Risk Assessment: Process 2A

University of Waterloo

WARG Hyperion UAV

Date: March 3, 2006Prepared by: Brent Tweddle

WARG Hyperion UAV

Summary

OverviewThis is a risk assessment for the Hyperion unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which is operated by the University of Waterloo (UW) through the Waterloo Aerial Robotics Group (WARG). This risk assessment complies with Transport Canada Civil Aviation’s Risk Management, Type 2A (Short Process) (TP 13905)1. The remainder of this document assumes the reader is familiar with the requirements of this process.

This assessment is associated with the operation as described in the Special Flight Operations Certificate for the University of Waterloo Hyperion UAV submitted as of March 3, 2006 (hereafter referred to as the SFOC application).

Hazard StatementThe Hyperion UAV has the potential to cause property damage and personal injury to its operators, spectators and members of the general public. The damage may be caused by the UAV’s impact with the ground or other objects, its propellers or its high energy batteries.

Recommended Risk Control OptionThe final risk control measure includes monitoring RC channels, monitoring weather, using safety checklists, using incremental testing and development procedures, restricting people from the propellers’ plane of rotation, flying as far away from other users of the WRESTRC facility as possible and using an air horn to notify other WRESTRC facility users of an emergency. Also the spotter should be trained as an RC pilot as an emergency backup to our primary pilot.

Authorizing ManagersI hereby accept the risk control option recommended by the risk management team.

Date: _________________

Adel S. Sedra, PhD, FRSC, FCAE, PEngProfessorDean of EngineeringPhone: (519) 888-4567 x3347Fax: (519) 746-1457sedra@uwaterloo.ca

David W. L. Wang, PhD, MASc, BAScProfessorFaculty Advisor of WARGPhone: (519) 888-4567 x3968Fax: (519) 746-3077dwang@uwaterloo.ca

1 http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/systemsafety/pubs/tp13905/menu.htm

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WARG Hyperion UAV

SUMMARY..................................................................................................................................................................................2

OVERVIEW................................................................................................................................................................................2HAZARD STATEMENT................................................................................................................................................................2RECOMMENDED RISK CONTROL OPTION..................................................................................................................................2AUTHORIZING MANAGERS........................................................................................................................................................2

S1.1 DESCRIBE SITUATION/ACTIVITY..............................................................................................................................4

OUTLINE BASIC SITUATION/ACTIVITY.....................................................................................................................................4ASSOCIATED ISSUES..................................................................................................................................................................4ASSUMPTIONS...........................................................................................................................................................................4CONSTRAINTS............................................................................................................................................................................4

S1.2 WHAT IS THE HAZARD?...............................................................................................................................................4

S1.3 RISK ASSESSMENT TEAM............................................................................................................................................4

S1.4, 1.5 & 1.6 STAKEHOLDERS............................................................................................................................................5

S2.1 – WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF THE HAZARDS AND ASSOCIATED RISKS?......................................6

COMPONENTS OF THE HAZARD.................................................................................................................................................6RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACTIVITY..................................................................................................................................6

S2.2 EXPOSURE INTERVAL...................................................................................................................................................6

S2.3, 2.4 & 2.5..............................................................................................................................................................................6

S3.1 WHAT IS THE ACTIVITY THAT EXPOSES THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO TO A RISK?.....................7

S3.2 POSSIBLE COSTS AND BENEFITS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO.....................................................7

S3.3 SUMMARY OF COSTS AND BENEFITS......................................................................................................................7

S4.1 RISK CONTROL................................................................................................................................................................8

METHODS..................................................................................................................................................................................8OPTIONS....................................................................................................................................................................................8

S4.2 CRITERIA/WEIGHTING MATRIX...............................................................................................................................8

S4.3 PRELIMINARY CHOICE................................................................................................................................................9

S4.4 RESIDUAL/TRANSITIONAL RISKS.............................................................................................................................9

S4.5 FINAL RISK CONTROL MEASURE.............................................................................................................................9

S5.1 DEVELOP IMPLEMENTATION PLAN......................................................................................................................10

S6.1, 6.2 & 6.3 WHAT ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE MONITORED, WHEN SHOULD THEY BE MONITORED AND WHAT METHOD SHOULD BE USED TO MONITOR?...................................................................................................11

S6.4 ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RISK CONTROL MEASURES ON THE ACTIVITIES...................11

S6.5 EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RISK ANALYSIS PROCESS........................................................11

Appendix A: Risk Scenarios.....................................................................................................................................................12

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WARG Hyperion UAV

S1.1 Describe Situation/Activity

Outline Basic Situation/Activity

Operating the Waterloo Aerial Robotics Group’s (WARG) Hyperion unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as described in the attached Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC).

