CAREER: Theoretical Foundations of the UAS in the NAS Problem (Unmanned Aerial Systems in the National Air Space)
Lead PI:
Kristin Yvonne Rozier
Abstract
Due to their increasing use by civil and federal authorities and vast commercial and amateur applications, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) will be introduced into the National Air Space (NAS); the question is only how this can be done safely. Today, NASA and the FAA are designing a new, (NextGen) automated air traffic control system for all aircraft, manned or unmanned. New algorithms and tools will need to be developed to enable computation of the complex questions inherent in designing such a system while proving adherence to rigorous safety standards.
Performance Period: 08/31/2016 - 01/31/2024
Institution: Iowa State University
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Award Number: 1664356
Abstract
The goal of this project is to investigate a low-cost and energy-efficient hardware and software system to close the loop between processing of sensor data, semantically high-level detection and trajectory generation in real-time. To safely integrate Unmanned Aerial Vehicles into national airspace, there is an urgent need to develop onboard sense-and-avoid capability. While deep neural networks (DNNs) have significantly improved the accuracy of object detection and decision making, they have prohibitively high complexity to be implemented on small UAVs.
Performance Period: 10/01/2017 - 09/30/2019
Institution: Syracuse University
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Award Number: 1739748
Abstract
This proposal is for research on the Mobile Automated Rovers Fly-By (MARS-FLY) for Bridge Network Resiliency. Bridges are often in remote locations and the cost of installing electricity and a data acquisition system in hundreds of thousands of bridges is prohibitive.
Performance Period: 05/01/2017 - 04/30/2020
Institution: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Award Number: 1645863
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a substantial uptrend in the popularity of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These aircraft find application in several areas such as precision farming, infrastructure and environment monitoring, surveillance, surveying and mapping, search and rescue missions, rapid assessment of emergency situations and natural disasters, next generation Internet connectivity, weather determination and more.
Performance Period: 01/01/2017 - 12/31/2019
Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Award Number: 1646383
Abstract
The confluence of two powerful global trends, (1) the rapid growth of cloud computing and data centers with skyrocketing energy consumption, and (2) the accelerating penetration of renewable energy sources, is creating both severe challenges and tremendous opportunities. The fast growing renewable generation puts forth great operational challenges since they will cause large, frequent, and random fluctuations in supply. Data centers, on the other hand, offer large flexible loads in the grid.
Performance Period: 09/01/2017 - 08/31/2020
Institution: California Institute of Technology
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Award Number: 1739355
Abstract
Coordinated cyber-physical attacks (CCPA) have been touted as a serious threat for several years, where "coordinated" means that attackers have complete knowledge of the physical plant and status, and sometimes can even create physical defects, to assist cyber attacks, and vice versa. In recent years, these attacks have crept from theory to reality, with attacks on vehicles, electrical grids, and industrial plants, which have the potential to cause destruction and even death outside of the digital world. CCPA raise a unique challenge with respect to cyber-physical systems (CPS) safety.
Performance Period: 09/01/2017 - 08/31/2020
Institution: University of South Carolina at Columbia
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Award Number: 1739886
CAREER: Co-Design of Networking and Decentralized Control to Enable Aerial Networks in an Uncertain Airspace
Lead PI:
Yan Wan
Abstract
Airborne networking, unlike the networking of fixed sensors, mobile devices, and slowly-moving vehicles, is very challenging because of the high mobility, stringent safety requirements, and uncertain airspace environment. Airborne networking is important because of the growing complexity of the National Airspace System with the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Performance Period: 09/01/2016 - 05/31/2020
Institution: University of Texas at Arlington
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Award Number: 1714519
CPS: Small: Recovery Algorithms for Dynamic Infrastructure Networks
Lead PI:
Hamsa Balakrishnan
Abstract
Most critical infrastructures have evolved into complex systems comprising large numbers of interacting elements. These interactions result in the spread of disruptions, such as delays, from one part of the system to another, and even from one infrastructure to another.
Hamsa Balakrishnan
My current research interests are in developing tools aimed at improving the efficiency of the National Airspace System: these include techniques for the collection and processing of data, mechanisms for the allocation of airport and airspace resources to airlines, and algorithms for the scheduling and routing of air traffic. I am also interested in the design of algorithms for the tracking and managing identities of maneuvering targets in sensor networks, particularly the air traffic management system of the United States.
A high-level description of some my research interests can be found here. This is a more recent research statement written in July 2011.
Performance Period: 11/01/2017 - 10/31/2020
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Award Number: 1739505
Abstract
Equipment operation represents one of the most dangerous tasks on a construction sites and accidents related to such operation often result in death and property damage on the construction site and the surrounding area. Such accidents can also cause considerable delays and disruption, and negatively impact the efficiency of operations. This award will conduct research to improve the safety and efficiency of cranes by integrating advances in robotics, computer vision, and construction management.
Performance Period: 09/01/2016 - 12/31/2019
Institution: University of Florida
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Award Number: 1729209
CPS: Medium: Collaborative Research: An Actuarial Framework of Cyber Risk Management for Power Grids
Lead PI:
Chee-Wooi Ten
Abstract
As evidenced by the recent cyberattacks against Ukrainian power grids, attack strategies have advanced and new malware agents will continue to emerge. The current measures to audit the critical cyber assets of the electric power infrastructure do not provide a quantitative guidance that can be used to address security protection improvement. Investing in cybersecurity protection is often limited to compliance enforcement based on reliability standards.
Performance Period: 09/01/2017 - 08/31/2020
Institution: Michigan Technological University
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Award Number: 1739422