154 results
Filters
Settings
Now showing1 - 10 of 154
- Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: without files , Lateral efficiency, separability, and passenger comfort for urban air route network designs(American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), 2026-10-22); ; This paper presents an improved structure for an urban air route network, based on a node-edge grid. The enhanced network incorporates additional edge directions to increase routing flexibility. Flights are assigned to different flight levels according to the semicircular rule while complying with legal requirements of minimum and maximum flight altitudes. The routing algorithm integrates nonlinear penalization functions for large heading changes and large bank angles to improve passenger comfort. Furthermore, flights conducted against the primary direction of their respective flight level are penalized. The routes computed using three distinct network concepts are evaluated based on newly developed metrics for efficiency and safety. The evaluation also includes a full-day simulation of all flights to detect separation conflicts and ensure operational safety.Publicationtype: Journal Article27 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: without files , (Autonomous) weapon transfers as maximal jus ad vim? Lessons from UkraineSome scenarios justify the use of force, yet overriding political, moral or strategic concerns may argue against the outright use of a state's military. In such cases, transfers of weapons present would-be aiding states with means to apply force-short-of-war, or jus ad vim. This article argues that transferring sophisticated autonomous and AI-enabled weapon systems represents a maximal means for exerting force without implicating one's own military or state in a direct fashion. Moreover, the article argues that, because such weapons can be argued to be merely weapons, such transfers allow one to avoid (or at least mitigate) concerns surrounding escalation while also working to avoid the risks of a ‘morally truncated victory’ or a situation of vis perpetua (permanent violence). In making these points, the article regularly looks to the ongoing example provided by the Russo-Ukrainian war, concluding with a practical examination of the limits of autonomous weapons and when their impact may not be as significant for the prospects of an aided state.Publicationtype: Journal Article17 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: without files , A comparative analysis of operational climate mitigation measures in aviation(American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2026-06-04); The environmental impact of air transport is driven by emissions of CO2 and non-CO2 species such as nitrogen oxides and water vapor, which affect the earth’s radiative balance and contribute to climate change. Non-CO2 effects play a significant role and depend not only on fuel consumption but also on factors like emission location, time, and meteorological conditions. To reduce aviation’s climate impact within ambitious climate targets, operational measures offer promising, fast implementable solutions. These measures can address the spatial, temporal, and meteorological variability of non-CO2 climate effects. Hence, this research develops a comprehensive simulation framework to evaluate and compare operational mitigation measures in air transport. The framework integrates flight trajectory simulation, emissions calculation, climate impact assessment, and stakeholder analysis within one modeling workflow. It enables consistent comparison of measures under varying boundary conditions through modular set-up. Results highlight the variable effectiveness and efficiency of different measures such as flight altitude and speed reduction, lateral route changes, intermediate stop operations, and formation flight in dependence of mission specific characteristics. Nevertheless, lowering flight altitude and speed appears particularly effective. The results provide a foundation for future research and support the evaluation of regulatory measures aimed at reducing aviation’s climate impact.Publicationtype: Conference Paper15 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: with files , Stop saying "AI"(Springer, 2026-05-27); ; ; Across academia, industry, and government, “AI” has become central in research and development, regulatory debates, and promises of ever faster and more capable decision-making and action. In numerous domains, especially safety-critical ones, there are significant concerns over how “AI” may affect decision-making, responsibility, or the likelihood of mistakes (to name only a few categories of critique). However, for most critiques, the target is generally “AI”, a broad term admitting many (types of) systems used for a variety of tasks and each coming with its own set of limitations, challenges, and potential use cases. In this article, we focus on the military domain as a case study and present both a loose enumerative taxonomy of systems captured under the umbrella term “military AI”, as well as discussion of the challenges of each. In doing so, we highlight that critiques of one (type of) system will not always transfer to other (types of) systems. Building on this, we argue that in order for debates to move forward fruitfully, it is imperative that the discussions be made more precise and that “AI” be excised from debates to the extent possible, especially as discussions move more toward discrete systems and use cases. Researchers, developers, and policy-makers should make clear exactly what systems they have in mind and what possible benefits and risks attend the deployment of