Investigating Safety and Cybersecurity Design Tradespace for Manned-Unmanned Aerial Systems Integration Using Systems Theoretic Process Analysis

Safety and cybersecurity are two emergent behaviors critical to mission success of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). This paper presents the concepts driving the initial research investigation of a hazard and vulnerability analysis for the integration of manned-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) using System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA). The motivation for this analysis is the need to engineer safe and secure UAS integration into the National Airspace System, or any system where manned and UASs will operate together. In contrast to more traditional safety and vulnerability assessments, this research aims to develop systems engineering methods and processes that are beneficial for initial design space exploration and developing system design requirements from the beginning of systems engineering phases. It is expected that research results will provide system architecture and design engineers the system framework and requirements necessary to engineer safe and secure integrated flight operations.