Associated IssuesN/A

AssumptionsThe UAV will be operated as specified in the attached SFOC. None of the operators, spectators or members of the general public will be deliberately creating a hazard.

ConstraintsThere are no additional constraints outside the SFOC application. The SFOC application describes constraints to ensure that the UAV is operating within legal requirements and in a safe manner for the general public.

S1.2 What is the Hazard?The Hyperion UAV has the potential to cause property damage and personal injury to its operators, spectators and members of the general public. The damage may be caused by the UAV’s impact with the ground or other objects, its propellers or its high energy batteries.

S1.3 Risk Assessment Team

Skill/Knowledge Needed Team Member Role/AuthorityTechnical expertise with UAV’s

Brent Tweddle, Matthew Black

Operations Managers

Knowledge of aviation rules Steve Buchanan PilotUnderstanding of University of Waterloo operations

Dr. David Wang Faculty Advisor, Decision Maker

Executive Signing Authority

Dr. Adel Sedra Dean of Engineering, Decision Maker

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S1.4, 1.5 & 1.6 Stakeholders

Stakeholder Is Consultation Necessary?

Method of Contact

Who is responsible?

When will the consultation occur?

InternalWARG Team

Yes Design Review + Vote

Brent Tweddle Prior to SFOC submission

InternalUW Secretariat

Yes Informal Brent Tweddle Prior to SFOC submission

InternalUW Insurance

Yes Informal Brent Tweddle Prior to SFOC submission

InternalUW Dean of Engineering

Yes Informal Brent Tweddle Prior to SFOC submission

InternalWARG Faculty Advisor

Yes Informal Brent Tweddle Prior to SFOC submission

ExternalWRESTRC Manager

Yes Informal Brent Tweddle Prior to SFOC submission

ExternalWRESTRC Neighbours

Yes Informal Brent Tweddle Prior to SFOC submission

ExternalPublic

No

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S2.1 – What are the components of the hazards and associated risks?

Components of the Hazard Impact force during collision/crash (70 lbs max weight, 40 knots max speed) High speed propellers (9000 RPM) High energy motor batteries (Lithium Polymer, 592 Watt Hours)2

Risks Associated with the Activity People could be seriously injured or killed if the UAV hit them or something near them. Property could also be destroyed if this occurred. The propellers could injure someone. This could occur while the UAV is on the ground, or during a collision/crash. If the propellers break, they will be projected away from their center of rotation at a high velocity and could possibly hit a person. If a problem were to occur with the motor batteries they may catch fire while the UAV is in flight, on the ground, during a collision/crash or while they are recharging. Due to the type of batteries and energy density the fire produced would be rapid and possibly explosive.

S2.2 Exposure IntervalThe exposure interval will be approximately one year. In this time it is expected that approximately 200 half hour flights will be completed.

S2.3, 2.4 & 2.5See Appendix A.

2 Manufacturer Safety Warnings: http://www.thunderpower-batteries.com/images/THPSafetyWarnings.pdf

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WARG Hyperion UAV

S3.1 What is the activity that exposes the University of Waterloo to a risk?Flying the Hyperion UAV will expose the University of Waterloo to a risk.

S3.2 Possible Costs and Benefits to the University of WaterlooAll figures in Canadian Dollars (CAD).

QuantitativeCost Benefit

Cost of Airplane $10,000 Possibility of Winning Competition in 2007

$80,000

Cost of Operation $10,000/year

QualitativeCost Benefit

Time of students, faculty and admin Enhancement of student educationSpace and equipment resources Satisfaction of future alumni

Increased international reputationAdditional media attentionAdditional donations to University

S3.3 Summary of Costs and BenefitsThe monetary costs far exceed the benefits; however the qualitative and indirect benefits to the University of Waterloo have the potential to exceed all of the costs. For this reason I recommend that the University of Waterloo allows the flight of the Hyperion UAV.

