Promoting Autonomy Design and Operations in Aviation

Promoting autonomy in aviation has enormous potential to reduce fatal mishaps, increase operational availability, and increase efficiency in the airspace. However, confusion over terminology, certification requirements, and fundamental concepts related to autonomy are currently limiting its proliferation from both a developmental and regulatory perspective. Both civil and military aviation regulators recognize that the pace of technology is outstripping their ability to regulate it and that consensus standards addressing these concerns are needed to ensure the safety of autonomy as it is implemented on aviation platforms. To that end, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have both issued changes to its rules on general aviation aircraft to make them more performance-based and compatible with consensus standards. With the goal of promoting autonomy in aviation, ASTM International recently formed Administrative Committee (AC) 377 for Autonomy Design and Operations in Aviation. AC377 has the responsibility for harmonizing terminology, requirements constructs, and fundamental autonomy concepts among four aviation standards committees with the objectives of promoting consistency and reuse in standards relating to aviation autonomy. AC377 has formed several task groups to produce technical reports that will address this challenge. This paper will describe the need for harmonization of standards for autonomy in aviation, summarize the key features of our work to date, discuss recommendations for a common autonomy vocabulary, address a recommended requirements framework for aircraft systems incorporating autonomy, and bring about a greater understanding of the technological pillars of autonomy in aircraft design.