Suggested Searches

High Density Vertiplex

The High Density Vertiplex (HDV) subproject was responsible for the development and evaluation of a reference automation architecture that addresses scalable and efficient aircraft operations, flight and airspace management procedures, and vertiport operations in high density vertiplex environments.

HDV was a sub-project of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) project under the Integrated Aviation Systems Program (IASP).

What is a Vertiplex?

A Vertiplex is a geographic area that includes multiple vertiports whose arrival and departure operations are highly interdependent.

Artists conception of High Density Vertiplex (HDV) operations in an urban environment.
Artists conception of High Density Vertiplex (HDV) operations in an urban environment.
Credit – NASA

Purpose and Research Approach

The purpose of this research was to design concepts, procedures, and technologies focused on Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations in a vertiplex environment. The HDV approach was to gradually build-up complexity in the operational environment through a series of tests. Testing was performed subscale using small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) as surrogates for UAM aircraft. Testing cycles started out fully simulated, then culminated in live flight tests with small UAS at Langley Research Center. Results from each testing cycle were used to support subsequent risk assessments. The overall goal was to create a representative UAM system to mitigate risk for future research and development.

Concepts Explored

Aircraft-airspace-vertiport automation technology was integrated and matured to support three main use cases: (1) automated landing, (2) automated merging and spacing, and (3) automated contingency decision making.

NASA researchers participating in a High Density Vertiplex (HDV) study in the Airspace Operations Laboratory (AOL).
NASA researchers participating in a High Density Vertiplex (HDV) study in the Airspace Operations Laboratory (AOL).
Credit – NASA

Role of the AOL in HDV

During simulations and flights tests, the Airspace Operations Laboratory (AOL) and the Autonomous Vehicle Applications Laboratory (AVAL) served as the base of operations for Airspace Systems Integration (ASI), which integrated systems and software from Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) to support HDV concepts. Some of the outcomes of this work included prototype airspace management automation technology and human factors evaluation. Joining the AOL in the HDV flight testing efforts were the Autonomous Vehicle Applications Laboratory (AVAL) from the NASA Ames’ Human Systems Integration Division, and the Air Traffic Operations Laboratory (ATOL) from Langley Research Center.

High Density Vertiplex Publications

G. Hodell, A. Gomez & J. Homola (2024) Progressive Development of Fleet Management Capabilities for a High Density Vertiplex Environment, AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition, Orlando, Florida  

G. Costedoat, G. Hodell & R. Larson (2024) Qualitative Data Coding of User Experience with an Urban Air Mobility Fleet Manager Interface, ASPIRE 2024, Phoenix, Arizona

G. Hodell, M. Goodyear, F. Omar, A. Gomez & A. Tiwari (2023) Airspace Performance Observations of Scalable Autonomous Operations in a High Density Vertiplex Simulation, 42nd AIAA/IEEE Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), Barcelona, Spain

A. Tiwari, C. Ramirez, J. Homola, B. Hutchinson & B. Petty (2023) Initial Development and Integration of a Vertiport Automation System for Advanced Air Mobility Operations, 2023 AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum and Exposition (AIAA AVIATION Forum), San Diego, California

G. Hodell, Q. Dao, J. Homola, M. Goodyear & J. Kalush (2022) Usability Evaluation of Fleet Management Interface for High Density Vertiplex Environments, 41st Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), Portsmouth, Virginia