using process 4.4 Manage Project Knowledge. (A). Explain how you would improve the scenario depicted in this case study using this process. (B). Specifically which tool or technique would you implement? Be specific, and properly identify the tool & technique. (C). Explain why you would choose to use this tool or techniques.
AP'SI. CASE STUDY Project Management Institute NASA Autonomous Rotorcraft Project Project Management Leads to Industry Leader in Innovative Aviation Part of NASA's mission is to consistently develop innovative rotorcraft. This would fulfill NASA's mission to extend its flight technologies to help advance America's prowess in technology expertise in this field. Specifically, the team aerospace and aviation. NASA embarked on the Autonomous would create a flying laboratory consisting of advanced flight Rotorcraft Project (ARP) as part of that mission. controls, a reactive planner, all-digital camera system with tracking and passive ranging capabilities and real-time health The project goal was to develop an unmanned helicopter management systems. (rotorcraft) that would operate with the decision-making skill of a piloted aircraft. Facing technological complexities, By completing the above tasks, the ARP team hoped to management challenges and the coordination of multiple develop a rotorcraft that could: organizations, NASA used project management competencies to meet its goals while staying on-time and on-budget. maneuver around obstacles without human supervision, accomplish top-level mission goals, Background The ARP posed several challenges. Representatives from conduct vehicle health management activities the Army/NASA Rotorcraft Division, the NASA Exploration (i.e. diagnose and fix problems on the rotorcraft Technology Directorate and the Flight Projects Office automatically), and (FPO) made up the ARP team, which was comprised of re-plan the mission should unforeseen circumstances experts in aeromechanics and flight control, autonomous occur. executive software, helicopter dynamics and vehicle health management. Challenges The ARP team hired a project manager who was responsible for: Coordinating the ARP project team was one of the initial challenges as it was comprised of people from various developing schedules, budget and project progression organizations with different experience, backgrounds and reports; working styles. communicating with stakeholders and upper The project manager also had to report to two supervisors- management at NASA for approval on all tasks; NASA and the Computing, Information and Communications overseeing hardware and software development; Technology Program (CICT)-which sometimes had different priorities for the project or ways they wanted information crafting risk analysis documents; and relayed to the team. producing data and evaluations. Solutions The two prototype autonomous rotorcrafts used for this To keep team members informed and ensure stakeholder project, named Ariel and Caliban, were modified Yamaha expectations were met, the ARP manager used project RMAX radio-controlled helicopters with additional planning management to define the project scope. The team then software and flight control components. presented this project scope to stakeholders, who then NASA tasked the ARP team with developing, demonstrating discussed and negotiated all points with team members. and evaluating automated reasoning technologies for
