System engineering and logistical UAS corridors : Challenge the present to drive the future

In development of plausible commercial logistics ‘Unmanned Aircraft Systems’ (UAS) devices there is a need for the establishment of legislation as well as operational protocols. Aerial corridors for logistical UAS’s within city areas needs consideration of legal instruments and the guidance provided by the relevant government—industry bodies. There could be conflicts with business needs and wants to meet product and customer requirements. As such this paper suggest the use of ‘Systems Engineering Process’ (SEP) as a ‘method of operations’ (MO). The outcome desired is the use of logistical based UAS within a ‘Security containment box’ (SCB) to assist situation awareness; control and interdiction. An integral part of the ‘Concept of operations’ (CONOPS) is the use of ‘Integrated Corridor Management’ (ICM) and ‘Networked Expanded Ushering Shepherds’ (NEXUS) for real-time checking of compliance. A further feature is the meshing of the UAS ‘Aerial flight control system’ (AFCS) with the existing ‘Flight management system’ (FMS). The use of NEXUS is like having UAS licensed pilot(s) in a sharing economy based for logistical long-range deliveries. These pilots (Hosts) handover the approved UAS and flight paths via a human—‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) ‘Virtual flight management centre’ (VFMC) and the ‘Network Coordination Centre’ (NCC). All logistical delivery services actions; reactions and approvals are recorded via ‘Black box’ Blockchained (on UAS and Cloud) for each flight event with unique real-time referencing. This CONOPS utilises intermeshed Hosts; entities and architectural design of the aerial corridor using ‘4 dimensional Security containment box’ (4D–SCB). That is, a 4D–SCB (axis X, Y, Z and time) that requires a micro Radar network linked to AFCS—NCC.