ST CLOUD AVIATION DEPARTMENT

PRESENTED BY:TRISTA COOKE

JOSHUA HASEANDREW SCALLON

ADVISOR:DR. ROBERT ACEVES

PROGRESSIVE

AUTOMATED TAXI

SYSTEM

PROJECTED IMPACTSCost Analysis

EXPERT OPINIONS

SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT

SOLUTION

THE DESIGN PROCESS

SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Definitions

PATSPRESENTATION OVER VIEW

• Develop a lightweight system that will accommodate most aircraft to:• Reduce Runway Incursions• Increase Safety • Enhance situational awareness• Alleviate airport congestion

Project Proposal

• Research and develop a system to help reduce incursions involving different aspects surrounding airports, technological designs, and its users.

• Technical aspects:• Improving Situational Awareness• Acquiring Additional Airport and Environmental Information• Maintain Communications with Pilots, ATC, and Ground/Maintenance Vehicles

The Design Challenge

PATSTHE PROBLEM STATEMENT

PATS DEFINING RUNWAY INCURSION

Category A - serious incident in which a collision was narrowly avoided.

Category B - incident in which separation decreases; significant potential for collision

Category C - incident characterized by ample time and/or distance to avoid a collision.

Category D - incident with no immediate safety consequences

“any unauthorized intrusion onto a runway, regardless of whether or not

an aircraft presents a potential conflict.”

Air Traffic Control (ATC): operational errors

Pilot Deviations (PD): action of a pilot violating FAA regulations

Vehicle/Pedestrian Deviations (V/PD): vehicles and pedestrians interfering with aircraft operations.

PATS DEFINING RUNWAY INCURSION

PATSSUMMARY OF LIT. REVIEW

Stage 1 Research and Information

Gathering• Operations• Runway Incursions = NTSB’s “Most Wanted List”

• Ground operations present distinct challenges

• FAA top priority = reduce runway incursions

• Limitations• Runway incursions on the rise• Air Transportation on the rise, 3.4%/year through 2017

• 1 billion passengers/year (FAA)

• Corrections• Pilot warning systems• Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X

Stage 2Problem Assessment

• ASDE-X• The primary foundation of the PATS

• Provide seamless coverage and aircraft identification to ATC

• Pilot Warning• Cockpit advisory system that will alert pilots to potential runway incursions

• Integration• PATS will be primarily software driven

• Little to no innovation in design• Limited by the implementation of the system itself

• Resources and expertise are readily available

PATSTHE DESIGN PROCESS

Attain Industry Knowledge

Qualitative Methodology

Primary Research:Literature ReviewsStatistical and factual data offered through the NTSB and the FAA

Secondary ResearchInterviews with industry expertsGroup advised surveys

Guideline format:Primary areas of concern:

SolutionScenarioIndustry advantages

• Progressive = characteristics of a system that will drive towards a change in how ATC handles their ground operations

• Automation = Best routes for taxiing aircraft• Human Control Computer Control

PATS Defined

• Hardware & software redundancy• Human supervision• Complete automation• Ground operator real-time displays• Use ASDE-X as the only source of ground detection• Dispatcher input stations, or means thereof • Adaptable software structure• Simplicity in software patch design

System Requirements – Software Deign

PATSTHE SOLUTION

Four Operating Components

ASDE-X

Hardware

Software

System Communica

tion Structure

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

ASDE-X

• Piggy-back system off of ASDE-X• PATS relies solely on ASDE-X for all ground operating vehicles’

real-time positions while in taxi operations. • ATC user display

• Acts as waypoint for all position gathering hardware.• The PATS will interlink into ASDE-X much like that of the ASDE-

X ATC user display.

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

ASDE-X consists of five main components:

• Multilateration• Secondary Surveillance• Optimizes

• Surface Movement Radar• Accurately identifies aircraft and vehicles• Adapts to changing weather

• Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)• Key component of ASDE-X• Uses GPS• Future of Air Transportation System

• Multi-sensor Data Processing• Enables stronger signals to be processes

• Tower Displays• Real-time monitoring

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

FAA approved airports to receive the ASDE-X System.

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

Four Operating Components

ASDE-X

Hardware

Software

System Communica

tion Structure

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

Hardware

Logical Unit

Learning Databas

e

Hard Datab

ase

User Interfa

ce

Cockpit Display

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

Logical Unit

Creates real-time progressive taxi instructions

Relays info to ATC and taxiing aircraft

Brain of the PATS

Responsible for the collaboration of information from the following systems:

ASDE-X Hard Database

Learning Database

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

Learning Database

Gathering point for resources that are constantly changing in the airport environment

The learning database will receive information from the following components:

Dispatch User Interface

Automated Weather Stations

Air Traffic Control Interface

ASDE-X

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

Hard Database

Serves only the Logical UnitContains information that will assist the logical unit in processing

taxiing patterns to maximum efficiencyThe hard database will include, but are is limited to, the following items:

