Performance Analysis of a Horizontal Separation Assurance Algorithm for Short-Range Conflicts

Abstract

The concept of distributed air-to-air separation assurance envisions aircraft detecting and resolving conflicts autonomously without the need for a ground based air traffic service provider. Current automated conflict resolution algorithms that assume instantaneous heading changes without consideration of turn dynamics can result in unintentional loss of separation. A simulation of distributed conflict resolutions is used to evaluate a recently developed algorithm that implements realistic turn dynamics, i.e., without assuming instantaneous heading changes. In particular, the algorithm incorporates turn dynamics to resolve pair-wise, horizontal conflicts at close ranges. Examples of resolution trajectories generated by the separation assurance algorithm are shown. Data on the performance of this algorithm is extracted from the simulation. More importantly, analysis of these results indicates a need for coordination and communication between conflicting aircraft in order to guarantee a high level of safety in a distributed air-to-air separation assurance environment. = Minimum distance achieved during the entire maneuver. This may occur during the turn, at the end of the turn, or in the straight-line segment beginning at the end of the turn

A Development of 3-D Resolution Algorithm for Aircraft Collision Avoidance

“…The uncertainty levels used in Eqs. (7)~ (8) are practical values for a typical commercial aircraft [5]. Once we find the probabilistic expression of aircraft future locations, the probability of conflict…”

“…The 20 degrees is the typical value for aircraft's medium turn [5], and 1500 ft/m climb (or descent) rate is the value used in the current version of TCAS [6]. As future works, different values for the bank angle and the vertical …”

“…Figures 6~13 show the simulation results. Then, we applied the collision avoidance algorithm in [5] which considers only horizontal maneuver of aircraft by taking into account the aircraft's turn dynamics. Figures 14~21 show the simulation results.…”

“…Trapani et al have also suggested a horizontal resolution algorithm for aircraft collision avoidance by including the bank turn dynamics of aircraft [5]. The performance of various collision avoidance algorithms have also been investigated [6][7].…”

“…Intensive researches on collision detection and avoidance systems have been performed in the last few decades [3][4][5][6][7][8]. Prandini et al have used a stochastic kinematic model of aircraft, with uncertainties represented by two-dimensional Brownian motion for short-term trajectory prediction [3].…”