[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 52 (Friday, March 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18973-18974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05569]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice: 24-018]


Information Collection: Remotely Administered Psychoacoustic Test 
for Advanced Air Mobility Noise Human Response

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of new information collection.

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SUMMARY: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as part of 
its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, 
invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this 
opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information 
collections.

DATES: Comments are due by May 14, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for this information 
collection should be sent within 60 days of publication of this notice 
to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under Review--Open for Public 
Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to NASA PRA Clearance Officer, Bill Edwards-Bodmer, 
NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW, JF0000, Washington, DC 20546, phone 
757-864-7998, or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)/Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aircraft are 
expected to form a new transportation system to move people and cargo 
between places previously not served or underserved by aviation. 
Representative AAM/UAM vehicles involve the use of electrically driven 
rotors, and the noise from these air vehicles in communities may 
restrict their operation. The human response to noise from these 
vehicles needs to be better understood to help minimize the noise 
impact. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) seeks 
to execute a remotely administered test on human response to noise, 
which is called a psychoacoustic test, to acquire response to AAM/UAM 
vehicle noise. This psychoacoustic test is called the Varied AAM Noise 
and Geographic Area Response Difference (VANGARD) test. It will utilize 
the recently developed Remote Psychoacoustic Test Platform of NASA to 
administer the test to subjects from the public from geographic regions 
of the United States where AAM/UAM aircraft are likely to operate in 
the future. Test subjects will participate in an online test 
application using their own computers and audio playback devices, such 
as headphones, to listen to calibrated sound stimuli.
    The primary research objective of the VANGARD test is to determine 
if there are statistically significant differences in annoyance between 
subjects who live in low versus high ambient noise environments; and to 
determine as a covariate if there is a difference between specific 
geographical regions. Subjects will be drawn from low and high ambient 
noise areas of geographical regions within the United States that are 
likely to see initial AAM/UAM operations, such as Los Angeles, Dallas, 
and New York City. ``High'' ambient noise environments are locations 
proximate to urban centers of each region, while ``Low'' ambient 
environments are suburban areas along likely AAM/UAM flight paths 
within 100 miles of the urban center. NASA will identify the targeted 
geographic regions and low and high ambient noise environments by Zip 
Code, based on noise survey data obtained by the National Park Service. 
NASA will then seek a balanced number of subjects to adequately cover 
the geographic regions and noise environments.
    Meeting this primary research objective is critical to allow NASA 
to test additional hypothesis research questions based on the obtained 
data, including:
     Do annoyance responses differ significantly by phase of 
flight (takeoff, landing, and level cruise) of the AAM/UAM aircraft 
noise stimuli?
     Do annoyance responses differ significantly as a function 
of sound level, based on distance from flight operation?
     To what degree are the results explained by objective 
parameter analyses of the data (e.g., sound quality metrics; spectra; 
amplitude envelope)?
     To what degree are the results explained by noise 
sensitivity, obtained via post-experiment questionnaires?
    Authority: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 
is committed to effectively performing the Agency's communication 
function in accordance with the Space Act Section 203 (a)(3) to 
``provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of 
information concerning its activities and the results thereof,'' and to 
enhance public understanding of, and participation in, the nation's 
aeronautical and space program in accordance with the NASA Strategic 
Plan.

II. Methods of Collection

    Test subjects will electronically indicate their annoyance rating 
to test AAM/UAM aircraft noise stimuli into an interface displayed on 
their own computers.

III. Data

    Title: Varied Advanced air mobility Noise and Geographic Area 
Response Difference Test.
    OMB Number: 2700-new.
    Type of review: New collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Number of Activities: 1.
    Estimated Number of Respondents per Activity: 360.
    Annual Responses: 360.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.

[[Page 18974]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 360 hours.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
NASA, including whether the information collected has practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of NASA's estimate of the burden (including 
hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (3) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including automated collection techniques 
or the use of other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection. They will also become a matter of public record.

William Edwards-Bodmer,
NASA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-05569 Filed 3-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-13-P