Aeronautics: NAMS Interns Win First Place in Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Challenge
June 2021
NAMS R&D Student Program interns from San Jose State University (SJSU), Heungseok Park, Francis Sison, Brayan Mendez and Matt Marchetti, won first place in the national Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) design competition under the Airport Operation Maintenance Challenge. USRA's collaboration with San Jose State University allowed the intern team to create an innovative solution that promoted safe and effective integration of automated eVTOL into the complex airport operations environment. The Smart Mobility team received first place and top honors with their design titled, Conceptual Design of Vertiport and UAM Corridor.
Supported by USRA, SJSU faculty and NASA Aeronautics mentors, the smart mobility teams' initial hypothesis derived from the question, “how do we achieve scalability of vertiplex in a land-poor urban environment?” The proposal consisted of developing a schematic design of a high density vertical vertiplex. The goal of this vertiplex was to decrease surface footprint without jeopardizing the operational efficiency, while also meeting the safety critical requirements of AC 150/5390-2C (Heliport Design Advisory Circular). Conceptualized from the tower parking structure, the smart mobility team utilized vertical lifts to transport eVTOL’s and therefore reduced surface footprint of the entire infrastructure through vertical distribution of parking spaces and taxiways required for the high density vertiplex. By being recognized in the ACRP design challenge, the team hopes to expedite the realization of Urban Air Mobility by contributing innovative solutions to issues facing the National Airspace System.
This summer, the smart mobility team will accept the award and present their design at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Currently, the team is expanding on their work by further evaluating the practicality of vertical vertiplex design through in depth maximum throughput analysis and Cost Per Enplaned Passengers analysis by calculating the accurate cost of the infrastructure. The team plans to incorporate their previous findings from the infrastructure design to embark on a case study specific to the Bay Area, which aligns with the NASA Ames’ goal to be a part of AAM National Campaign during NC-3 (High Volume Vertiports) phase.
Smart Mobility Mentors: Paul Fast (Ph.D.) Project Manager, Aeronautics Project Office (NASA), David Bell (Ph.D.) Director and Chief Technologist (USRA), Wenbin Wei Aviation Department Professor (SJSU), Richard Walsh Aeronautics SME (NARI), Zaheer Ali (Ph.D.) Senior Manager (USRA), Saba Hussain Program Manager, R&D Collaborations (USRA)
