Beyond traffic depiction: conformally integrating the conflict space to support Level 3 situation awareness

Abstract

The research described in this paper explores the addition of conformally integrated traffic probes into an egocentric Synthetic Vision (SV) Primary Flight Display (PFD). The underlying thought is that, although the traffic that is predicted to cause a future loss of separation may not lie within the field of view of the display, the location where the loss of separation is predicted to occur always will. Hence, rather than focusing on the depiction of traffic, which contributes to level 2 Situation Awareness (SA), the concept pursues spatially integrated depiction of the airspace where a loss of separation is predicted. This provides readily actionable conflict information, relieving pilots from the traffic position and conflict estimation task and contributing to level 3 SA. The paper describes the integration of the data from the traffic probe into an SV PFD. The advantages of the concept will be illustrated using several traffic conflict scenarios, including an overtaking scenario involving unmanned aircraft. Given that unmanned aircraft may be markedly slower than manned aircraft which operate within the same airspace, a spatially integrated depiction of airspace where a future loss of separation is predicted, can help to preserve safety in classes of airspace that accommodate both manned and unmanned aircraft. Additionally, examples are provided illustrating how traffic probes can support pilots in monitoring the conformance of traffic to the priority rules of 14 CFR 91.113.

Evaluating the impact of sensor data uncertainty and maneuver uncertainty in a conflict probe

“…The vector-based rendering algorithm is used to present the results from the probe that takes intruder velocity and track sensor estimate uncertainty into account (dashed yellow contours). Whereas the solid yellow heading band represents the headings that will lead to a loss of separation when not taking uncertainty into account, the dashed heading band provides this information while taking 4 Indicating an undetermined side of the resolution space that should not be acted upon. Depicting the truncated conflict space as a closed contour is an incorrect representation of the situation which could be misleading.…”

“…A conflict probe estimates the future separation with other traffic, both for the current state of ownship and variations to this state, using assumptions on how traffic will maneuver [1][2][3][4][5]. The estimates can be obtained from a conflict detection algorithm such as described in DO-317 [6].…”