Exact airport dimension

All taxiway dimensions

Height and width

restrictions

Gate dimensions

Runway widths

All airport markings

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

User Interface

Consists of two user interfaces:

ATC Interface

Numerous workstations

Dispatch InterfaceSoftware basedAvailable for installation on any

given work station in the airport computer network infrastructure

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

Cockpit Display

Principal Component receiving PATS information

The cockpit display will offer both audible and visual identificationsThe display will offer the following information to operating individualsReal-time

vehicle position on the airfield

Position of other aircraft

Progressive taxiing tracks

Text based taxi

instructions

Full taxiway and airport

diagram

Airfield Hotspots

Potential incursions

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

Four Operating Components

ASDE-X

Hardware

Software

System Communica

tion Structure

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

Software

• Offers programming teams no strenuous roadblocks• Ideals and theories seen in many other traffic management

systems• Unavoidable bug stage of the software implementation• Within the first six months of operating

• The number of bugs present will be at an unacceptable amount for full-automation

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

Four Operating Components

ASDE-X

Hardware

Software

System Communica

tion Structure

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

System Communication

StructureThree Communication Medium

Formats

Push-Pull

Flow of informatio

n from both

components, two-

way communic

ation

Pull

Flow of information from the

one componen

t to another through

the request of

the “pulling”

component

Push

The “pushing” component will send information to the

receiving component when it deems it

necessary

The following mediums of communications exist in the PATS communication structure.

Computer to UserComputer to Computer

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

PATSSOLUTION - COMPONENTS

Aircraft A has deviated

off its taxi course

Approaching runway 1.

Air traffic control is

trying to alert aircraft A

Aircraft A is not

responding.

Aircraft A is crossing runway 1

Aircraft B, equipped with

the PATS system

Aircraft B on Short Final

for runway 1.

PATS system alerts aircraft B and ATC of an aircraft on the runway

and provides an accurate image of the aircraft, including the aircrafts

location in distance and height, and information informing the pilot of their distance from the runway.

After an alert is issued, the pilot/ATC will be

able to then make an accurate judgment of

the situation.

PATSSCENARIO 1

Dispatcher A has input flight and

aircraft information to PATS for Aircraft A

Aircraft A has requested to taxi to active runway

PATS decides which runway is active based

on weather station information and other

aircraft present

Aircraft B has just landed on the active runway

PATS will decide the most efficient route for

aircraft A & B with consideration to the

other

PATS knows Aircraft B’s destination from its initial dispatcher

input information at its departure location

PATS actively and progressively

monitors the taxi routes of both aircraft

as they taxi

Aircraft B is taxiing faster than PATS

initially calculated and a taxiing conflict is

possible

PATS reassigns new taxi instructions to both air craft that

eliminate the chance of any collision

PATSSCENARIO 2

Risk was assessed for three types of airport

Factors involved Traffic

density/type Size Complexity ATC presence

PATSRISK ASSESSMENT

Largest and busiest airports High traffic volume Large, complex environment Busy ATC personnel Potentially high impact of incidents

Unacceptable risk level Prime candidates for PATS

PATSSAFETY RISK - CLASS B

Medium-sized airports Moderate traffic volume Complex environment

Risk level is acceptable with mitigation

PATSSAFETY RISK - CLASS C

Smaller airports Varying traffic volumes Relatively simple environment Few ATC personnel

Acceptable risk level

PATSSAFETY RISK - CLASS D

We interviewed two professionals with industry experience Joel Feigum, Software Engineer

Software design process Time and costs of development

Chad Nelson, Air Traffic Controller Causes of runway incursions Suitable environments/potential impact of

PATS

PATSINDUSTRY EXPERTS

Software design and testing Identify requirements Software coding Testing phase

Hardware design and testing Must be small, lightweight, simple to use

PATSIMPLEMENTATION

Will address FAA’s goals for runway incursions Maximize information available to

operators Increase situational awareness Decreased frequency congestion

Minimal impact to ATC and procedures

PATSIMPACTS

Estimated development and hardware costs Initial design: $1,300,000 Hardware development: $1,000,000 Formal qualification: $200,000

PATSCOST ANALYSIS

Components: Aircraft-Specific

PATS indicator and receiver: $5,000 Installation/maintenance: $500

Airport-Specific Servers: $15,000 Networking: $2,000 PATS software: $5,000 Radio Transmitter (2): $10,000 Installation: $20,000 Maintenance: $10,000

PATSCOST ANALYSIS

PATSIN SUMMARY

The PATS system:

Will provide an accurate picture of the approaching environment

Will provide airport information (dimensions)

Will alert the pilot of any potential approaching problem

Will increase situational awareness for both ATC and Pilots

Will reduce the chance of an incident/accident

PATS will determine taxi routes that are far more efficient than human controller’s routes

THANK YOU

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS