique is to transmit the information after the sparse vector transformation. By mapping the information into the position of nonzero elements and then transmitting it after random spreading, we obtain an underdetermined sparse system for which the principle of compressed sensing can be applied. From the numerical evaluations and performance analysis, we demonstrate that the proposed SVC technique is very effective in URLLC transmission and outperforms the transmission schemes in the current cellular standard.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Network packet", "Computer network", "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2", "Transmission (telecommunications)", "Wireless broadband", "Coding (social sciences)", "Real-time computing", "Compressed sensing", "Wireless", "Algorithm", "Telecommunications" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/9781119818366.ch6" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2333348052", "doi": "10.2514/6.2013-1345", "title": "Influence of Wind on Terminal Approach and Landing Accuracy", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-03-23", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Horst Altmann" ], "first_author": "Horst Altmann", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Autonomous guided Precision Aerial Delivery Systems at various sizes and technology levels have been developed within the last decade and are now available to serve a number of operational needs, for example delivery of supplies or aerial surveillance. These systems usually take full advantage of a steerable parafoil and are, once fed with mission data and released from a carrier aircraft, operating autonomously. As these systems involve poor speed performance against ambient air critical mission phases like exit point definition, enroute guidance, terminal guidance and landing approach have to be properly chosen with respect to the prevailing wind conditions. This paper deals with various perspectives and associated effects that influence landing precision. Based on a generic guidance strategy effects of real-world system behavior, atmospheric conditions and wind profiles are investigated. Finally, flight path control in conjunction with favorable parafoil aerodynamic characteristics is presented as an effective means to improve landing precision.", "keywords": [ "Terminal (telecommunication)", "Computer science", "Marine engineering", "Aerospace engineering", "Aeronautics", "Engineering", "Telecommunications" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2013-1345" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2323751279", "doi": "10.2514/6.2015-2141", "title": "High Speed Container Delivery System Joint Capability Technology Demonstration", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-03-27", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michael R. Henry", "S. K. Patel" ], "first_author": "Michael R. Henry", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The High Speed Container Delivery System was developed to provide a low altitude, high speed aerial delivery capability. The Office of the Secretary of Defense sponsored the project as a fiscal year 2011 Joint Capability Technology Demonstration. Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center was assigned as the technical manager for this three year effort and worked in conjunction with United States Transportation Command and United States Air Force Air Mobility Command. Conventional airdrop for payloads in the 500 to 2,200 pound weight range is conducted at 130 to 150 knots indicated airspeed, close to aircraft stall speeds; severely limiting maneuverability to avoid threats or terrain. In addition, the current minimum drop altitude is 400 feet above ground level. This project had the goal of being able to drop these same payloads at 250 knots and at 250 feet by taking advantage of the high speed ramp on the C-17A and C-130J aircraft. The primary tactical benefits of this capability are decreased aircraft exposure time over the dropzone and increased aircraft maneuverability. The lower drop altitude also means the parachutes will be less susceptible to drift effects, enabling the airdrop to be more accurate. During this effort, developmental testing was accomplished on the C-130J to certify it for high speed airdrop and three operational demonstrations were completed. The program fielded equipment on two separate occasions; one in early 2013 and another in early 2014. At the conclusion, the project was successful in meeting all threshold requirements and many objective requirements of the JCTD. It is scheduled to transition to Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems (PdMFSS) in fiscal year 2015 to be continued as an Army program of record.", "keywords": [ "Aeronautics", "Airspeed", "Engineering", "Stall (fluid mechanics)", "Limiting", "Automotive engineering", "Aerospace engineering", "Mechanical engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 10, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2015-2141" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4406611318", "doi": "10.1109/wsc63780.2024.10838959", "title": "Designing the Charging Stations Network for Freight Delivery by Drones Using Simulation-Optimization", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-12-15", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Irene Izco", "Adrián Serrano-Hernández", "Javier Faulín" ], "first_author": "Irene Izco", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Drones are a promising choice to the last-mile delivery in place of conventional vehicles that contribute to road congestion and air pollution. Despite the autonomy, flexibility, and agility of drones, their limited battery capacity and payload compromise their flight range. In this paper, this challenge is faced through the placement of charging stations where drone batteries are recharged to expand their flying span. This work relies on a simulation-optimization solution approach to determine the optimal number of the drone hubs to serve a given delivery order demand. The optimization aims at minimizing charging station installation costs, drone energy consumption, and operational costs. The simulation model is run to simulate the parcel delivery flights as well as the drone battery consumption and charging cycles. Moreover, allocating the customer demands to stations and dimensioning the drones fleet to deliver packages efficiently pinpoint the station locations and size.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/wsc63780.2024.10838959" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4285150537", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-030-98574-5_9", "title": "Strategic Deployment of Drone Centers and Fleet Size Planning for Drone Delivery", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "David Sacharny", "Thomas C. Henderson" ], "first_author": "David Sacharny", "venue": "Unmanned system technologies", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Software deployment", "Schedule", "Transport engineering", "Truck", "Aeronautics", "Engineering", "Population", "Operations research", "Computer science", "Aerospace engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98574-5_9" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4415719714", "doi": "10.1186/s12544-025-00748-3", "title": "Exploring the dynamics of public acceptance factors and drone transport planning towards sustainable transitions", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-10-31", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Aishwarya Raghunatha", "Per Hilletofth", "Patrik Thollander" ], "first_author": "Aishwarya Raghunatha", "venue": "European Transport Research Review", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": "Abstract Improving accessibility and decarbonization of the transport sector using drones involves technology and infrastructure-related considerations that must meet public expectations. This paper, set primarily in Europe, aims to identify (a) technology and infrastructural planning considerations, and (b) implications of dynamics between planning considerations and public acceptance. The identified planning considerations include type of application, choice of drone, flight altitudes, airspace planning, restricted zones, vertiport locations, digital infrastructure, charging infrastructure, time of operations, type of delivery, and transportation model, in areas of both high and low population densities. This paper primarily employs a literature review and validates the results using expert interviews. Key trade-offs for regional planners and transport companies are discussed and synthesized on different drone system levels. Eleven critical and pragmatic implications for planning and decision-making are highlighted for implementing drone services into existing transport. These implications also indicate critical research gaps needed to plan for this emerging technology aligned with sustainability goals.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Plan (archaeology)", "Sustainability", "Public transport", "Transportation planning", "Population", "Key (lock)", "Set (abstract data type)" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://etrr.springeropen.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s12544-025-00748-3" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4379877454", "doi": "10.2514/6.2023-3408", "title": "Missed Approach Procedures in Advanced Air Mobility: Conceptual Exploration", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-06-08", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jeffrey R. Homola", "Aman Tripathi", "Jeremy Garber", "Lettitia Clark", "Torrie Meliska", "Louis J. Glaab" ], "first_author": "Jeffrey R. Homola", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-3408.vid The High Density Vertiplex Sub-Project, as part of NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Project, has been in collaboration with a team from Wisk Aero focusing on vertiport operations, procedures, and concept development. A particular area of focus has been on the development of missed approach scenarios and procedures that highlight the potential changes in the nearer- and further-term operational time frames. Such changes relate to topic areas such as airspace design, automation and autonomy, roles and responsibilities of actors and stakeholders, airspace management services and systems, as well as technologies specific to vertiport operations management. This paper presents the current state of joint concept development through the established collaboration and the application of elements in ongoing testing as part of NASA’s High Density Vertiplex Sub-Project’s research strategy.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Systems engineering", "Automation", "Project management", "Focus (optics)", "Process management", "Engineering management", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-3408" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3185902595", "doi": "10.2514/6.2021-3172", "title": "Enabling Urban Air Mobility through Communications and Cooperative Surveillance", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-07-28", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Virginia L. Stouffer", "William B. Cotton", "Thomas B. Irvine", "Richard E. Jennings", "Ronald D. Lehmer", "Randall A. DeAngelis", "Michelle A. Shaver", "Thanh Nguyen", "D. M. J. Devasirvatham" ], "first_author": "Virginia L. Stouffer", "venue": "AIAA AVIATION 2021 FORUM", "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-3172.vid Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is envisioned to provide intra-urban transportation in an air taxi or ride sharing service over congested urban areas, using small air vehicles. This paper describes enabling aspects of potential operations in the near term, conceptually in the first ten years of UAM operation in the US. UAM vehicles will land and take-off at defined vertiports and airports, flying at low altitudes, through B, C, D, and E airspace. Urban air vehicles will share the airspace with conventional piloted aircraft and, in the low altitude, urban airspace, with emerging small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). FAA’s UAM CONOPS posits operation in urban air corridors under Community Based Rules. Even assuming VFR operation in these corridors, there are multiple urban air vehicle communication needs in the corridor. These communications face constraints of identifying available frequencies, achieving appropriate range, ascertaining quality of service, then implementation and management of the communications. Building on a year-long study of CNS recommendations for UAM under UML-4 that this team completed for NASA in 2020, this paper explores the requirements and constraints of communications and surveillance in near term corridors. We examine the alternatives recommended in the 2020 NASA report and compare them to the requirements under FAA’s UAM CONOPS and UAM corridors, identifying issues for resolution and research. Even given the constraints and unknowns of UAM operations, we found several viable options for CNS, which are presented in this paper.", "keywords": [ "Service (business)", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Air traffic control", "Aeronautics", "Range (aeronautics)", "Telecommunications", "Engineering", "Aerospace engineering", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-3172" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2886332207", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.1808.04617", "title": "Joint Ground and Aerial Package Delivery Services: A Stochastic Optimization Approach", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-08-14", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Suttinee Sawadsitang", "Dusit Tao Niyato", "Tan Puay Siew", "Ping Wang" ], "first_author": "Suttinee Sawadsitang", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, have emerged as a promising mode of fast, energy-efficient, and cost-effective package delivery. A considerable number of works have studied different aspects of drone package delivery service by a supplier, one of which is delivery planning. However, existing works addressing the planning issues consider a simple case of perfect delivery without service interruption, e.g., due to accident which is common and realistic. Therefore, this paper introduces the joint ground and aerial delivery service optimization and planning (GADOP) framework. The framework explicitly incorporates uncertainty of drone package delivery, i.e., takeoff and breakdown conditions. The GADOP framework aims to minimize the total delivery cost given practical constraints, e.g., traveling distance limit. Specifically, we formulate the GADOP framework as a three-stage stochastic integer programming model. To deal with the high complexity issue of the problem, a decomposition method is adopted. Then, the performance of the GADOP framework is evaluated by using two data sets including Solomon benchmark suite and the real data from one of the Singapore logistics companies. The performance evaluation clearly shows that the GADOP framework can achieve significantly lower total payment than that of the baseline methods which do not take uncertainty into account.