Integrated Noise and Safety Management in UAM via A Unified Reinforcement Learning Framework

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Murthy, Surya, Gao, Zhenyu, Clarke, John-Paul, Topcu, Ufuk
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Murthy, Surya
Gao, Zhenyu
Clarke, John-Paul
Topcu, Ufuk
author_facet Murthy, Surya
Gao, Zhenyu
Clarke, John-Paul
Topcu, Ufuk
contents Urban Air Mobility (UAM) envisions the widespread use of small aerial vehicles to transform transportation in dense urban environments. However, UAM faces critical operational challenges, particularly the balance between minimizing noise exposure and maintaining safe separation in low-altitude urban airspace, two objectives that are often addressed separately. We propose a reinforcement learning (RL)-based air traffic management system that integrates both noise and safety considerations within a unified, decentralized framework. Under this scalable air traffic coordination solution, agents operate in a structured, multi-layered airspace and learn altitude adjustment policies to jointly manage noise impact and separation constraints. The system demonstrates strong performance across both objectives and reveals tradeoffs among separation, noise exposure, and energy efficiency under high traffic density. The findings highlight the potential of RL and multi-objective coordination strategies in enhancing the safety, quietness, and efficiency of UAM operations.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_16440
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Integrated Noise and Safety Management in UAM via A Unified Reinforcement Learning Framework
Murthy, Surya
Gao, Zhenyu
Clarke, John-Paul
Topcu, Ufuk
Multiagent Systems
Machine Learning
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) envisions the widespread use of small aerial vehicles to transform transportation in dense urban environments. However, UAM faces critical operational challenges, particularly the balance between minimizing noise exposure and maintaining safe separation in low-altitude urban airspace, two objectives that are often addressed separately. We propose a reinforcement learning (RL)-based air traffic management system that integrates both noise and safety considerations within a unified, decentralized framework. Under this scalable air traffic coordination solution, agents operate in a structured, multi-layered airspace and learn altitude adjustment policies to jointly manage noise impact and separation constraints. The system demonstrates strong performance across both objectives and reveals tradeoffs among separation, noise exposure, and energy efficiency under high traffic density. The findings highlight the potential of RL and multi-objective coordination strategies in enhancing the safety, quietness, and efficiency of UAM operations.
title Integrated Noise and Safety Management in UAM via A Unified Reinforcement Learning Framework
topic Multiagent Systems
Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.16440