The need for and conceptual design of an AI model-based Integrated Flight Advisory System

Abstract

Automation and an increasing level of autonomy are not novelties in aircraft cockpits. One of the main goals of automation in aviation is to increase pilots’ situation awareness (SA) and reduce their workload – both of high importance for a safe flight. Increasing automation has historically reduced aviation accident rates and improved efficiency. Yet, currently implemented systems have also contributed to accidents, when failed, or were insufficient to increase pilots’ SA for improving their decision-making. This paper discusses the need for an enhanced decision-support system and its potential benefits for safer aviation. A model-based decision support system that leverages artificial intelligence, Integrated Flight Advisory System (IFAS), is presented. Further, the conceptual design of this system is described. The overview and roadmap provided in this paper consist of an effort toward a more holistic, pilot-centered, AI-based decision-support that can contribute to safer aviation.

A Systematic Literature Review of an Advisory System

“…Figure 3 presents the distribution of domains across the selected papers, clearly showing that the Computer Science domain leads with 47 papers, followed by Medical and Engineering, each with 7 papers. Agriculture by 3 papers, Business [68], Psychiatry and other [69] by one paper. Throughout this research, we can see that there are many opportunities in researching Artificial Intelligence technique in other domains.…”

Editorial for the special issue on the International Workshop on Autonomous System Safety (IWASS)

“…1, pp. 36-44 With respect to the first topic, Ramos et al 13 provide a roadmap for a holistic, pilot-centered, AI-based flight advisory system for aviation. They argue that through enhancing decision support systems with meaningful, AI-and model-based information the safety of modern aviation systems can be improved.…”

“…1, pp. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18] According to Luckcuck, 2 Formal Methods can be an effective tool for the development and verification of autonomous systems. He proposes five recipes for formally verifying aspects of an autonomous system, which can be applied during design for a description of requirements; and in the development phase so that formal specifications can be verified against the requirements.…”

Influencing factors of novice pilot SA based on DEMATEL-AISM method: From pilots’ view

“…Besides, pilot SA is also shaped by human-machine interaction system in cockpit, an interaction medium between pilot and external flight situations. For instance, the cockpit interface displays structured information [ 5 , 24 , 25 ], the automation and intelligent design provide important help in rapid responding, reducing pilot workload, and assisting decision-making, etc., thus contributing to pilot SA enhancement [ [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] ].…”