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Suite", "Benchmark (surveying)", "Operations research", "Stochastic programming", "Takeoff", "Service (business)", "Mathematical optimization", "Engineering", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/1808.04617" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1527862759", "doi": "10.1109/recosoc.2015.7238103", "title": "Towards cognitive reconfigurable hardware: Self-aware learning in RTR fault-tolerant SoCs", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-06-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Byron Navas", "Ingo Sander", "Johnny Öberg" ], "first_author": "Byron Navas", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Traditional embedded systems are evolving into power-and-performance-domain self-aware intelligent systems in order to overcome complexity and uncertainty. Without human control, they need to keep operative states in applications such as drone-based delivery or robotic space landing. Nowadays, the partial and run-time reconfiguration (RTR) of FPGA-based Systems-on-chip (SoC) can enable dynamic hardware acceleration or self-healing structures, but this conversely increases system-memory traffic. This paper introduces the basis of cognitive reconfigurable hardware and presents the design of an FPGA-based RTR SoC that becomes conscious of its monitored hardware and learns to make decisions that maintain a desired system performance, particularly when triggering hardware acceleration and dynamic fault-tolerant (FT) schemes on RTR cores. Self-awareness is achieved by evaluating monitored metrics in critical AXI-cores, supported by hardware performance counters. We suggest a reinforcement-learning algorithm that helps the system to search out when and which reconfigurable FT-scheme can be triggered. Executing random sequences of an embedded benchmark suite simulates unpredictability and bus traffic. The evaluation shows the effectiveness and implications of our approach.", "keywords": [ "Control reconfiguration", "Computer science", "Field-programmable gate array", "Embedded system", "Benchmark (surveying)", "Reinforcement learning", "Reconfigurable computing", "Hardware acceleration", "System on a chip", "Computer hardware", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/recosoc.2015.7238103" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3211336735", "doi": "10.24191/myse.v8i3.15895", "title": "URBAN COMMUTERS’ EXPECTATION LEVELS ON THE e-VTOL VERTICAL AIRPORT DESIGN IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-10-26", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Raymond Lim Ying Keat", "Jestin Nordin", "Mohd Najib Mohd Salleh" ], "first_author": "Raymond Lim Ying Keat", "venue": "Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Environment", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The world’s urban dwellers are rapidly growing by 60.3% over six decades (1960-2019) (The World Bank Group, 2020), and two third of the world’s population is projected to reside in the urban setting by 2050. The same issue occurred in Malaysia, where the shifting from 73% rural to 73% urban population is real (Mohd Hussain, N. H.; Byrd, H.; & Ahmad, N. A., 2017), and this phenomena contributed to the increasing number of population in big cities such as Kuala Lumpur. Therefore, it is expected that the existing challenging traffic congestion will worsen if a better traffic dissemination planning strategy is not developed. Hence, the development of an e-VTOL (electrical vertical take-off landing) vehicle is a possible strategy to ease the urban traffic congestion problem. Serious collaboration among the departments such as planning, engineering, architecture, aviation developers, policy makers, and the sponsors, is important to establish sustainable future urban mobility and connectivity. This study aims to obtain information on the needs and expectations of urban commuters on the development of a vertiport in the city of Kuala Lumpur. A series of surveys involving 157 commuters using public transportation within the city centre, and a case study analysis, were conducted to gain an understanding of the viability of building a vertiport in Kuala Lumpur. Initially, findings show that nearly 50% of the respondents totally agree with the proposed development idea, while approximately 13% are really against this future urban air mobility strategy.", "keywords": [ "Kuala lumpur", "Traffic congestion", "Urban planning", "Population", "Aviation", "Transport engineering", "Public transport", "Business", "Transportation planning", "Sustainable development", "Geography", "Environmental planning" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/myse/article/download/15895/8189" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4388561994", "doi": "10.1109/dasc58513.2023.10311270", "title": "Assessing Performance of Radar and Visual Sensing Techniques for Ground-To-Air Surveillance in Advanced Air Mobility", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-10-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Federica Vitiello", "Flavia Causa", "Roberto Opromolla", "Giancarmine Fasano", "Chester V. Dolph", "Todd Ferrante", "Thomas Lombaerts", "Corey A. Ippolito" ], "first_author": "Federica Vitiello", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The safe integration of Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAV) within the civil airspace is of great interest to NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility project, which envisions high density of operations in and around urban areas that include both UAV and AAM aircraft. To enable safe autonomous operations of both platforms, reliable airspace surveillance strategies must be designed and experimentally validated in relevant scenarios, where multiple small UAV operate flying in low altitude conditions. An example of such a scenario is described in this paper which provides performance assessment of various sensing strategies experimentally tested during flight campaigns with four UAV completing simultaneous missions from vertiports. Such campaigns are performed by the High Density Vertiplex subproject which assesses a prototype of Urban Air Mobility ecosystem. For the purposes of this work, the flights are observed from multiple sensing nodes each with radar and camera sensors. The visual detection and tracking algorithms achieved 96.1% to 99.9% average tracking coverage of the UAV above the horizon, reaching detection ranges larger than 1 kilometer for octocopter. Radar-based tracking shows a lower coverage mainly due to ground clutter removal challenges but provides comparable detection ranges and meter-level range accuracy.", "keywords": [ "Secondary surveillance radar", "Radar", "Computer science", "Remote sensing", "Ground-penetrating radar", "Meteorology", "Telecommunications", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/dasc58513.2023.10311270" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400448499", "doi": "10.1007/s42405-024-00772-y", "title": "Dynamic Takeoff and Landing Control for Multi-Rotor eVTOL Aircraft", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-07-09", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jida Chen", "Yugang Liu", "Xinjie Chen", "Liying Tang", "Zi’ang Xiong" ], "first_author": "Jida Chen", "venue": "International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Takeoff", "Takeoff and landing", "Genetic algorithm", "Computer science", "Rotor (electric)", "Control (management)", "Simulation", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Aerospace engineering", "Artificial intelligence", "Mechanical engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s42405-024-00772-y" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3211943074", "doi": "10.1109/dasc52595.2021.9594381", "title": "Extending Enhanced Visual Operations to Urban Air Mobility: Requirements and Approaches", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-10-03", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Paolo Veneruso", "Roberto Opromolla", "Giancarmine Fasano", "Gilberto Burgio", "Giacomo Gentile", "Carlo Tiana" ], "first_author": "Paolo Veneruso", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper addresses the possibility to exploit Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) for landing operations within the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) framework. First, an analysis of sensing requirements is carried out in terms of sensors’ Field of View (FOV), operational range, resolution, and frame rate. These requirements are estimated considering different factors such as airspace structure and possible landing trajectories, navigation performance, and wind conditions. A preliminary assessment of the level of maturity of the available technologies is obtained as a result of the comparison of the EVS state of the art and the estimated visual requirements for the UAM scenarios. Finally, the performance of sensing systems fulfilling the previously defined requirements is assessed within a numerical simulation framework able to realistically reproduce UAM landing scenarios including trajectory/attitude disturbances. Specifically, visual-based techniques for pose estimation with respect to a vertiport are developed and then integrated within a multi-sensor fusion architecture combining other sources such as inertial sensors.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Trajectory", "Sensor fusion", "Exploit", "Range (aeronautics)", "Frame (networking)", "Real-time computing", "Inertial navigation system", "Inertial frame of reference", "Simulation", "Systems engineering", "Aerospace engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/dasc52595.2021.9594381" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4410771090", "doi": "10.1109/icuas65942.2025.11007806", "title": "Air Corridor Planning for UAVs Using a Cooperative Co-Evolutionary Approach and NURBS Representation", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-05-14", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Elias José de Rezende Freitas", "Miri Weiss Cohen", "Frederico Gadelha Guimarães", "Luciano C. A. Pimenta" ], "first_author": "Elias José de Rezende Freitas", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper addresses the problem of planning feasible air corridors for UAVs. We propose a novel path planner based on a co-evolutionary approach that considers minimum curvature, no-fly zones, interactions with other air corridors, and adherence to specified altitude-safe zones, with each central path represented by a Non-Uniform Rational BSpline (NURBS) curve. In addition, our approach accommodates UAVs, such as fixed-wing aircraft, which cannot hover or remain stationary in the air, by providing paths that guide the robots to tangent landing or take-off regions (vertiports). The results of different scenarios with different numbers of vertiports and no-fly zones demonstrate the planner's ability to generate a set of feasible air corridors.", "keywords": [ "Representation (politics)", "Computer science", "Evolutionary algorithm", "Evolutionary computation", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/icuas65942.2025.11007806" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2243107307", "doi": "10.4271/965614", "title": "Vertical Flight in an Obstacle-Rich Environment", "year": 1996, "publication_date": "1996-10-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Brian M. Sawyer", "Eric H. Bolz", "Leon A. Zmroczek", "Arthur F. Kramer" ], "first_author": "Brian M. Sawyer", "venue": "SAE technical papers on CD-ROM/SAE technical paper series", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Over the last several years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the rotorcraft industry have maintained a dialogue regarding minimum airspace requirements at visual flight rule (VFR) heliports. The industry is anxious to locate heliports in strategic downtown city-center areas and wants to size heliport airspace to fit these constrained geometries. The FAA, on the other hand, is concerned that the minimum recommended airspace for VFR heliports or vertiports must be sufficient to ensure safety of operations. Prior FAA studies and testing on this issue have been concerned with a very limited number of obstacles in the vicinity of a specific heliport. No consideration has been given to the psychological effect of a large number of obstacles, or an obstacle-rich environment (ORE), in the vicinity of a heliport or vertiport on pilot performance. This research project is designed to explore and investigate what part obstacles play in pilot performance and perception.", "keywords": [ "Obstacle", "Aerospace engineering", "Computer science", "Aeronautics", "Geology", "Environmental science", "Marine engineering", "Remote sensing", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4271/965614" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4398191666", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2405.11118", "title": "A Simulation-Optimization Framework for Developing Wind-Resilient AAM Networks", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-05-17", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Emin Burak Onat", "Shangqing Cao", "Raiyan Rizwan", "Xuan Jiang", "Mark M. Hansen", "Raja Sengupta", "Anjan Chakrabarty" ], "first_author": "Emin Burak Onat", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "Environmental factors pose a significant challenge to the operational efficiency and safety of advanced air mobility (AAM) networks. This paper presents a simulation-optimization framework that dynamically integrates wind variability into AAM operations. We employ a nonlinear charging model within a multi-vertiport environment to optimize fleet size and scheduling. Our framework assesses the impact of wind on operational parameters, providing strategies to enhance the resilience of AAM ecosystems. The results demonstrate that wind conditions exert significant influence on fleet size even for short-distance flights, their impact on fleet size and energy requirements becomes more pronounced over longer distances. Efficient management of fleet size and charging policies, particularly for long-distance networks, is needed to accommodate the variability of wind conditions effectively.", "keywords": [ "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2405.11118" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4409656543", "doi": "10.1016/j.trc.2025.105111", "title": "On-demand ridesharing based on dynamic scheduling in urban air mobility", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-04-22", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shanghan Li", "Tengfei Zhang", "Yiyong Xiao", "Daqing Li" ], "first_author": "Shanghan Li", "venue": "Transportation Research Part C Emerging Technologies", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Urban Air Mobility (UAM) utilizes electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to provide fast, reliable air transport services in cities and surrounding areas. As a flexible mode of transportation service, UAM ridesharing can provide convenient and adaptive multi-modal on-demand travel. In this scenario, multi-modal mobility-on-demand service providers can offer traditional door-to-door ridesharing with an integrated solution, through connecting users to eVTOL vertiports. We establish the integrated dynamic scheduling model for UAM ridesharing, and develop a cloud-edge collaborative multi-modal mobility-on-demand service architecture. This architecture integrates ordinary, multi-hop ridesharing and air-ground integrated mobility, offering flexible travel combinations tailored to user needs. We propose a multi-modal transportation dynamic scheduling algorithm based on this architecture to solve the problem. The solution process is divided into four stages: travel service plan planning, available resource search, dynamic cooperative multiple task assignment, and vehicle rebalancing. In the first two stages, an improved pulse algorithm is used to search for feasible service plans and filter available transport resources. In the dynamic cooperative multiple task assignment stages, we use a hybrid adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm to select travel plans, allocate transport resources, and plan vehicle routes. The graph structure of the task network is used in the algorithm to decouple the original problem, thereby effectively controlling the problem size. Finally, in the vehicle rebalancing stage, idle vehicles are repositioned based on demand distribution to improve supply–demand matching efficiency. Experiments based on New York City travel data indicate that compared to traditional ridesharing, our system can significantly improve the service rate and reduce user travel time. In the best-case scenario, the service rate increased by approximately 25%, while the average detour time decreased by around 52%. This demonstrates the possibility of enhancing convenience and attractiveness of UAM, which can also provide support and reference for the design and operation of future multi-modal transportation systems.", "keywords": [ "Scheduling (production processes)", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Simulation", "Engineering", "Operations management" ], "cited_by_count": 10, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2025.105111" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W288565806", "doi": "10.21236/ada437595", "title": "Pegasus Unbound? The Challenge of Sustainment and Endurance in Airborne Joint Forcible Entry Operations", "year": 2005, "publication_date": "2005-05-26", "type": "report", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Timothy M. Gilhool" ], "first_author": "Timothy M. Gilhool", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "How should the Army best structure the logistical elements of its new Airborne Brigade Combat Team (BCT) to support Joint Forcible Entry Operations (JFEO)? With the focus on becoming a more \"Joint and Expeditionary\" force with \"Campaign Qualities,\" as well as the supply problems encountered by Army and Marine forces on the drive to Baghdad, logistics has once again come to the forefront. The strains involved in sustaining a parachute-delivered force in hostile territory can serve as an excellent model for just what the Army hopes to accomplish with \"expeditionary\" logistics. The primary conclusion of the work is that there has been a historical underestimation of requirements and overestimation of capabilities, especially in the area of aerial delivery, for sustainment of parachute operations. To overcome these factors, the paper recommends a number of solutions across the Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership, and Personnel (DOTMLPF) spectrum. These include a greater emphasis in doctrine on pushing supplies and logistical assets forward; the production of a Joint manual on JFEO; the creation of a Assault Support Platoon within the various Forward Support Companies; the fielding of improved aerial delivery platforms; and the inclusion of Airborne JFEO facilities in the Joint Sea-Basing concept.", "keywords": [ "Joint (building)", "Aeronautics", "Remote sensing", "Engineering", "Geology", "Architectural engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://doi.org/10.21236/ada437595" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4402710721", "doi": "10.31763/ijrcs.v4i2.1374", "title": "Intelligent PID Controller Based on Neural Network for AI-Driven Control Quadcopter UAV", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-05-21", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Nur Hayati Sahrir", "Mohd Ariffanan Mohd Basri" ], "first_author": "Nur Hayati Sahrir", "venue": "International Journal of Robotics and Control Systems", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), specifically a quadcopter is publicly popular which it provides services in different applications such as aerial delivery, aerial photography, military, weather forecasting and more examples to date. A Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller is one of the control techniques that can provide stabilization and reliable trajectory tracking. However, proper PID gains are needed to ensure a stable flight and it should be hybridized or improved to increase the robustness, reliability, and stabilization during flight. In this paper, an intelligent PID controller using neural network is proposed based on Levenberg-Marquardt feedforward neural network training method. The PID gains are initialized using different ranges according to the optimal gains generated by Particle Swarm Optimization, and this contributes towards a good training performance using Mean Square Error (MSE) evaluation. The trained network takes desired output and references as input data to calculate the required combination of PID gains as the output. The including of the response characteristics as the input data for the network, together with reference, error, and control input is the significance of the work. The performance of this work is presented using MSE performances, attitudes and altitude stabilization, and trajectory tracking reliability through error index performances. The simulation results graphically prove that the proposed controller provides better stability with reduced overshoot and settling times. Disturbance rejection is also enhanced by 1.7% compared to manual tuned PID controller. The reliability of the proposed controller highlights avenues for further exploration in AI-driven control strategies for quadcopter systems.", "keywords": [ "Quadcopter", "PID controller", "Control engineering", "Artificial neural network", "Computer science", "Control (management)", "Control theory (sociology)", "Controller (irrigation)", "Intelligent control", "Artificial intelligence", "Engineering", "Aerospace engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.31763/ijrcs.v4i2.1374" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4280605606", "doi": "10.1109/icns54818.2022.9771523", "title": "Impact of Airspace Restrictions on Urban Air Mobility Commuter Demand Potential", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-04-05", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mihir Rimjha", "Susan L. Hotle", "Antonio A. Trani", "Nicholas Hinze" ], "first_author": "Mihir Rimjha", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This study aims to understand the impact of airspace restrictions on Urban Air Mobility (UAM) commuter demand potential in the New York City region. The potential for UAM is higher in congested cities with substantial commuter populations, but often these cities are served by one or more airports with congested airspaces encompassing over a large part of the urban area. The integration between commercial airspaces and future UAM airspace is among the major challenges to overcome. This study analyzes UAM demand potential with three scenarios of airspace restrictions- No Restrictions, Class-B restrictions only, Class-B/D restrictions. Close to 10 million commuters reside in the New York City area. The city is served by three major commercial airports (JFK, EWR, LGA), making it ideal for this study. A UAM demand estimation framework is built to estimate UAM demand potential for different scenarios. The airspace restrictions significantly affect the UAM demand potential by resulting in less optimal placement of vertiports and increased travel distances. Based on the UAM fares used in the simulation, the airspace restrictions decrease UAM demand by 40% - 57%, compared to the unrestricted scenarios.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/icns54818.2022.9771523" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412198055", "doi": "10.3390/drones9070486", "title": "Optimization of RIS-Assisted 6G NTN Architectures for High-Mobility UAV Communication Scenarios", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-07-10", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Muhammad Shoaib Ayub", "Muhammad Saadi", "Insoo Koo" ], "first_author": "Muhammad Shoaib Ayub", "venue": "Drones", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "The integration of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) with non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), particularly those enabled by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drone-based platforms, has emerged as a transformative approach to enhance 6G connectivity in high-mobility scenarios. UAV-assisted NTNs offer flexible deployment, dynamic altitude control, and rapid network reconfiguration, making them ideal candidates for RIS-based signal optimization. However, the high mobility of UAVs and their three-dimensional trajectory dynamics introduce unique challenges in maintaining robust, low-latency links and seamless handovers. This paper presents a comprehensive performance analysis of RIS-assisted UAV-based NTNs, focusing on optimizing RIS phase shifts to maximize the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), throughput, energy efficiency, and reliability under UAV mobility constraints. A joint optimization framework is proposed that accounts for UAV path loss, aerial shadowing, interference, and user mobility patterns, tailored specifically for aerial communication networks. Extensive simulations are conducted across various UAV operation scenarios, including urban air corridors, rural surveillance routes, drone swarms, emergency response, and aerial delivery systems. The results reveal that RIS deployment significantly enhances the SINR and throughput while navigating energy and latency trade-offs in real time. These findings offer vital insights for deploying RIS-enhanced aerial networks in 6G, supporting mission-critical drone applications and next-generation autonomous systems.", "keywords": [ "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/7/486/pdf?version=1752149535" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7164547513", "doi": "10.1016/j.apenergy.2026.128226", "title": "Urban energy and three-dimensional mobility integration for eVTOL scale-up", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-12", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tao Qian", "Jinyu Yue", "Chongyu Wang", "Jiarong Li", "Qinran Hu", "Hongxun Hui" ], "first_author": "Tao Qian", "venue": "Applied Energy", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Synchronizing", "Electricity", "Software deployment", "Service (business)", "Lagging", "Taxis", "Real estate", "Interface (matter)" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2026.128226" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4410115260", "doi": "10.1109/icns65417.2025.10976853", "title": "Development and Evaluation via Fast-Time Simulation of an Air Taxi Shuttle Service for the City of Frankfurt Connecting Airport and Trade Fair", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-04-08", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Fabian Morscheck", "Christian Kallies", "Enno Nagel", "Rostislav Karásek" ], "first_author": "Fabian Morscheck", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The CORUS-XUAM project defined three bidirectional corridors within U-space for an air taxi shuttle service in Frankfurt, connecting Terminal 2 of the outer-city Airport to the inner-city Trade Fair. These corridors consider airplane approach cones for the northern and central runways, no-fly zones around hospitals, and large buildings. In our previous study, we used fast-time simulations to evaluate the U-space routing and its operating concept, based on historical air traffic data, including arriving and departing airplanes as well as police, and medical helicopters throughout the city. Our former research was focused on the limitations of the airspace, avoiding conflicts with other airspace users and between the air taxis using a different corridor or delaying the departure, as well as determining the throughput potential of such a corridor system. In this study, we additionally simulate demand for the airport shuttle service by using historical arrival and departure times, airplane types, and available seats per travel class. Our analysis now also considers ground limitations, specifically the capacities of the two vertiports and the turnaround time needed for recharging or changing the batteries. This lets us suitably size both vertiports and then draw conclusions about the real limiting factors of running an air taxi airport shuttle service as in Frankfurt, revealing that most of the time the limiting factors reside rather on ground than in air space. One notable exception are medical or police helicopters flying close to the Trade Fair vertiport blocking all three corridors at once and bring the airport shuttle service to a complete halt.", "keywords": [ "Service (business)", "Aeronautics", "Transport engineering", "Telecommunications", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Business", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/icns65417.2025.10976853" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4317583855", "doi": "10.2514/6.2023-1331", "title": "Landing Framework and Control for EVTOL Aircraft in Urban Environments", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-19", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Taizo Meyer-Oehme", "Kilian Ginnell", "David E. Lampl", "Sophie Franziska Armanini" ], "first_author": "Taizo Meyer-Oehme", "venue": "AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum", "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-1331.vid Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles may be the key to expanding transportation to the third dimension. However, the safe and efficient integration of eVTOL vehicles is a difficult task due to the challenging urban environment. Especially during landing of an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) eVTOL, critical infrastructure, confined spaces, and densely populated areas pose high safety risks, which are even amplified by adverse environmental conditions and urban wind phenomena due to building-wind interaction. This paper aims to provide two contributions. First, a landing framework is developed to gain a detailed understanding on safe landings in urban settings. Based on the Bowtie hazard assessment methodology challenges are analyzed, and safety-enhancing technologies and concepts for mitigation and control are discussed. The framework identifies a landing controller and landing automation module (LAM) as cornerstones. For demonstration of the approach, in this paper, we implement an incremental nonlinear dynamic inversion (INDI) controller for the landing task with a suitable flight dynamics model of a scaled-down lift-and-cruise prototype. Lastly, the controller is tested in a simulation environment, both in wind-free conditions, steady winds, gusts and in a realistic open-source urban wind field based on CFD simulations. The results from the landing simulations can aid the definition of eVTOL controller requirements as well as the definition of vertiport-specific landing paths.", "keywords": [ "Lift (data mining)", "Computer science", "Controller (irrigation)", "Cruise", "Vehicle dynamics", "Marine engineering", "Aerospace engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-1331" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3179838284", "doi": "10.1111/trf.16501", "title": "Effect of parachute delivery on red blood cell (RBC) and plasma quality measures of blood for transfusion", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-07-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mark C. Bates", "Sarah Ann Watts", "Heidi A. Doughty", "Tom Woolley", "Andrew Miles", "Liam Barry", "Dominic C. Jenner", "Andrew J. Sedman", "Robert H. Purcell", "Emrys Kirkman" ], "first_author": "Mark C. Bates", "venue": "Transfusion", "publisher": "Wiley", "abstract": "BACKGROUND: Parachute airdrop offers a rapid transfusion supply option for humanitarian aid and military support. However, its impact on longer-term RBC survival is undocumented. This study aimed to determine post-drop quality of RBCs in concentrates (RCC), and both RBCs and plasma in whole blood (WB) during subsequent storage. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-two units of leucodepleted RCC in saline, adenine, glucose, mannitol (SAGM) and 22 units of nonclinical issue WB were randomly allocated for air transportation, parachute drop, and subsequent storage (parachute), or simply storage under identical conventional conditions (4 ± 2°C) (control). All blood products were 6-8 days post-donation. Parachute units were packed into Credo Cubes, (Series 4, 16 L) inside a PeliCase (Peli 0350) and rigged as parachute delivery packs. Packs underwent a 4-h tactical flight (C130 aircraft), then parachuted from 250 to 400 ft before ground recovery. The units were sampled aseptically before and after airdrop at weekly intervals. A range of assays quantified the RBC storage lesion and coagulation parameters. RESULTS: . All units showed a classical RBC storage lesion and increased RBC microparticles during 42 days of storage. Fibrinogen and clotting factors decreased in WB during storage. Nevertheless, no significant difference was observed between Control and Parachute groups. Air transportation and parachute delivery onto land did not adversely affect, or shorten, the shelf life of fresh RBCs or WB. DISCUSSION: Appropriately packaged aerial delivery by parachute can be successfully used for blood supply.", "keywords": [ "Fresh frozen plasma", "Red blood cell", "Whole blood", "Mannitol", "Blood transfusion", "Packed red blood cells", "Chemistry", "Medicine", "Surgery", "Platelet", "Internal medicine", "Biochemistry" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.16501" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4403395536", "doi": "10.47941/ijscl.2286", "title": "Drone Integration in Last-Mile Delivery Operations", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-10-13", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ravindra Kumar Patro", "Subhash Chandra", "Janaki Prasad Patro" ], "first_author": "Ravindra Kumar Patro", "venue": "International Journal of Supply Chain and Logistics", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Purpose: This research examines the integration of drone technology into last-mile delivery operations, focusing on its impact on supply chain efficiency, cost reduction, and sustainability. The study explores operational challenges, such as air traffic management, payload limitations, regulatory compliance, and public perception, providing a comprehensive understanding of how drones can reshape last-mile logistics. Methodology: The study employs a multi-faceted approach, combining historical analysis, in-depth case studies, and scenario planning to assess the impact of drone technology on last-mile delivery efficiency, cost optimization, and accessibility. Data is gathered from industry reports, interviews with logistics professionals, and regulatory documents. Thematic analysis is conducted to identify critical patterns, while scenario-based modeling offers insight into the potential outcomes of various integration strategies. A comparative evaluation of existing last-mile delivery methods against drone-based delivery models is also provided. Findings: The research reveals that drone technology offers significant potential for enhancing last-mile delivery efficiency, particularly in urban areas and remote locations, aligning with findings from studies like those by Murray & Chu (2015). However, the study identifies considerable obstacles, including regulatory challenges, limited payload capacities, and public acceptance issues. Solutions such as airspace regulation frameworks, collaborative logistics networks, and advanced battery technologies are highlighted as critical enablers for successful drone integration. Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on drone technology's role in logistics by providing a comprehensive framework for businesses and policymakers to navigate the complexities of drone integration. It recommends actionable steps for integrating drones into last-mile delivery, bridging the gap between theoretical innovation and practical application. It provides policy recommendations for regulatory bodies to develop airspace management systems that support drone operations. For practitioners, the research offers a strategic guide to overcoming operational challenges, facilitating the adoption of drones as a sustainable solution for last-mile delivery.", "keywords": [ "Mile", "Drone", "Last mile (transportation)", "Aeronautics", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Geography", "Geodesy", "Biology" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.47941/ijscl.2286" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4287306706", "doi": "10.2514/1.g006667", "title": "Dynamic Programming and Model Predictive Control Approach for Autonomous Landings", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-07-25", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Giacomo Bonaccorsi", "Marco B. Quadrelli", "Francesco Braghin" ], "first_author": "Giacomo Bonaccorsi", "venue": "Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics", "publisher": "American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics", "abstract": "BEING lightweight and inherently easy to deploy, precision aerial delivery systems (PADSs) have the potential to lead to both drastic cost reductions and improved landing precision in the field of space exploration.With this work, we propose a technique that allows generating a PADS guidance law by using a combination of dynamic programming and model predictive control (MPC). The technique presented is based on a parallel successive-refinement dynamic programming used for the optimal trajectories generation, which is then combined with an MPC logic for optimal tracking. Although the method is more generally applicable to most celestial bodies characterized by a relatively dense atmosphere, we focus on a descent on Titan as an example to illustrate its effectiveness. Saturn moons, in fact, have been part of several research efforts due to their possible habitability conditions [1–3]. Among them, Titan has been given a lot of attention thanks to its peculiar geophysical characteristics. While it is possible to find many recent literature contributions focusing on novel guidance and control approaches for spacecraft landing on celestial bodies (e.g., [4–8]), the authors are not aware of any work that focuses specifically on parafoil landings in such environments. The different atmospheric conditions and largely unknown environment are, however, only some of the challenges that would be encountered during a similar mission. Unlike conventional powered vehicles, most parafoils do not have the ability to ascend or slow down considerably. Furthermore, given the slow entry, descent, and landing (EDL) phase due to Titan’s high atmospheric density, there is enough time for wind profiles to change considerably. Another constraint is that the final touchdown should also occur upwind to reduce the payload speed and limit the risk of a roll-over.", "keywords": [ "Model predictive control", "Computer science", "Control (management)", "Dynamic programming", "Control theory (sociology)", "Control engineering", "Engineering", "Artificial intelligence", "Algorithm" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/1.g006667" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4407413698", "doi": "10.2514/6.2025-2003", "title": "Proposed Urban Air Mobility Operations Will Lead to Socioeconomic Disparities in Noise Pollution", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-03", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Matthew A. Clarke", "Aidan R. Molloy", "Niranjan Nanjappa", "Yair N. Guerrero", "Ava Cipriani", "Nicole Artemyev", "Ceyenna M. Tillman" ], "first_author": "Matthew A. Clarke", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban air mobility (UAM) represents a promising frontier in transportation, yet concerns over its potential contribution to noise pollution are increasingly undervalued or, at worst, disregarded. Aircraft noise and the associated annoyance have been linked to adverse health impacts, such as hearing loss and heightened anxiety in those who face high exposure. Additionally, the psychological effects of disproportionately affected groups enhance the feeling of existing inequalities. This paper seeks to reduce the probability of ill-planned air traffic management by distilling the relationship between proposed UAM aircraft operations and human activity and proposing a new community annoyance noise metric derived from current regulations, population density, and land use. More holistic in nature, this metric can better inform implications for public health and quality of living in lower-income and racial minority communities that are traditionally subjected to heightened aircraft noise due to their proximity to airports. A trade study of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area was undertaken to demonstrate the utility of this new metric and the application of this work. Three distinct electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft configurations were modeled to simulate hourly operations between theorized vertiports. The findings suggest that for direct vertiport-to-vertiport flight operations, the degree to which specific demographics of people are impacted varies with configuration.", "keywords": [ "Metric (unit)", "Noise pollution", "Socioeconomic status", "Computer science", "Air pollution", "Noise (video)", "Environmental science", "Pollution", "Environmental planning", "Business", "Noise reduction", "Sociology" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-2003" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4409764307", "doi": "10.1177/03611981251324190", "title": "Forecasting Demand for Urban Air Mobility Based on the Random Coefficient Logit Model: A Case Study of Provincial Capital Cities in China", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-04-24", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jida Chen", "Qiang Wang", "Shuai Zheng", "Hongbo Yi", "Yugang Liu" ], "first_author": "Jida Chen", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "With the technical breakthrough of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, urban air mobility (UAM) has gained significant attention. Accurate demand forecasts for UAM in China are crucial. The random coefficient logit model (referred to as the BLP model) is applied to estimate the demand of heterogeneous consumers. We employ a predictive model that integrates multiple influencing factors to forecast UAM demand. The model reveals the impact of traffic mode characteristics (speed, cost, waiting time, and congestion) on heterogeneous passengers, who differ in gender, education background, value of travel time, and vehicle ownership. Using the nested logit (NL) model as a benchmark, we calculate the sharing rates of different traffic modes. The results indicate that the sharing rates derived from the BLP model are closer to reality, showing an elastic substitution relationship among different traffic modes. Furthermore, considering the characteristics of current eVTOL aircraft, we estimate the sharing rates of UAM in urban settings. By analyzing the cost of UAM, we offer suggestions concerning fares and improvements to the ride experience. Simulations show that when fares are reduced by 25%, the sharing rate increases 50%. Additionally, passenger accessibility can be enhanced by increasing the number of vertiports. The cruising speed of UAM should be limited, as the sharing rate decreases when speeds exceed 120 km/h, a matter that is related to passenger comfort and safety.", "keywords": [ "Nested logit", "Econometrics", "Mode (computer interface)", "China", "Value of time", "Mixed logit", "Logistic regression", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Travel time", "Economics", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981251324190" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4417098032", "doi": "10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126473", "title": "Understanding how exposure to drone-induced vibration during transportation affects the quality of a monoclonal antibody (Nivolumab)", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-12-07", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "W. Zhu", "Katherine Theobald", "Mike Tobyn", "Patrick G. Courtney", "Paul G. Royall", "Tom Cherrett", "T. R. Waters" ], "first_author": "W. Zhu", "venue": "International Journal of Pharmaceutics", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies essential for cancer treatments, are sensitive biomolecules requiring reconstitution in infusion bags, and administration within hours. While drone transportation presents a promising solution for reaching remote healthcare facilities, it introduces mechanical stresses that can compromise mAb stability, leading to protein unfolding and aggregation. This study aimed to evaluate the stability of reconstituted Opdivo® (nivolumab) across vibrations modelling flight. Two different reciprocating shakers were used to simulate predominant frequencies of drone-induced vibrations in a controlled laboratory setting, employing analytical techniques (UV, DLS & SE-HPLC) to assess critical parameters and support the development of risk assessments for drone transportation. Nivolumab infusions remained stable under simulated drone vibrations, with all quality attributes meeting acceptance criteria. Samples exposed to varying frequencies 8, 63, 125 Hz for 30 min; 63 Hz for 1, 2, 3 h; a 43-minute drone flight, and prepared at different concentrations (0.48, 0.86, 1.24 mg/mL) showed no significant differences from controls. Two of the three samples subjected to 125 Hz vibration for 30 min exhibited a minor increase in monomer content (≤0.16 %, p = 0.003) on Day 2, accompanied by a 3 nm reduction in particle size. However, these changes remained within pharmaceutically acceptable limits and showed no evidence of functional compromise compared to controls. The particle size shift dissipated after 24 h of storage, suggesting a reversible, vibration-induced dissociation of oligomeric species. Understanding, the impact of flight on product characteristics and stability is important. The results show that Opdivo® is not affected by the vibrations generated by the various stages of drone flight. This paper establishes a reproducible framework for evaluating monoclonal antibody stability under simulated transport conditions, contributing to the development of safer and more efficient delivery methods in cancer care.", "keywords": [ "Monoclonal antibody", "Vibration", "Particle (ecology)", "Particle size", "Monomer", "Polymer" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126473" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W618626091", "doi": "10.13140/rg.2.2.20277.09441", "title": "Civil Tiltrotor Terminal Area Route Development Study", "year": 1995, "publication_date": "1995-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jasenka Rakas", "Stéphane Mondoloni", "N M Pernigotti", "William E. Weiss" ], "first_author": "Jasenka Rakas", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This report describes a study of the feasibility of operating Civil Tiltrotor (CTR) aircraft independently of conventional aircraft in two complex terminal areas. Aircraft operations and air traffic control procedures are described for terminal areas in general and for the New York and Boston terminal areas in particular. CTR arrival and departure routes were designed for those areas and are both described illustrated in the report. Interactions between CTRs and conventional aircraft were simulated using the SIMMOD Simulation Model. Controllers estimated that between 2 and 12 CTR operations per hour could be flown into each vertiport without increasing delays to conventional operations.", "keywords": [ "Terminal (telecommunication)", "Aeronautics", "Engineering", "Telecommunications" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.20277.09441" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412983319", "doi": "10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.113509", "title": "Wind tunnel study of Parapet effects on rooftop wind environment with implications for safe urban-air-mobility