Fuel Burn Tradeoffs in Safety-Optimized Trajectories for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems

Abstract

The integration of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System presents significant operational challenges, particularly in balancing safety and fuel efficiency. Ensuring a stable Command and Control (C2) link is critical for safe operations, as Loss of C2 Link (LC2L) events can compromise situational awareness and lead to mission failure. However, minimizing LC2L risk often requires trajectory deviations, increasing fuel burn and emissions. This thesis employs simulation-based optimization methods to quantify the fuel burn penalties associated with safety-driven routing. Using a dataset of regional cargo UAS flights departing from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, three trajectory optimization strategies are evaluated: fuel-optimal, outage-minimizing, and risk-minimizing trajectories. The results indicate that prioritizing safety results in increased fuel consumption, but the magnitude of this penalty depends on factors such as transmitting power levels and ground station (GS) placement. These findings underscore the need for enhanced C2 link infrastructure, strategic placement of GS networks, and regulatory policies that balance safety and operational efficiency. This research provides actionable insights for UAS operators and policymakers, ensuring that safety-driven routing does not impose excessive fuel costs, ultimately supporting the sustainable deployment of UAS in commercial aviation.