those particular systems. While we focus on AI in the military as an exemplar for the overall trends in discussions of “AI”, the argument’s conclusions are broad and have import for discussions of AI across a host of domains.Publicationtype: Journal Article61 9 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: without files , Standardized take-off and landing procedures for UAM operations with CNS integration across diverse environmentsThis research addresses the lack of operationally grounded take-off and landing (TOL) procedures for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) building on prior institutional efforts that developed a limited set of reusable procedure prototypes for varying traffic and infrastructure conditions (dense, moderate, limited). For each scenario, aviation-compatible TOL procedures are defined, including lateral and vertical profiles, separation logic, and vertiport protection volumes. In parallel, phasedependent Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) requirements are analyzed to characterize supporting infrastructure and performance needs. The procedures are first refined and optimized and then evaluated by simulation under different traffic conditions to assess feasibility, robustness, and scalability, with input from air traffic management (ATM) experts. Preliminary results indicate that a small set of structured procedures can support diverse UAM operations. Further analysis of CNS requirements is ongoing to complete evaluation and validation.Publicationtype: Conference Paper30 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: without files , Performance evaluation of standardized takeoff and landing procedures for Urban Air Mobility across diverse operating environmentsThis paper addresses the lack of operationally validated takeoff and landing (TOL) procedures for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) by developing a small, reusable set of procedure archetypes applicable across diverse regional conditions and systematically evaluating their performance. Rather than designing location-specific solutions, the work focuses on identifying common operational patterns and translating them into standardized, aviation-compatible TOL procedures suitable for diverse operating environments.Six representative operational cases of UAM are defined based on combinations of traffic intensity (high and low) and infrastructure availability (dense, moderate, and limited). For each case, structured TOL procedures are defined, including vertical and lateral profiles, separation logic, and protection volumes around vertiports. The procedures explicitly account for low-altitude operations, eVTOL performance constraints, and interactions with existing airspace users. The proposed procedures are evaluated through simulation to assess operational feasibility, conflict mitigation capability, and scalability under varying traffic loads. Results show that, despite regional differences, a limited number of well-designed procedures can safely support a wide range of UAM operating environments, reducing design complexity and supporting harmonized implementation.To strengthen operational credibility, the procedures are further verified and validated through structured assessment by experienced air traffic management (ATM) experts. Their feedback confirms that the proposed procedures are logically sound, operationally practical, and compatible with established aviation principles. This work contributes a region-adaptive, standardized framework for UAM takeoff and landing procedures and provides a structured performance evaluation supporting scalable, operationally feasible, and certifiable implementation within existing aviation systems.Publicationtype: Conference Paper50 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: without files , Integrated CNS infrastructure planning for urban air mobility: a simulation and stakeholder-informed studyUrban Air Mobility (UAM) operations impose stringent requirements on Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) infrastructures, particularly for low-altitude operations in complex urban and regional environments. To support safe, scalable, and economically viable UAM deployment, infrastructure planning must be guided by quantitative performance analysis and validated against stakeholder priorities. This paper presents a simulation-driven assessment of CNS infrastructure deployment for UAM, complemented by an expert survey to contextualize and validate the derived recommendations.First, a simulation framework is developed to evaluate 5G-based CNS deployment strategies for ground-to-air communication across different regional contexts, including dense urban areas, suburban transition zones, and inter-city UAM corridors. The simulations analyze coverage continuity, link reliability, and infrastructure density requirements for UAM operations at altitudes below 300 m, considering realistic base-station layouts and integration with existing terrestrial networks. The results quantify how regional characteristics, such as urban density, corridor geometry, and altitude profiles directly impact CNS performance and deployment cost, demonstrating that selective reuse of existing 5G infrastructure can achieve required performance levels while significantly reducing capital and operational expenditures compared to dedicated aviation-only solutions.Second, an expert survey involving stakeholders from aerospace, air traffic management, telecommunications, and UAM service providers is conducted to assess the perceived feasibility, risks, and priorities associated with the simulation-derived deployment strategies. The survey results