operations", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-08-05", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Chao Lin", "Ryozo Ooka", "Yoshiaki Takakuwa", "Hideki Kikumoto" ], "first_author": "Chao Lin", "venue": "Building and Environment", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "This study investigates the parapet influence on rooftop wind conditions of an isolated building towards safe Urban-Air-Mobility operations. High-resolution particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements are conducted in a wind tunnel to capture the near-roof flow fields around an isolated building model. Two parapet heights (0.05 and 0.1 times the building height H ) are tested under three wind directions (0-, 22.5-, and 45-degree). Velocity fields are analyzed in two horizontal planes: z / H = 1.05 and z / H = 1.15. Results show that parapets of both heights significantly reduce the roof-averaged wind speed, with reductions ranging from 60% to 77% at z / H = 1.05 and from 10% to 55% at z / H = 1.15, demonstrating their robust effectiveness across various wind directions. The 0.05 H parapet provides comparable wind speed reduction to the 0.1 H parapet at z / H = 1.05, but the 0.1 H parapet is more effective at z / H = 1.15. Parapets also reduce the roof-averaged wind-speed standard-deviation ws SD by 29%-50% at z / H = 1.05 but conversely increase ws SD by 47%-82% at z / H = 1.15. Compared to the 0.05 H parapet, the 0.1 H parapet achieves greater reductions in roof-averaged ws SD at z / H = 1.05 and increases lower roof-averaged ws SD at z / H = 1.15. The gust factor exceeds 2.1 in recirculation zones without parapets. Parapets generally reduce the gust factor in the roof center but cause local increases near the parapet edges, where values reach approximately 3.0. These findings suggest that taller parapets are preferable to provide low wind-speed and low wind-fluctuation conditions for safe vertiport design.", "keywords": [ "Environmental science", "Wind tunnel", "Meteorology", "Marine engineering", "Civil engineering", "Engineering", "Aerospace engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.113509" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4404411314", "doi": "10.1109/dasc62030.2024.10748919", "title": "Urban Air Mobility Fleet Rebalancing with Real-Time Updates on Estimated Time of Arrival", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-09-29", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jungu Kang", "Seokbin Yoon", "Keumjin Lee", "Sang Hyun Kim" ], "first_author": "Jungu Kang", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Rebalancing idle aircraft on the ground to other vertiports is essential for reducing passenger wait times at departure vertiports and minimizing the likelihood of airborne holding due to a lack of available pads and/or gates upon arrival. Rebalancing is also critical for efficient and safe Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations. However, determining whether and when to rebalance can be challenging without real-time information on the status of arriving aircraft (e.g., estimated time of arrival), as improper rebalancing decisions can result in deadheads and congested vertiports. In that sense, rebalancing can be enriched with more up-to-date (or real-time) information, thus reducing airborne delays and mitigating potential adverse effects. In this context, this study proposes a rebalancing algorithm based on real-time prediction and updates of the estimated time of arrival (ETA). Experimental results show that airborne delays and variance of these are reduced with real-time updates on ETA compared to rebalancing without ETA updates (or using the ETA on the flight plan). Furthermore, real-time updates on ETA reduce the number of delayed flights and potentially unnecessary rebalancing (e.g., deadhead flights) by providing more accurate and up-to-date arrival times compared to rebalancing without ETA updates. Sensitivity analysis of the decision time for rebalancing is also conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach under various scenarios. The results of this study can contribute to tactical fleet management for on-demand UAM services by determining rebalancing based on real-time updates of flight information.", "keywords": [ "Arrival time", "Time of arrival", "Computer science", "Real-time computing", "Environmental science", "Transport engineering", "Telecommunications", "Engineering", "Wireless" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/dasc62030.2024.10748919" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4376605506", "doi": "10.1109/icns58246.2023.10124254", "title": "Development and Evaluation of a U-space Route Structure for the City of Frankfurt Connecting Airport and Trade Fair Via Fast-Time Simulation", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-04-18", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Christian Kallies", "Karolin Schweiger", "Rostislav Karásek", "Fabian Morscheck", "Douwe Lambers" ], "first_author": "Christian Kallies", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "In the course of the European project CORUS-XUAM, a very large-scale demonstration was conducted for the metropolitan area of Frankfurt, for which a newly developed U-space route structure was conceptually elaborated. The demonstration exercise focuses on the initial definition and a near-term implementation of urban U-space corridors inside controlled airspace (class D) connecting terminal 2 of the Frankfurt Airport and the Frankfurt Trade Fair via air taxi services operating as airport shuttles. With advancements in navigation performance, monitoring, surveillance, communication technology and increasing operating experience, U-space corridors can transition to free flight trajectories. Local constraints such as approaching fixed-wing traffic, flights operating under visual flight rules (VFR) including helicopter emergency medical services, heliport operations, and a VFR holding pattern were taken into account in order to elaborate the course of the U-space corridors. Of special interest is the harmonization of airspace users inside and outside of U-space while ensuring safe and efficient conflict detection and resolution. A set of fast-time simulations have been conducted to evaluate the developed U-space route structure and its operating concept based on historic air traffic data for the metropolitan area of Frankfurt. Following the hypotheses that every 120 seconds an air taxi departure can be performed without causing a negative impact on airport operations, we evaluate the metrics U-space corridor usage, occupancy, throughput, number of resolved conflicts and occurring/imposed delay. In addition, we elaborate where conflicts occur and whether another air taxi or the background traffic caused them. Furthermore, we show how they can be resolved, i.e., how often and to what extend delaying and/or re-routing is applied throughout different scenarios. Using the selected separation values, it is possible to have air taxis departing every 90 s at both vertiports. This certainly changes when different separation thresholds are used. Additionally, we showed that all conflicts can be solved by applying a small ground delay or by simply choosing a different U-space corridor.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Transport engineering", "Separation (statistics)", "Air traffic control", "Space (punctuation)", "Computer science", "Occupancy", "Air space", "Aviation", "Operations research", "Aeronautics", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/icns58246.2023.10124254" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3200193273", "doi": "10.3397/in-2021-1333", "title": "Community noise from urban air mobility (UAM) and its control by traffic management", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-08-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michael Bauer" ], "first_author": "Michael Bauer", "venue": "NOISE-CON proceedings", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The awareness about UAM is amplified by steadily growing numbers of air taxi concepts being announced. In general environmentally friendly by electric propulsion, community noise and en-route noise are still prominent open questions. Several studies for larger UAM aircraft, describing the acoustic characteristics of a variety of potential air taxi concepts, have been performed by the author. Due to the abovementioned multitude of different vehicle concepts and their multiple operational conditions, each of them shows individual sound characteristics. Therefore, further investigations of noise created by air taxi fleets appear to be crucial. Understanding of community noise around vertiports and along air taxi routes will strongly depend on those fleets. In this paper, acoustically different air taxi systems are composing different sets of air taxi fleets, used for air traffic noise simulations. The simulations start with baseline scenarios of equally represented taxi systems on fixed flight paths with several flight levels in a certain air lane. The final fleets are consisting of random air taxi composition with randomly populated flight paths. The results, based on common noise metrics and changes in the number of affected residents, could provide a first indication how to reduce community noise by future UAM traffic management.", "keywords": [ "Noise (video)", "Air traffic control", "Aircraft noise", "Traffic noise", "Noise control", "Variety (cybernetics)", "Propulsion", "Noise pollution", "Range (aeronautics)", "Computer science", "Baseline (sea)", "Environmental science" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3397/in-2021-1333" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3210501447", "doi": null, "title": "Last mile drone delivery services: Adoption barriers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-10-25", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mario Schaarschmidt", "Matthias Bertram", "Marius Knobloch" ], "first_author": "Mario Schaarschmidt", "venue": "Journal of the Association for Information Systems", "publisher": "Association for Information Systems", "abstract": "The logistics market is facing considerable changes driven by digitalization and the continuously growing e-commerce sector. This has prompted logistics companies to search for innovative solutions that complement the dominant forms of last-mile parcel delivery. Specifically, new drone-based delivery technologies have reached a late development stage and offer advantages over the current truck delivery such as lower emissions and faster services. However, research on drone delivery adoption by end consumers is still in its infancies. In response to this research void, we conducted two surveys on consumers’ drone delivery service adoption intention and related risk perceptions – one before and one during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the two studies, we find robust support for the influence of drone-related risks on technology adoption. We further unravel differences that can be attributed to COVID-19, which generally has risen the need for contactless services. We discuss implications for IS theory and management.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)", "Pandemic", "Mile", "Last mile (transportation)", "2019-20 coronavirus outbreak", "Aeronautics", "Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)", "Computer science", "Business", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2021/is_implement/is_implement/3" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4365503237", "doi": "10.31223/x5wm12", "title": "A cost model for ocean iron fertilization as a means of carbon dioxide removal that compares ship- and aerial-based delivery, and estimates verification costs.", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-04-14", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "David Emerson", "Alexander B. Michaud", "Stephen Archer", "Laura E. Sofen", "Benjamin S. Twining" ], "first_author": "David Emerson", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper presents a cost model for implementing a deployment scale effort for conducting ocean iron fertilization (OIF) for marine-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR). The model incorporates basic oceanographic parameters critical for estimating the effective export of newly fixed CO2 into biomass that is stimulated by Fe addition to an Fe-limited region of the Southern Ocean. Estimated costs can vary by nearly a 100-fold between best-case and worst-case scenarios with best-case values of $7/net ton C captured versus worst-case $1500/net ton C captured, without accounting for verification costs. Primary oceanographic factors that influence cost are the net primary productivity increases achieved via OIF, the amount of carbon exported into the deep ocean, and the amount of CO2 ventilated back to the atmosphere. The model compares ship-based versus aerial delivery of iron to the ocean, and estimates aerial delivery can be 30 – 40% more cost effective; however, the specific requirements for aerial delivery require additional research and development. The model also estimates costs associated with verification and environmental monitoring of OIF. These costs increase $/net ton C captured by 3 – 4-fold. Best, intermediate, and worst cases for aerial delivery and ship delivery are $23, $83, $1,735, and $25, $94, $4481, respectively, inclusive of verification costs. The primary goal of this model is to demonstrate the variability in cost of OIF as a CDR method, to better understand where additional research is needed to determine the major factors that may make OIF a tractable, nature-based CDR method.", "keywords": [ "Software deployment", "Environmental science", "Carbon dioxide", "Primary production", "Total cost", "Cost estimate", "Computer science", "Meteorology", "Marine engineering", "Engineering", "Business", "Ecosystem" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://eartharxiv.org/repository/object/5272/download/10382/" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4379805357", "doi": "10.2514/6.2023-4281", "title": "Simulation of a Quadrotor Urban Air Taxi Hovering Above a Rooftop Edge", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-06-08", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Denis-Gabriel Caprace", "Patricia Ventura Diaz", "Steven Yoon" ], "first_author": "Denis-Gabriel Caprace", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-4281.vid With the development of urban air mobility, the safety of multirotor vehicle operations in proximity to vertiports must be assessed. This paper examines high-fidelity blade-resolved OVERFLOW simulations and medium-fidelity vortex particle-mesh simulations that capture the aerodynamics of a rotorcraft in full and partial ground effect. Results obtained with each CFD method are compared to verify the consistency of the models introduced in the latter, which include an immersed lifting line for the blade aerodynamics and various boundary conditions to account for solid surfaces such as ground and walls. Satisfactory agreement is obtained for the blade loads and rotorwash velocity profiles in the case of a single rotor, except for small discrepancies at the blade tip. Finally, a quadrotor air taxi is simulated to quantify the load imbalance when the vehicle hovers above a rooftop edge. The combined use of high- and medium-fidelity methods is envisioned to accelerate the workflow when a large number of configurations need to be tested.", "keywords": [ "Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution", "Computer science", "Aerospace engineering", "Environmental science", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Telecommunications" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-4281" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412486660", "doi": "10.2514/6.2025-3243", "title": "A Spatiotemporal Approach to Portal Siting and Routing for Urban Air