Abstract:
Commercial viability for new unmanned aircraft in markets such as the European Union (EU) requires moving closer to population centers, flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), and operating in busier airspaces – transitioning to medium-risk SORA SAIL III and SAIL IV operations. This requires a paradigm shift from primarily startup-style, minimalist system architecture modeling, documentation, and safety analyses–if any–towards the rigor expected in classical certification processes (e.g. ARP4754 and ARP4761). Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and safety analysis (MBSA) methodologies have the potential to greatly aid in this transition: central models can more efficiently capture technical complexity, leverage component redundancy, and allow for easier sharing and re-use of system elements among specialized engineering tools. Larger all-encompassing MBSE/MBSA tools are expected to be particularly useful for their flexibility–providing for current and future needs, as more sophisticated details or analyses can be derived from simpler starting points and existing model elements. This project developed proof-of-concept examples within the Ansys SAM and medini analyze tools to demonstrate their usefulness for supporting SORA SAIL III and IV applications. This team included colleagues from the automotive domain to showcase the relative ease of producing the required evidence within just two Ansys tools–which is otherwise a time-consuming and confusing ordeal, typically using several disconnected programs. UAS designers and operators are encouraged to start with the information and examples produced by this project to accelerate their transition towards SAIL III and IV applications.