A Multi-disciplinary Scenario Simulation for Low-Altitude Unmanned Air Delivery

The design and development of unmanned aircraft is a complex multi-disciplinary task. In the context of risk-based and operation-centric assurance and certification, operational constraints play a key role. Consequently, technologies that impact operational risks such as flight termination, command-and-control links, and onboard autonomy have to be addressed holistically and within the context of the operation. A scenario simulation combines these various aspects originating from different disciplines into one versatile tool. It allows making informed design trade-offs and validating operational requirements at early development stages. In this work, we give insight into the scenario simulation framework developed within the research project ALAADy (Automated Low-Altitude Air Delivery) which addresses unmanned freight operations at low-altitudes within the context of operation-centric certification as introduced by EASA with the so-called specific category. We describe use-cases and requirements derived from research objectives. Furthermore, we present the simulation architecture as well as details on implementation and modelling. Results from an exemplary simulation study regarding safe flight termination in the event of an operational constraint violation are shown to demonstrate the applicability and usefulness of the simulation framework as a tool for holistic unmanned aircraft design.