Mobility: A Case Study on New York City", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-07-16", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Katie Vasiloff", "Zhenbo Wang", "Liang Quan Sun" ], "first_author": "Katie Vasiloff", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Advances in battery technology and autonomy algorithms have unlocked potential for electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft to serve Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations. As the demand for UAM services grows over time, the optimal locations of UAM ground infrastructure that satisfy dynamic trip demand in the long term must be determined. In this paper, we implement a Bass diffusion model with a price relationship curve to predict the UAM trip price as a function of UAM commuters. Next, we integrate the dynamic pricing data with a Multinomial Logit Model (MNL) to estimate the long-term spatiotemporal demand for UAM services. Subsequently, we formulate and solve a vertiport Location-Routing problem (LRP) to determine optimal UAM locations and travel networks over time that will maximize the spatiotemporal demand. We validate these approaches by conducting a case study on New York City, where we estimate the UAM demand over a series of time steps and solve a temporal vertiport LRP.", "keywords": [ "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Environmental science", "Transport engineering", "Computer network", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-3243" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7170154962", "doi": "10.1016/j.jairtraman.2026.103090", "title": "Distance-based subsidy rate design to incentivize ride-hail access to advanced air mobility hubs", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-07-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zhe Ji", "Yang Hai", "Joseph Y.J. Chow" ], "first_author": "Zhe Ji", "venue": "Journal of Air Transport Management", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Subsidy", "TRIPS architecture", "Profitability index", "Profit (economics)", "Work (physics)", "Air travel", "Air transport", "Public transport" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2606.21390" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416427590", "doi": "10.1016/j.engappai.2025.113216", "title": "ParcelDrone: A modular and graph neural network-based decentralized approach to aerial parcel delivery", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-11-20", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jun Kiat Tan", "Archit Krishna Kamath", "Peng Jia Shi", "Mir Feroskhan" ], "first_author": "Jun Kiat Tan", "venue": "Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Modular design", "Scalability", "Payload (computing)", "Thrust", "Controller (irrigation)", "Trajectory", "Propeller", "Graph", "Tracking error" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engappai.2025.113216" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4402265422", "doi": "10.23919/acc60939.2024.10644367", "title": "Alpha-Fair Routing in Urban Air Mobility with Risk-Aware Constraints", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-07-10", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yue Yu", "Zhenyu Gao", "Sarah H. Q. Li", "Qinshuang Wei", "John-Paul Clarke", "Ufuk Topcu" ], "first_author": "Yue Yu", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "In the vision of urban air mobility, air transport systems serve the demands of urban communities by routing flight traffic in networks formed by vertiports and flight corridors. We develop a routing algorithm to ensure that the air traffic flow fairly serves the demand of multiple commu-nities subject to stochastic network capacity constraints. This algorithm guarantees that the flight traffic volume allocated to different communities satisfies the alpha-fairness conditions, a commonly used family of fairness conditions in resource allocation. It further ensures robust satisfaction of stochastic network capacity constraints by bounding the coherent risk measures of capacity violation. We prove that implementing the proposed algorithm is equivalent to solving a convex optimization problem. We demonstrate the proposed algorithm using a case study based on the city of Austin. Compared with one that maximizes the total served demands, the proposed algorithm promotes even distributions of served demands for different communities.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.23919/acc60939.2024.10644367" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2315694301", "doi": "10.2514/6.1999-1727", "title": "Controllable airdrop simulations utilizing a 3-D structural dynamic model", "year": 1999, "publication_date": "1999-06-08", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Richard Benney", "Keith Stein", "Wei Zhang", "Michael L. Accorsi", "John W. Leonard" ], "first_author": "Richard Benney", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Joint research between the U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM), Soldier Systems Center (Natick), and the University of Connecticut focuses on the use of a 3-D Structural Dynamic (SD) finite element code to predict the behavior of contr+lable airdrop systems. The code has been paralklized and coupled to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes by SBCCOM and Army High Performance Computing Research Center (AHPCRC) researchers at Rice University (Members of the Team for Advanced Flow Simulation and Modeling (T*AFSM)). This paper discusses the current state of the code and presents examples of its usage in predicting the behavior of existing and new concepts for controllable airdrop systems. The paper presents results from four 3-D dynamic simulations: Case 1) a ribbon canopy during a two stage disreefing process; Cases 2 & 3) two methods of controlling a high-speed container delivery system (HCDS) utilizing a cross canopy with an A-22 container; and Case 4) control of a round C-9 canopy/payload system via four control actuators. (The latter system is currently being tested by a Boeing/Vertigo/SBCCOM team under the New World Vistas Precision Aerial Delivery (NWVPAD) program: Progress related to that system is reported separately.’ This paper presents an overview of the software (TENSIONS) and its capabiities, approximations and assumptions used in the sample case models and detailed results of the predicted timdependent motions, orientations and control line force histories. * This paper is declared a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States. tAerospace Engineer, Senior Member", "keywords": [ "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.1999-1727" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3176425640", "doi": "10.4050/jahs.65.022005", "title": "Flight Evaluation of a Flexible Fabric Stabilizer for Sling Loads", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-02-15", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mark F. Tardiff", "Daniel Nyren", "Luigi S. Cicolani" ], "first_author": "Mark F. Tardiff", "venue": "Journal of the American Helicopter Society", "publisher": "Vertical Flight Society", "abstract": "Helicopter sling load is the most accurate form of aerial delivery in the military due to the ability to air-land materiel in an exact location; however, some missions have a tendency for the payloads to become unstable due to both pilot-in-the-loop and aerodynamic effects. Past research demonstrated that allowing the container to rotate freely in yaw stabilizes pendulum motions. Other research utilized rigid fins affixed to the rear of the container. These methods work during tests; however, they become difficult to use in an operational environment. This paper discusses tests using a flexible fabric stabilizer that can be temporarily added to any payload. The flight tests were conducted at Moffett Field, CA, using the same payload as the previously mentioned research. Tests showed that the flexible stabilizer provided an intermediate level of performance eliminating sling wind up and stabilizing pendulum motions out to the aircrafts' power limit in exchange for very little operational overhead. The material in this paper concerns loads carried in a single point suspension.", "keywords": [ "Payload (computing)", "Stabilizer (aeronautics)", "Aerospace engineering", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Simulation", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4050/jahs.65.022005" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3006581593", "doi": "10.23919/acc50511.2021.9483342", "title": "Risk-Sensitive Rendezvous Algorithm for Heterogeneous Agents in Urban Environments", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-05-25", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Gabriel Barsi Haberfeld", "Aditya Gahlawat", "Naira Hovakimyan" ], "first_author": "Gabriel Barsi Haberfeld", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Demand for fast and inexpensive parcel deliveries in urban environments has risen considerably in recent years. A framework is envisioned to enforce efficient last-mile delivery in urban environments by leveraging a network of ride-sharing vehicles, where Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) drop packages on said vehicles, which then cover the majority of the distance before final aerial delivery. This approach presents many engineering challenges, including the safe rendezvous of both agents: the UAS and the human-operated ground vehicle. This paper introduces a framework to minimize the risk of failure while allowing for the controlled agent's optimal usage. We discuss the downfalls of traditional approaches and formulate a fast, compact planner to drive a UAS to a passive ground vehicle with inexact behavior. To account for uncertainty, we learn driver behavior while leveraging historical data, and a Model Predictive Controller minimizes a risk-enabled cost function. The resulting algorithm is shown to be fast and implementable in real-time in qualitative scenarios.", "keywords": [ "Rendezvous", "Computer science", "Planner", "Cover (algebra)", "Real-time computing", "Distributed computing", "Mathematical optimization", "Engineering", "Artificial intelligence", "Aerospace engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2002.05749" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4387760933", "doi": "10.1109/ipccc59175.2023.10253857", "title": "UAV-Assisted Computation Offloading in Vehicular Networks", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-10-18", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Insaf Rzig", "Wael Jaafar", "Maha Jebalia", "Sami Tabbane" ], "first_author": "Insaf Rzig", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has recently attracted interest due to its rapid and flexible deployment. It became a key component of several applications such as aerial delivery and precision agriculture. Moreover, with enhanced payloads, e.g., storage and computing, UAVs can support critical services including road traffic monitoring, accident prediction, and connected-automated vehicles (CAVs). Particularly, computing-enabled UAVs permit CAVs’ task offloading. However, efficient offloading that accounts for the UAVs’ inherent characteristics remains under-investigated. In this context, we propose to study a UAV-assisted vehicular network, where a UAV flies according to a pre-defined come-and-go trajectory and communicates with nearby CAVs to offload their tasks. We target maximizing the ratio of successfully offloaded tasks by jointly optimizing the initial UAV launching point and traveling direction and strategically associating CAVs to the UAV for successful task offloading. Due to the formulated problem’s complexity, we propose two approaches to solve it, namely genetic algorithm (GA) based solution and an iterative exhaustive-linear programming (IE-LP) based one. Through experiments, we demonstrate the proposed algorithms’ superior performance in terms of task offloading success ratio compared to benchmarks, and in different conditions. These results can serve as guidelines for the development of more sophisticated UAV-enabled task offloading approaches in next-generation wireless networks.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Software deployment", "Context (archaeology)", "Task (project management)", "Trajectory", "Key (lock)", "Wireless", "Real-time computing", "Linear programming", "Vehicular ad hoc network", "Wireless network", "Distributed computing" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/ipccc59175.2023.10253857" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W75659171", "doi": null, "title": "IMPROVING AERIAL CONTROL OF POSSUMS BY PRECISION BAIT DELIVERY", "year": 1994, "publication_date": "1994-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "David R. Morgan" ], "first_author": "David R. Morgan", "venue": "Lincoln (University of Nebraska)", "publisher": "University of Nebraska–Lincoln", "abstract": "Aerial delivery of 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) baits is the main technique for reducing populations of New Zealand's foremost vertebrate pest, the Australian brushtail possum, in large areas of inaccesible country. Surveys after pilot-controlled aerial sowing of baits in seven operations in forests showed that inaccurate navigation along the swaths left up to half the target zone untreated. Kill was estimated to average 75%. Inadequate coverage with baits was therefore believed to be a major factor in the survival of possums during aerial control operations. This was confirmed in field trials using rhodamine B as a biomarker to reveal acceptance of non-toxic baits. More possums were unmarked in partially treated blocks than in completely treated blocks. After a large-scale aerial control operation, proportionally more possums survived in untreated gaps than in treated areas. Six operations that used navigation guidance systems (Decca Flying Flagman and GPS) yielded complete coverage and high levels of kill (mean of 92%) in five. Precision sowing of possum baits prevents survival of possums by failure to encounter baits, and enables lower rates of bait application. This will give large cost savings and improved environmental safety. A small proportion of a population may still not be targeted because of individual dislike of bait or failure to encounter baits because animals stayed in the forest canopy during operations. Development of more palatable and longer lived baits may facilitate local extermination of possums.", "keywords": [ "Aerial application", "Aerial survey", "Population", "Brushtail possum", "Biology", "Pest control", "Integrated pest management", "Ecology", "Toxicology", "Pesticide", "Geography", "Cartography" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1037&context=vpc16" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3186667887", "doi": "10.1109/iros51168.2021.9636123", "title": "Capacitated Vehicle Routing with Target Geometric Constraints", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-09-27", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Kaizhou Gao", "Jingjin Yu" ], "first_author": "Kaizhou Gao", "venue": "2021 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "We investigate the capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP) under a robotics context, where a vehicle with limited payload must complete delivery (or pickup) tasks to serve a set of geographically distributed customers with varying demands. In classical CVRP, a customer location is modeled as a point. In many robotics applications, however, it is more appropriate to model such \"customer locations\" as 2D regions. For example, in aerial delivery, a drone may drop a package anywhere in a customer’s lot. This yields the problem of CVRG (Capacitated Vehicle Routing with Target Geometric Constraints). Computationally, CVRP is already strongly NPhard; CVRG is therefore more challenging. Nevertheless, we develop fast