In July, 2019, Human Systems Integration Division researcher Abhay Borade spoke to KQED/NPR for a feature in "The California Report" covering the rise of delivery drones, and the systems that could be used to manage this potentially crowded airspace. In the feature, Borade, a researcher for NASA’s Airspace Operations Laboratory, explains that the system NASA is developing (known as Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management or UTM) will use flight plans submitted by commercial drone operators to their UAS Service Supplier (USSs), at which point the USS can then review the safety and viability of a particular flight. UTM Project Manager Ron Johnson is also featured with a discussion on how even though the UTM system may be able to help monitor drone traffic, ultimately, organizations like the Federal Aviation Administration will establish the regulatory framework for commercial drone operations.
The complete story (including audio) can be found here-
https://www.kqed.org/news/11759453/how-nasa-ames-is-helping-the-faa-brace-for-the-rise-of-delivery-drones.
For additional information on the Airspace Operations Laboratory, please visit
https://hsi.arc.nasa.gov/groups/AOL.
You can also read more about Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) by visiting
https://hsi.arc.nasa.gov/groups/AOL/research/pastresearch.php#UTM and
https://www.nasa.gov/utm.