The Vertical Space
The Vertical Space
Jim Barry, Peter Shannon & Luka Tomljenovic
#93 Joey Rios, NASA and UTM: Solve Something Right Now
1 hour 9 minutes Posted May 20, 2025 at 10:00 am.
Challenges in Airspace Design and Maintenance
Understanding UTM and Its Evolution
Federated vs. Centralized Airspace Management
Basic Principles When Designing UTM
Current UTM Operations Vs. How Originally Envisioned
The Dallas Operational Evaluation Site
BVLOS Operations and Safety Considerations
Deconfliction in and outside of the Mode C veil
Sharing Intent: A Real World Example
Profitability and Viability in the UAS Industry
Global Perspectives on UAS Regulations
Interoperability and Data Exchange Challenges
Automation and Future Air Traffic Management
You're Not Going To Be The Only One In The Airspace
Advice for Aspiring UAS Professionals
Solving The Hard Problems
Acknowledging Key Contributors in UTM Development
Final Thoughts and Takeaways
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Show notes
In this episode we sit down with Dr. Joey Rios, Chief Technologist for the Aviation Systems Division at NASA Ames Research Center, for a discussion on the evolution of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM). Joey takes us through the early days of UTM development, reflecting on the foundational principles, the initial use cases, and how the vision has evolved over time. We dive deep into the challenges of airspace design, the reasoning behind the U.S. federated model, and how it c...