algorithms for CVRG, capable of computing high quality solutions for hundreds of regions. Our algorithmic solution is guaranteed to be optimal when customer regions are convex. Numerical evaluations show that our proposed methods significantly outperform greedy best-first approaches. Comprehensive simulation studies confirm the effectiveness of our methods.", "keywords": [ "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Mathematical optimization", "Computer network", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/iros51168.2021.9636123" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7129073972", "doi": "10.1016/j.ssci.2026.107146", "title": "A system-theoretic approach to assess territory readiness for safe advanced air mobility operations", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-02-16", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Manuel Lombardi", "Natalia Guskova", "Elena Stefana", "Giulio Di Gravio", "Riccardo Patriarca" ], "first_author": "Manuel Lombardi", "venue": "Safety Science", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The evolution of disruptive technologies, such as Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) vehicles and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), is reshaping civil aviation operations. As AAM and VTOL bring innovations, the European Union (EU) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) must adapt to these developments to ensure continued aviation safety. Integrating VTOL vehicles into air and ground infrastructure (e.g., airports and vertiports) presents new safety and regulations challenges, as these new systems must safely fit into an already complex environment. The implementation of VTOL and AAM into European civil aviation would benefit from the adoption of holistic systemic approaches to managing both primary and emergent risks, which could be reflected in updated regulations and guidance manuals for relevant approvals to operate these disruptive aviation technologies. To this end, this study proposes a methodology leveraging System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) as a baseline to assess territories readiness for VTOL operations through an application of the Air Taxi Readiness Index (ATRI). This methodology helps derive further regulatory specifications and guidelines that must be complied with to ensure safe operations. For demonstration purposes, the methodology is applied to two anonymized European sites to evaluate their preparedness for VTOL operations. The results indicate the readiest site for accommodating safe vertiport operations, highlights specific weaknesses that can be addressed by implementing appropriately defined safety constraints and requirements. The methodology is designed to support both policymakers and operators in decision-making processes regarding design, localization, and operation of vertiports, ensuring safe and efficient integration of VTOL solutions.", "keywords": [ "Civil aviation", "Aviation", "Aviation safety", "European union", "Aviation engineering", "Process (computing)", "Agency (philosophy)", "Baseline (sea)" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2026.107146" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3004488212", "doi": "10.1088/1757-899x/751/1/012010", "title": "Fluid-structure Interactions on Steerable Cruciform Parachute Inflation Dynamics", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Xinglong Gao", "Qingbin Zhang", "Qin Chen", "Wenkai Wang" ], "first_author": "Xinglong Gao", "venue": "IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering", "publisher": "IOP Publishing", "abstract": "Abstract To develop the decelerating and rigging potential performances of cruciform parachute during to its relatively large stand-off with lower cost production in precision aerial delivery operations, the fluid structure interaction behaviours of steerable cruciform parachute is studied. The concept of suspension lines control of cruciform parachute is firstly proposed. Based on the multi-material Arbitrary Lagrange-Euler method, the coupling dynamic model between a viscous incompressible fluid and a flexible large deformation structure of the cruciform parachute is solved. The inflation performance of a cruciform parachute under different steerable conditions is analysed. The decelerating parameters of the parachute, including drag area, and opening loads are obtained from FSI simulation. Meanwhile, the evolution of the three-dimensional shape of the cruciform parachute inflation is predicted.", "keywords": [ "Cruciform", "Centrifuge", "Suspension (topology)", "Fluid–structure interaction", "Compressibility", "Mechanics", "Deformation (meteorology)", "Drag", "Structural engineering", "Engineering", "Physics", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/751/1/012010/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4382052309", "doi": "10.4050/f-0079-2023-18109", "title": "Estimation of Probability of Exceeding SC-VTOL Performance Requirements During Automatic Landing Using Subset Simulation", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-05-16", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Christoph Krammer", "Florian Holzapfel" ], "first_author": "Christoph Krammer", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "With the rising interest in urban air mobility, new regulations are released to enable the certification of electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles. These novel performance requirements pose both technical challenges and opportunities for new design approaches. In this paper, we apply a Markov chain Monte Carlo method called subset simulation to the flight dynamic model of a prototype eVTOL vehicle to estimate the probability of violating performance and operational criteria. These requirements are derived from the means of compliance for the EASA 'Special Condition for small-category VTOL aircraft'; and 'Prototype Technical Design Specifications for Vertiports,' with additional aspects from the EASA 'Certification Specifications for All Weather Operations' transferred to eVTOL aircraft. The simulations are conducted with a closed-loop experimental flight guidance and control system for automatic landing in combination with varying parameters in the environmental and aircraft models. The computation time to estimate the failure probabilities is reduced compared to pure Monte Carlo methods by utilizing a subset simulation framework. Initial results show the sensitivity of exceeding limit thresholds to the parameters varied in the flight dynamic model.", "keywords": [ "Monte Carlo method", "Airworthiness", "Certification", "Computer science", "Simulation", "Computation", "Aircraft flight mechanics", "Flight simulator", "Markov chain", "Markov process", "Sensitivity (control systems)", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4050/F-0079-2023-18109" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2625446386", "doi": "10.4050/vfs-f54-00054", "title": "Evaluation of a Short Haul Civil Tiltrotor SH(CT) in Emergency Go-Around - A MIDAS Simulation", "year": 1998, "publication_date": "1998-05-20", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Adolph Atencio", "Avrdec", "Carolyn Banda" ], "first_author": "Adolph Atencio", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Tiltrotor aircraft combine the speed and range of a turboprop with the ability to take off and land in a vertical mode like a helicopter. These aircraft will transport passengers from city center to city center and from satellite airports to major hub airports to make connections to long range travel. The Short Haul Civil Tiltrotor (SH(CT)) being studied by NASA is a concept 40 passenger civil tiltrotor (CTR) transport. The Man- machine Integration Design and Analysis System (MIDAS) was used to evaluate human performance in terms of crew procedures and pilot workload for a simulated CTR on a steep (low noise) approach to a vertiport. The scenario for the simulation was a normal approach to the vertiport that is interrupted by an emergency go-around at the landing decision point. The simulation contrasted an automated discrete nacelle control mode with a fully manual nacelle control mode for the go-around. The MIDAS simulation showed that pilot task loading during approach and the emergency go-around is high and that pilot workload is near capacity throughout. The emergency go-around in manual nacelle mode was the most demanding, resulting in additional time requirements to complete tasks.", "keywords": [ "Aeronautics", "Engineering", "Forensic engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4050/vfs-f54-00054" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4404061136", "doi": "10.3390/futuretransp4040066", "title": "Fast-Time Simulations to Study the Capacity of a Traffic Network Aimed at Urban Air Mobility", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-11-05", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Paola Di Mascio", "Matteo Celesti", "Matteo Sabatini", "Laura Moretti" ], "first_author": "Paola Di Mascio", "venue": "Future Transportation", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "This article investigates viable solutions to implement an Urban Air Mobility network in Milan, Italy, and analyzes its influence on the airspace capacity. The network comprises eight vertiports for passenger transport among two main airports in the area and the city using electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs). A Fast-Time Simulation (FTS) model with the software AirTOp (Air Traffic Optimization) allowed the evaluation of the ideal capacity of the network by varying two configurations, which differ from each other in terms of the number of Final Approach and Takeoff areas (FATOs). The results show how it is possible to reach high hourly capacities (in the order of one hundred), thus allowing the use of the service for about 4% of the total passengers passing through the two airports during the reference day chosen for this study. However, the results are ideal due to the strong idealism of the system, which overlooks several factors, and they should be considered as the maximum limit that can be obtained. Despite this, the method presented in this article can also be adapted for other urban areas with high population densities. In addition, the use of a simulation tool of this type allows, in addition to a numerical analysis, a qualitative analysis of the network behavior in terms of traffic, thus highlighting the criticalities of the proposed systems.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Environmental science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7590/4/4/66/pdf?version=1730793510" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1603495875", "doi": null, "title": "Tilt rotor aircraft aeroacoustics", "year": 1989, "publication_date": "1989-05-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Albert R. George" ], "first_author": "Albert R. George", "venue": "NASA Technical Reports Server (NASA)", "publisher": "NASA Headquarters", "abstract": "A fleet of civil tilt rotor transports offers a means of reducing airport congestion and point-to-point travel time. The speed, range, and fuel economy of these aircraft, along with their efficient use of vertiport area, make them good candidates for short-to-medium range civil transport. However, to be successfully integrated into the civilian community, the tilt rotor must be perceived as a quiet, safe, and economical mode of transportation that does not harm the environment. In particular, noise impact has been identified as a possible barrier to the civil tilt rotor. Along with rotor conversion-mode flight, and blade-vortex interaction noise during descent, hover mode is a noise problem for tilt rotor operations. In the present research, tilt rotor hover aeroacoustics have been studied analytically, experimentally, and computationally. Various papers on the subject were published as noted in the list of publications. More recently, experimental measurements were made on a 1/12.5 scale model of the XV-15 in hover and analyses of this data and extrapolations to full scale were also carried out. A dimensional analysis showed that the model was a good aeroacoustic approximation to the full-scale aircraft, and scale factors were derived to extrapolate the model measurements to the full-scale XV-15. The experimental measurements included helium bubble flow visualization, silk tuft flow visualization, 2-component hot wire anemometry, 7-hole pressure probe measurements, vorticity measurements, and outdoor far field acoustic measurements. The hot wire measurements were used to estimate the turbulence statistics of the flow field into the rotors, such as length scales, velocity scales, dissipation, and turbulence intermittency. Several different configurations of the model were tested: (1) standard configurations (single isolated rotor, two rotors without the aircraft, standard tilt rotor configuration); (2) flow control devices (the 'plate', the 'diagonal fences'); (3) basic configuration changes (increasing the rotor/rotor spacing, reducing the rotor plane/wing clearance. operating the rotors out of phase). Also, an approximation to Sikorsky's Variable Diameter Tilt Rotor (VDTR) configuration was tested, and some flow measurements were made on a semi-span configuration of the model. Acoustic predictions were made using LOWSON.M, a Mathematica code Mean aerodynamic models were developed based on hover performance predictions from HOVER.FOR. This hover prediction code used blade element theory for the aerodynamics, and Prandtl's Vortex theory to model the wake, along with empirical formulas for the effects of Reynolds number, Mach number, and stall. Aerodynamic models were developed from 7-hole pressure probe measurements of the mean velocity into the model rotors.", "keywords": [ "Aeroacoustics", "Rotor (electric)", "Noise (video)", "Flow visualization", "Turbulence", "Aerospace engineering", "Tilt (camera)", "Engineering", "Acoustics", "Flow (mathematics)", "Physics", "Mechanics" ], "cited_by_count": 12, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19970004232" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4390289915", "doi": "10.46246/kjasem.230018", "title": "A Research on Local Community’s Acceptance and Human Factors Using Analytic Hierarchy Process", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-12-27", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sung Sik Park", "H.