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Tactical Conflict Detection in Terminal AirspaceAir 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 provides short-term alerts in both en-route and terminal airspace currently, is often inhibited or degraded 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 RNAV (Area Navigation) departure route. A new tactical conflict detection algorithm is proposed, which uses a single analytic trajectory, determined by the flight intent and the current state information of the aircraft, and includes a complex set of current, dynamic separation standards for terminal airspace to define losses of separation. The new algorithm is compared with an algorithm that imitates a known en-route algorithm and another that imitates Conflict Alert by analysis of false-alert rate and alert lead time with recent real-world data of arrival and departure operations and a large set of operational error cases from Dallas/Fort Worth TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control). The new algorithm yielded a false-alert rate of two per hour and an average alert lead time of 38 seconds.
Document ID
20110005483
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Tang, Huabin
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Robinson, John E.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Denery, Dallas G.
(California Univ. Santa Cruz, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
August 30, 2010
Subject Category
Air Transportation And Safety
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN2026
ARC-E-DAA-TN2024
Meeting Information
Meeting: 10th AIAA ATIO
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: August 30, 2010
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 411931.02.61.01.25
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS2-03144
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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