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S4.1 Risk Control

MethodsA. Monitor RC Channel interference in between flightsB. Monitor motor and RC electronics battery voltage and current in flightC. Use a number of checklists

a. One for Mechanical & Motor/Battery Assemblyb. One for Pit Stops (UAV lands, then flies at a later time without disassembly)c. One for Preparations before each day of flightd. Others as necessary

D. Incremental flight testing procedure to ensure mechanical reliability and electrical safetyE. Choose days to fly when there are no other users on WRESTRC facilityF. When other users are at the WRESTRC facility fly in an area as far away from them as possible and use an air horn to notify them of an emergencyG. Monitor weather forecasts daily beginning at least three days before flight testsH. People should not stand in the plane of rotation of the propellers during ground operations

Options1. A, B, C, D, E, G, H2. A, B, C, D, F, G, H3. A, C, D, E, G, H4. A, C, D, F, G, H

S4.2 Criteria/Weighting MatrixNumber Criteria Weight (1-10)

1 Protect life/health of general public and spectators 102 Protect life/health of WARG members 103 Protect public/private property 84 Protect University of Waterloo property 75 Promote efficient testing and development of Hyperion UAV 46 Minimize cost of development 4

OptionsHow do options

compare1 2 3

Number Weight Score Weighted Score

Why? Score Weighted Score

Why? Score Weighted Score

Why?

1 10 10 100 8 80 9 902 10 9 90 10 100 9 903 8 10 80 8 64 9 724 7 9 63 10 70 8 565 4 1 4 9 36 2 86 4 3 3 3 12 9 36

Total 340 362 352

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OptionsHow do options

compare4

Number Weight Score Weighted Score

Why?

1 10 7 702 10 9 903 8 7 654 7 8 655 4 10 406 4 10 40

Total 370

S4.3 Preliminary ChoiceThe preliminary choice is option number 4 based on the scoring of S4.2.

S4.4 Residual/Transitional RisksResidual Risk Risk Level (P x S x E = R) Is this level of risk acceptable?

Can it be managed? How?Bird Strike 1 x 3 x 1 = 3 It is acceptable. It can not be

managed.Pilot and spotter loose sight of UAV

1 x 3 x 4 = 12 It is acceptable. It can be managed by training the spotter as an RC pilot so that the spotter is experienced in tracking RC airplanes.

Pilot medical emergency 1 x 3 x 1 = 3 It is acceptable. It can be managed by training the spotter as an RC pilot for emergency backup purposes.

Nacelle intake blockage while in flight or during take off.

1 x 4 x 1 = 4 It is acceptable. It can not be managed.

Person drives onto runway that is connected to other roads on the WRESTRC facility

1 x 4 x 1 = 4 This can be controlled by blocking the road to the runway with traffic cones and posting “In Use” signs on road

S4.5 Final Risk Control MeasureThe final risk control measure includes monitoring RC channels, monitoring weather, using safety checklists, using incremental testing and development procedures, restricting people from the propellers’ plane of rotation, flying as far away from other users of the WRESTRC facility as possible and using an air horn to notify other WRESTRC facility users of an emergency. Also the spotter should be trained as an RC pilot as an emergency backup to our primary pilot.

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S5.1 Develop Implementation PlanActivity Start Date Due Date Person

AccountableMilestone or Deliverable

Method of Follow Up

Purchase RC monitor.

Immediately Two weeks prior to first flight.

Operations Manager

Actual Device

N/A

Develop Checklists

Immediately Two weeks prior to first flight

Operations Manager

Checklists Weekly meetings

Develop test plan

Immediately Two weeks prior to first flight

Operations Manager

Plan Weekly meetings

Train spotter as RC pilot

Immediately First flight Operations Manager

10 hours on flight simulator

Weekly meetings

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S6.1, 6.2 & 6.3 What activities should be monitored, when should they be monitored and what method should be used to monitor?Activity When By Whom MethodUse of RC channels within range of WRESTRC

Throughout operations

Manager of WRESTRC facility

Using commercial monitor

Evaluate training of spotter

Before first flight Pilot Using simulator

Progress of incremental testing plan

Before first flight Operations manager Inspection

Effectiveness of checklists

Throughout operations

Operations manager & Pilot

Inspection

Use of airspace below 700 feet

Throughout operations

Manager of WRESTRC facility

Visual inspection

S6.4 Assess the effectiveness of the risk control measures on the activitiesThis will be done on an ongoing basis throughout the operations.

S6.5 Evaluate the effectiveness of the risk analysis processThis will be done on an ongoing basis throughout the operations.

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Appendix A: Risk Scenarios

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