-S. Kim" ], "first_author": "Sung Sik Park", "venue": "The Korean Journal of Aerospace and Environmental Medicine", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Based on thorough empirical research using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and literature revie, the study examined the attitudes, expectations and concerns of local citizens with respect to urban air mobility (UAM) and revealed interesting insights as a new air mobility.The AHP survey results were very insightful among all those experts surveyed.Experts initially and spontaneously express a positive attitude toward and interest in UAM.It is seen as a new and attractive means of mobility and a majority is ready to try it out.The notion of public interest is a determining factor for acceptance: use cases for the benefit of the community, such as medical or emergency transport or those connecting remote areas, are better supported than use cases satisfying individual/private needs.However, experts expressed an opinion that local citizens want to limit their own exposure to human factor related risks, in particular when related to UAM's flight safety.Regarding the considerations of vertiport, the study also shows that citizens seem to concern about infrastructures around vertiport to improve UAM usefulness and use-convenience.", "keywords": [ "Analytic hierarchy process", "Process (computing)", "Hierarchy", "Sociology", "Psychology", "Mathematics", "Computer science", "Political science", "Operations research", "Law" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.kjasem.org/journal/download_pdf.php?doi=10.46246/KJAsEM.230018" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4413253541", "doi": "10.1145/3747012.3747030", "title": "Site Selection and Route Planning Study for Manned eVTOL Landing Sites", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-04-11", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Xinhua Zhu", "Qian Wang", "Qingyu Jiao" ], "first_author": "Xinhua Zhu", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "With the intensification of urbanization exacerbating ground traffic congestion, the development of low-altitude transportation using electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft has emerged as a novel approach to alleviate urban commuting pressure. This study, taking Shenzhen as a case, extracted commuting demands from census data and determined optimal vertiport locations through K-means clustering and Silhouette function evaluation, revealing that establishing 40 vertiports achieves optimal clustering quality. A genetic algorithm-based minimum operational cost model further demonstrated that battery capacity and charging center quantity are negatively correlated with total flight distance and energy consumption. Specifically, increasing battery capacity within a certain range reduces operational costs through mediating variables, while expanding charging center quantity within a defined threshold decreases energy consumption and costs under fixed battery capacity. This research provides quantitative evidence for low-altitude transportation infrastructure planning and aircraft configuration, proving that optimizing battery capacity and charging network density can effectively enhance the operational cost-effectiveness of urban aerial mobility systems.", "keywords": [ "Selection (genetic algorithm)", "Site selection", "Route planning", "Computer science", "Moon landing", "Aerospace engineering", "Aeronautics", "Astrobiology", "Engineering", "Transport engineering", "Artificial intelligence", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1145/3747012.3747030" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4253324766", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.3284704", "title": "Auctioning Airspace", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Brent Skorup" ], "first_author": "Brent Skorup", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Aeronautics", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3284704" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2331092274", "doi": "10.2514/6.2013-1383", "title": "Delivery of Humanitarian Aid onto Active Populations", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-03-23", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Justin Riley" ], "first_author": "Justin Riley", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Access to food and fresh water is often restricted in the event of natural disasters such as hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, or exposure to infectious disease or nuclear radiation, or isolation due to hostile actions. To provide aid, the U.S. Army provides water and meals distributed by ground troops. These goods can be delivered by ground supply lines or by aerial delivery, however, the distribution must always be controlled by military forces to prevent hoarding, violence, and potential injury during the delivery of the goods themselves. The logistics of creating this distribution network can be delayed or impossible due to the disaster conditions. To provide effective aid, an aerial delivery system has been designed that enables the rapid delivery of food and water while minimizing risk of injury to the affected population and maximizing dispersion of the aid items to prevent hoarding and violence.", "keywords": [ "Humanitarian aid", "Computer science", "Political science" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2013-1383" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7138905316", "doi": "10.1016/j.jairtraman.2026.103020", "title": "Urban air mobility network design and market opportunity: Assessment for the Shanghai metropolitan area", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-03-18", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Xinhui Ren", "Lu Heng" ], "first_author": "Xinhui Ren", "venue": "Journal of Air Transport Management", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Taxis", "Software deployment", "Traffic congestion", "Market penetration", "Aviation", "Service (business)", "Market share", "Takeoff and landing", "Market research" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2026.103020" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2376792418", "doi": null, "title": "Nine-degree-of-freedom Model of Bomb-parachute System", "year": 2007, "publication_date": "2007-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Baohua Kou" ], "first_author": "Baohua Kou", "venue": "Acta Armamentarii", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The dynamic behavior of bomb-parachute systems is extremely complex.By synthesizing and applying principles and analytical methods of parachute dynamics and multi-body dynamics,the nine-degree-of-freedom dynamic models of terminal descent of bomb-parachute system were developed.The model validity was verified by comparison with flight test data.The simulation program was developed to analyze moving characteristic of bomb attitude and moving law of scanning point under wind gust.The result in above research can be applied to the design of bomb-parachute system and the guidance of its aerial delivery test.", "keywords": [ "Descent (aeronautics)", "Point (geometry)", "Aerospace engineering", "Degree (music)", "Flight test", "Simulation", "Engineering", "Computer science", "Physics", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-BIGO200704013.htm" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4317611136", "doi": "10.2514/6.2023-2680", "title": "A Structurally-Adaptive Framework for Distributed Airborne Sensing over Real-time Collaborative Information Sharing Networks", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-19", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Corey A. Ippolito" ], "first_author": "Corey A. Ippolito", "venue": "AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum", "publisher": null, "abstract": "View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-2680.vid The emergence and maturation of wireless communication technologies continue to transform the aviation industry and are enabling new solutions to challenges faced by NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) initiative. AAM is leading towards high-density autonomous aircraft operations in areas underserved by traditional aviation, such as over densely populated urban centers. In this paper, we build on concepts from distributed sensing and smart spaces - where sensing, processing, and communication are embedded in an environment, and agents are operating within the space can exploit these capabilities in real-time through collaborative information sharing networks. Building from these concepts, we propose a framework to enable a dynamic, topologically-adaptive, and distributed estimation system for man-rated aviation to address challenges faced by autonomous AAM operations. This paper presents the initial concept of operations and system design for this framework, presents a mathematical formulation for abstraction of the problem, identifies requirements and constraints for operation, and presents algorithmic constructs to demonstrate operation. The initial framework design will focus on supporting precision navigation and independent surveillance supporting conformance monitoring of aircraft in airspace corridors and vertiport airspaces. Preliminary results from this framework shows promise in addressing gaps in current technologies needed to enable future AAM concepts, while promising greater capabilities, performance, robustness, and safety over current aviation systems and operations.", "keywords": [ "Robustness (evolution)", "Computer science", "Abstraction", "Exploit", "Aviation", "Distributed computing", "Wireless", "Focus (optics)", "Systems engineering", "Computer security", "Engineering", "Telecommunications" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-2680" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3102925853", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2011.07515", "title": "Nonlinear Cooperative Control of Double Drone-Bar Transportation System", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-11-15", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Peng Zhang", "Yongchun Fang", "Xiao Liang", "Lin Xiao He", "Wei He" ], "first_author": "Peng Zhang", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "Due to the limitation of the drone's load capacity, various specific tasks need to be accomplished by multiple drones in collaboration. In some transportation tasks, two drones are required to lift the load together, which brings even more significant challenges to the control problem because the transportation system is underactuated and it contains very complex dynamic coupling. When transporting bar-shaped objects, the load's attitude, the rope's swing motion, as well as the distance between the drones, should be carefully considered to ensure the security of the system. So far, few works have been implemented for double drone transportation systems to guarantee their transportation performance, especially in the aforementioned aspect. In this paper, a nonlinear cooperative control method is proposed, with both rigorous stability analysis and experimental results demonstrating its great performance. Without the need to distinguish the identities between the leader and the follower, the proposed method successfully realizes effective control for the two drones separately, mainly owning to the deep analysis for the system dynamics and the elaborate design for the control law. By utilizing Lyapunov techniques, the proposed controller achieves simultaneous positioning and mutual distance control of the drones, meanwhile, it efficiently eliminates the swing of the load. Flight experiments are presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed nonlinear cooperative control strategy.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Swing", "Nonlinear system", "Underactuation", "Computer science", "Control theory (sociology)", "Controller (irrigation)", "Control (management)", "Rope", "Lift (data mining)", "Lyapunov function", "Nonlinear control" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2011.07515" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4403071802", "doi": "10.1093/clinchem/hvae106.122", "title": "A-123 Comparative Assessment of Unmanned High-Speed Aerial Vehicles in Medical Logistics: Blood Sample Transportation Amidst Weather Variability", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-10-01", "type": "conference-abstract", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Noel Rouven Stierlin", "A Hemmerle", "Martin Risch", "Lorenz Risch" ], "first_author": "Noel Rouven Stierlin", "venue": "Clinical Chemistry", "publisher": "American Association for Clinical Chemistry", "abstract": "Abstract Background Drones, as an innovative technology, hold transformative potential in the field of medical logistics, especially in the transportation of sensitive medical materials like blood samples. This study aimed to assess and compare the impact of high-speed drone transportation with conventional car transportation on the integrity and preanalytics of blood samples, taking into account various blood materials and analytes. Methods Blood samples, including EDTA whole blood, serum, and plasma anticoagulated with Citrate and Lithium-Heparin transported as whole blood, were subjected to transportation via both drone and car. Drone flights were tested under diverse weather conditions (ranging between 4 and 20 degrees Celsius), and results were compared to samples stored without transportation. The maximum drone speed exceeded 100 km/h. A total of 28 analytes were tested on Serum, 20 on EDTA, 26 on Lithium-Heparin, and 5 on Citrate blood. Statistical analyses were performed using Passing Bablok and Bland-Altman methods. Results For Serum samples, the correlation coefficient (r) ranged from 0.830 to 1.000, and slopes varied from 0.913 to 1.111. Five analytes (total bilirubin, Calcium, Ferritin, Kalium, and Sodium) exhibited discrepancies between the negative control and the transported sample, with r lower than 0.800, slopes not between 0.8 and 1.2, and mean (%) not between +/- 10%. However, no significant differences were noted between drone and car transportation. Similar patterns emerged for EDTA, Lithium-Heparin, and Citrate samples, with r ranging from 0.829 to 0.997, 0.939 to 0.998, and 0.830 to 1.000, respectively. Slopes ranged from 0.956 to 1.051, 0.938 to 1.085, and 0.913 to 1.111. Despite identifying a few discrepancies in specific analytes, no significant differences were observed between transportation methods. Conclusions n comparison to transportation by car, drone transportation of blood samples did not lead to alterations in concentrations of commonly used analytes. Notably, instances of differences before and after transportation were attributed to the transportation process itself rather than the mode of transportation. This suggests that the use of drones for medical sample transport can be deemed comparable to, if not superior to, traditional car transportation methods.", "keywords": [ "Sample (material)", "Aeronautics", "Environmental science", "Transport engineering", "Meteorology", "Geography", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/hvae106.122" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7126220240", "doi": "10.1038/s41467-026-68967-3", "title": "Hand-like autonomous flying robot for airborne grasping and interaction", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-30", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yuze Wu", "Fan Yang", "Rui Jin", "Yuhang Zhong", "Yi-Xiang Wang", "Xuankang Wu", "Fei Gao" ], "first_author": "Yuze Wu", "venue": "Nature Communications", "publisher": "Nature Portfolio", "abstract": "Birds' extraordinary aerial agility and environmental interaction enable complex tasks such as mid-air hunting, perching, and nest-building, inspiring the development of advanced aerial robots with similar manipulation capabilities. However, existing platforms often face challenges such as large size, heavy payloads, end-effector torque interference, and limited functionality, severely restricting their practical deployment. Drawing inspiration from the biological, structural, and actuation characteristics of human hands, we propose a hand-like robot that integrates flight and grasping, demonstrating the synergistic advantages of compact structure, agile flight, and versatile manipulation. We propose an autonomous framework including efficient mission planning and multi-level adaptive control, enabling the robot to precisely and smoothly perform human-like grasping, opening doors, forest perching, object transport, and interactive tasks. Additionally, the framework supports human-robot collaboration, empowering individuals with mobility impairment to conduct remote transportation and airborne operations. Outdoor tests, which include perching in various scenarios, navigating confined spaces, and transporting payloads across challenging terrain, validate the proposed vehicle's potential in aerial delivery and manipulation tasks. These results demonstrate emerging possibilities for aerial operation, assistance, and delivery with integrated flight and manipulation abilities.", "keywords": [ "Agile software development", "Robot", "Object (grammar)", "Motion planning", "Mobile robot", "Drone", "Torque" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-68967-3.pdf" } ]