BACKGROUND

The use of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, has increased exponentially in various industries due to their versatility and cost-effectiveness. However, as the use of UAS in commercial operations under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations continues to expand, ensuring the safety, reliability, and airworthiness of the UAS fleet becomes increasingly important. Maintaining a diverse fleet of UAS from multiple platforms, used across various industries, necessitates a comprehensive maintenance optimization strategy to address potential risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and maximize operational efficiency. Research is needed to help state departments of transportation (DOTs) manage UAS maintenance activities to enhance the design, maintenance, inspection, and construction of transportation infrastructure.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this project is to develop guidelines for state DOTs for comprehensive maintenance of UAS to promote safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation. The guidelines shall include minimum maintenance standards and schedules adaptable to multiple UAS platforms and operational demands that can support streamlined maintenance management approaches.  

Accomplishment of the project objective will require at least the following tasks.

TASKS

PHASE I—Planning

Task 1. Conduct a literature review of research, standards, and the state of the practice on UAS maintenance. The review shall include published and unpublished documentation, manuals, requirements, and research conducted through the NCHRP; the Federal Highway Administration; the FAA; the American Society for Testing and Materials; other national, state, and local agencies; international organizations; and industry groups.

Task 2. Synthesize the results of the literature review to identify knowledge gaps related to the research objective. These gaps should be addressed in the final product or the recommended future research, as the budget permits.

Task 3. Propose the research plan to be executed in Phase II to achieve the project objective. At a minimum, the research plan shall include:

• A strategy to identify and engage key stakeholders (e.g., UAS manufacturers and vendors, system integrators, state DOTs, consulting engineers, regulatory agencies) to seek input on the state of the practice and gather relevant data.
• A comparison of UAS maintenance requirements identified in Tasks 1 and 2 with existing domestic and international regulations for manned aircraft maintenance activities.
• Identification of key maintenance activities for UAS based on the type of UAS and onboard equipment. Consider FHWA-PL-23-007 publication as a foundational source.
• Identification of functions and features needed in off-the-shelf tools that can be used to support maintenance logging, prediction, and management for a heterogenous fleet of UAS.
• Development of guidelines that (1) include an optimized maintenance strategy from an organizational perspective; (2) present a standardized framework that state DOTs’ UAS programs can use to track maintenance requirements, including a standard maintenance schedule; (3) encompass a wide range of UAS platforms with varying sizes, configurations, and operational requirements; (4) promote safety and reliability, optimize service life, and reduce risks; and (5) comply with federal regulations. 
• Development of data management and tracking tools (spreadsheets, etc.) to keep track of maintenance records, inspection schedule tiers, and service histories for multiple UAS across different platforms to promote timely and accurate maintenance.
• Development of recommended roles and responsibilities for state DOTs’ UAS maintenance activities.
• A workshop with selected stakeholders to review and vet the draft guidelines and data management tools.
• A preliminary outline and table of contents of the draft guidelines.

Task 4. Prepare Interim Report No. 1, which documents Tasks 1 through 3 and provides an updated work plan for the remainder of the research. The updated plan must describe the process and rationale for the work proposed for Phases II through IV.

PHASE II—Execution

Task 5. Execute the research plan according to the approved Interim Report No. 1 and update the preliminary outline, table of contents, and format of the guidelines after consideration of the panel’s review comments.

Task 6. Develop a complete sample section of the guidelines to be selected by the NCHRP. This section should be publication-ready with an appropriate level of detail. The format shall meet the current American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) formatting guidelines and it shall include commentary.

Task 7. Prepare Interim Report No. 2, which documents Tasks 5 and 6 and provides an updated work plan for the remainder of the research. The updated work plan must describe the process and rationale for the work proposed for Phases III and IV.

PHASE III—Guidelines Development

Task 8. Develop the remaining sections of the guidelines according to the approved Interim Report No. 2.

Task 9. Prepare Interim Report No. 3, which documents Task 8 and provides an updated work plan for the remainder of the research no later than 6 months before the contract end date. The updated work plan must describe the process and rationale for the work proposed for Phase IV.

PHASE IV—Final Products

Task 10. Revise the guidelines after consideration of the panel’s review comments.

Task 11. Plan and conduct an in-person workshop with the panel and invited experts to be selected by the NCHRP to review the draft guidelines and data management tools. Revise the draft guidelines and data management tools according to the outcomes of the workshop.

Task 12. Prepare (1) presentation material, in a PowerPoint or other format, for use in webinars to facilitate the use and adoption of the guidelines, and (2) a stand-alone technical memorandum titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products”.

Task 13. Submit the final deliverables, including (1) the guidelines, (2) a final report that documents the entire research effort, (3) the data management tools, (4) the presentation material, and (5) the “Implementation of Research Findings and Products” document.

STATUS: Proposals have been received in response to the RFP. The project panel will meet to select a contractor to perform the work.