Tactical Separation Algorithms and Their Interaction with Conflict Avoidance Systems

Tang, Huabin; Denery, Dallas G.; Erzberger, Heinz; Paielli, Russell A.

doi:10.2514/6.2008-6973

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Similar to TCAS, TSAFE Resolution advisories will be enunciated to the cockpit crew via synthesized aural messages. TSAFE-TCAS interaction issues and methods for avoiding undesirable interference between them have recently been studied in reference [9].…”

Section: Jaero546mentioning

confidence: 99%

Algorithm and operational concept for resolving short-range conflicts

Erzberger

Heere

2010

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G:

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Abstract:The article describes an algorithm for computing horizontal resolution trajectories with a limit on bank angle. If loss of separation can be avoided, the algorithm generates a set of manoeuvres that achieves or exceeds the specified minimum separation. The manoeuvres consist of turns to a specified heading followed by straight-line flight. Both single aircraft and cooperative manoeuvres are generated. In cooperative manoeuvres, both conflict aircraft simultaneously execute resolution manoeuvres, which expedite the resolution process compared to single aircraft manoeuvres. If loss of separation is unavoidable for a specified bank angle limit, the method chooses the manoeuvre that maximizes the minimum separation during the turns. The characteristics of the resolution trajectories have been analysed in a parameter space comprising initial positions, encounter angle, airspeed, predicted minimum separation, and bank angle. Analysis of resolutions for sets of initial conditions provided a road map for the design of an algorithm. The conceptual design of a system is described that resolves close-in conflicts automatically by uplinking resolution advisories to aircraft. Controllers have the option to assign detected conflicts to be resolved by the system. The system also has the authority to uplink resolution advisories to the aircraft without prior controller approval if time to loss of separation falls below a threshold value. The Mode S Specific Services data link is well suited for uplinking resolution advisories to the conflict aircraft. Deployment of the system could be an initial step in building the next-generation air traffic control system.

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Section: Jaero546mentioning

confidence: 99%

Algorithm and operational concept for resolving short-range conflicts

Erzberger

Heere

2010

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G:

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“…A prototype terminal TSAFE system, built upon the test bed system in [12], has been developed that sets up a framework to incorporate different conflict detection and resolution algorithms while real-world or simulated aircraft traffic data are replayed. The input to the system is an archived data file containing radar tracking data, mode C barometric altitude data, flight-plan route data, and altitude amendments.…”

Section: Alert Lead Timesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most of the research to date has focused on en route airspace. En route prototypes of TSAFE have been developed and studied with the use of en route operational error cases [6][7][8][9], and some attention on TSAFE conflict resolution has appeared [10][11][12]. TSAFE as an independent system to aid the controller for the near term has also been proposed [8][9][10][11].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tactical Conflict Detection in Terminal Airspace

Tang

Robinson

Denery

2011

Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics

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Air traffic systems have long relied on automated short-term conflict prediction algorithms to warn controllers of impending conflicts (losses of separation). The complexity of terminal airspace has proven difficult for such systems, as it often leads to excessive false alerts. Thus, the legacy system, called Conflict Alert, which currently provides shortterm alerts in both en route and terminal airspace, is often inhibited or desensitized in areas where frequent false alerts occur, even though the alerts are provided only when an aircraft is in dangerous proximity of other aircraft. This research investigates how a minimal level of flight-intent information may be used to improve short-term conflict detection in terminal airspace such that it can be used by the controller to maintain legal aircraft separation. The flight-intent information includes a site-specific nominal arrival route and inferred altitude clearances in addition to the flight plan that includes the area-navigation departure route. A new tactical conflict detection algorithm is proposed, which uses a single analytic trajectory, determined from the flight intent and the current state information of the aircraft, and includes a complex set of current, dynamic separation standards for terminal airspace. The new algorithm is compared with an algorithm that models a known en route algorithm and another algorithm that models Conflict Alert. This is done by analysis of false-alert rate and alert lead time with the use of recent real-world data of arrival and departure operations and a large set of operational error cases from the Dallas/ Fort Worth terminal radar approach control. The new algorithm yielded a false-alert rate of two per hour and an average alert lead time of 38 s.

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“…A prototype Terminal TSAFE system (T-TSAFE) has been developed 13,14 that sets up a framework for incorporating different conflict detection and resolution algorithms. The input to the system is an archived data file containing TRACON radar tracking data, Mode C barometric altitude data, flight-plan route data, and altitude amendments.…”

Section: Experimental Setup and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[7][8][9][10] TSAFE conflict resolution has also been studied. [11][12][13] Recently a conflict detection algorithm that incorporates flight intent information in the trajectory predictions was proposed, 14 which yields a small false alert rate while providing generally sufficient alert lead time to controllers. The algorithm uses a single deterministic trajectory that follows available flight intent and reduces to the dead reckoning trajectory when no flight intent information is available.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Severity-Based Tactical Conflict Detection in Terminal Airspace

Tang

2012

12th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations (ATIO) Conference and 14th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis And

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A method for determining the severity of impending losses of separation (LOSs) is proposed. It is based on the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) separation conformance category for classification of operational errors. A recently proposed short-term conflict detection algorithm for terminal airspace is enhanced with this severity concept. The alerts from the resulting algorithm are compared with the Conflict Alert (CA) currently in the field, which is a legacy system for automated short-term conflict detection. Three complementary sets of aircraft track data are employed. The first set is real-world data with documented LOSs due to operational errors. It allows determination of average alert lead time while providing regression testing of the algorithm. The second set is realistic data from human-in-the-loop experiments with no visual approaches allowed and with known intervention from controllers or pilots available. As a result more objective determination of false alert rate is possible. The third set is real-world data with unknown mixed operations of Instrument Landing System (ILS) and visual approaches but with CA alerting data available from the FAA. The comparison with CA indicates that the algorithm produces a similar total number of alerts but with a much larger safety buffer and a much lower false alert rate. The study also suggests that a high-severity conflict prediction option may be used for aircraft performing visual approaches to satisfy the controller's moral responsibility for those aircraft.

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Tactical Separation Algorithms and Their Interaction with Conflict Avoidance Systems

Cited by 4 publications

References 10 publications

Algorithm and operational concept for resolving short-range conflicts

Algorithm and operational concept for resolving short-range conflicts

Tactical Conflict Detection in Terminal Airspace

Severity-Based Tactical Conflict Detection in Terminal Airspace

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