The Systems Engineering Approach to the Streamlined Workflow for Innovative Flight Test Activity

This paper presents the Systems Engineering approach to the Streamlined Workflow for Innovative Flight Test research activity, which aims to establish a cost-effective unmanned aircraft research capability that facilitates rapid and flexible flight research across diverse platforms. The initiative focuses on developing a scalable, vehicle-agnostic architecture that enables standardized infrastructure for flight research, expediting the transition from concept to flight, particularly for high-risk technologies. Utilizing the NASA GMATT platform as a development testbed, the research activity emphasizes subsystem innovation while minimizing risks associated with platforms and infrastructure. Key components include advanced avionics, data acquisition systems, and modular designs that support a wide range of research applications. The research activity incorporates a tailored systems engineering approach to ensure compliance with airworthiness requirements, foster stakeholder engagement, and maintain traceability to NASA needs and research activity objectives. Ultimately, the SWIFT research activity aims to enhance midscale unmanned aerial system capabilities, significantly contributing to NASA's aeronautics research objectives.