show strong alignment with the simulation outcomes, particularly regarding the importance of infrastructure reuse, low-latency communication, and cost efficiency for early UAM operations.With the combination of simulation-based performance and economic analysis with stakeholder validation, this paper provides region-specific CNS deployment recommendations and actionable guidance for regulators, UAM operators, air navigation service providers, and mobile network operators. The findings support informed decision-making for resilient and economically sustainable CNS integration in future UAM ecosystems.Publicationtype: Conference Paper31 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: without files , Power and politics in the design of autonomous and AI-enabled weaponsA weapon is a weapon, and nothing about its general “weaponness” seems to indicate much about its underlying values. However, closer examination of weapons’ designs can tell us much. For whom were they designed? Have safeguards been put into place? If so, which ones, and to the protection of whom? Autonomous weapons have existed for decades, and AI-powered and AI-enabled systems are becoming increasingly important, but all of these systems raise ethical and legal concerns. Arguably, many of the challenges might feasibly be addressed through design or institutional solutions, but importantly, how systems are designed says a great deal about those designing them and those contemplating their deployment. In this chapter, I argue that if states wish to demonstrate their commitment to human rights and the protection of innocent lives, autonomous and AI-enabled systems in the military must fulfill several design desiderata: predictability, governability, responsibility, and traceability. I then explore concrete ways these desiderata may be fulfilled in practice.Publicationtype: Book Part14 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: with files , Bombs, bots, and the principle of distinction: the law of armed conflict and contemporary warfareCritics of autonomous weapons systems (AWS) argue that these weapons cannot reliably distinguish between legitimate targets and those protected from attack. As a result, the use of AWS seems to violate the principle of distinction under international humanitarian law (IHL), which requires that combatants “not make civilians the object of attack” and not carry out attacks that are “indiscriminate in nature.” This criticism, however, misunderstands the principle of distinction and ignores important aspects of how AWS are being developed and deployed. Critics rely on an overly broad definition of AWS, and hold these systems to a standard that is inconsistent with the principle of distinction as it is actually formulated under IHL. Despite their very real limitations, the characteristics of modern AWS in fact highlight an impressive feat of technological design, and mark a further step on our long and fitful road to making warfare a less brutal and bloody enterprise.Publicationtype: Journal Article11 6 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Access status: with files , Eine System of Systems Analyse drohnen- und satellitengestützter Inspektionsverfahren für ausgedehnte NetzinfrastrukturenThis dissertation investigates the techno-economic suitability of drone- and satellite-based remote sensing methods for the inspection of extensive network infrastructures, such as power grids, gas pipelines, and railway lines. The objective of the work is to develop a methodology for a System-of-Systems conceptualization that compares various sensor carrier platforms regarding their efficiency and cost-effectiveness, with a particular focus on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and satellites. The study begins with an analysis of the inspection requirements for these infrastructures, including the necessary data quality and frequency. Subsequently, the fundamentals of remote sensing sensor technology (e.g., LiDAR, RADAR, Infrared) as well as the characteristics of drones (fixed-wing, VTOL, multicopter) and satellites are explained. A central component is the development of a route optimization algorithm and a cost model that considers factors such as flight frequency (and the resulting utilization), range, operating bases, and fixed costs. The methodology is applied to two case studies: the German railway network and the U.S. natural gas transmission pipeline network. For the railway network, it is shown that highly automated VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) drones offer the most cost-efficient solution, provided that a sufficiently large range can be achieved with this configuration. When surveying the significantly larger area of the U.S. pipeline system, highly automated fixed-wing UAVs can more easily leverage their range advantages, as the requirements for efficient route planning are higher in this context. In both cases, satellites are economically competitive with drone systems of limited range capabilities, primarily when resolution requirements are low. In particular, the study highlights the economic added value of incremental range in drone aircraft design within a specific range spectrum. The results illustrate that through automation and scalability, drone systems can outperform traditional inspection methods (e.g., helicopters), although the choice of platform depends heavily on the infrastructure and specific requirements. The work concludes with a discussion of alternative approaches and an outlook on future research, particularly regarding increasing UAV range and their integration into hybrid systems with satellites.Publicationtype: Doctoral Thesis53 37