Envision a world where unmanned aircraft deliver goods to your front door and transport passengers in flying taxis, cargo planes cross continents carrying vital trade goods, and fighter jets patrol battle zones—all without a human pilot at the controls.
Those scenarios might seem a bit far-fetched now, but researchers are working diligently to develop these aircraft and ensure they operate safely. That's why NASA has awarded a $1 million grant through its University Leadership Initiative (ULI) to a team from The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute (UTARI) in Fort Worth to address safety in autonomous aviation.
"We are thrilled to receive this NASA grant," said Nicolas Gans, UTARI's principal research scientist and associate professor of computer science and engineering. "This funding will enable us to push the boundaries of autonomous aviation technology and contribute to the future of safe and reliable air travel."
As part of the broader research consortium, UTA joins leading experts from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (lead institution), Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Southern California, Collins Aerospace and Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois. Together as part of a $.6.7 million collaborative grant, they will develop and validate an adaptive safety assurance architecture through extensive simulations and experimental testing.
The project by Dr. Gans and Yijing Xie, an electrical engineering assistant professor at UTA, was chosen from a highly competitive pool of proposals, underscoring the quality and potential impact of their research.
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"This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team," Dr. Xie said. "We are excited to collaborate with our partners and make significant advancements in the field of autonomous systems."
The project aims to make future advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles smarter and safer by equipping them with advanced technology to handle unexpected events and emergencies. It also seeks to bridge knowledge gaps that have hindered the integration of AAM systems into the national airspace.
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"UTARI's research team uses cutting-edge technologies to solve real-world engineering projects," said Eileen Clements, interim executive director of UTARI. "We have been at the forefront of research for unmanned ground and aerial vehicle research for many years, which is one of the reasons we're constructing an outdoor netted drone facility at our center. It will be exciting for our team to tackle this project."
The innovative project is also developing a self-learning safety system that will ensure these vehicles can be reliably managed and controlled. This system will establish safety guidelines and optimize flight paths to maintain safe operations. Additionally, it will monitor the performance of these intelligent components to ensure smooth operations.
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By addressing these challenges, the research team aims to enhance the safety and reliability of AAM vehicles, ensuring their seamless integration into the National Airspace System—the network of airspace, airports and air traffic services that support air travel in the U.S.—by 2035.
The NASA ULI program fosters collaboration between NASA and universities, encouraging innovative research that aligns with the goals of NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. The initiative offers university teams the opportunity to lead their own research agendas, develop interdisciplinary solutions and transition their findings to industry and government stakeholders.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of approximately 41,000 students, UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the UT System. UTA's combination of outstanding academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a Carnegie R-1 "Very High Research Activity" institution, a significant milestone of excellence. The University is designated as a Hispanic Serving-Institution and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and has earned the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to accelerating Latino student success. The University ranks in the top five nationally for veterans and their families (Military Times, 2024), is No. 4 in Texas for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2025), and is No. 6 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2025). UT Arlington's approximately 270,000 alumni occupy leadership positions at many of the 21 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas and contribute to the University's $28.8 billion annual economic impact on Texas.
