Distributed Traffic Complexity Management by Preserving Trajectory Flexibility

In order to handle the expected increase in air traffic volume, the next generation air transportation system is moving towards a distributed control architecture, in which groundbased service providers such as controllers and traffic managers and air-based users such as pilots share responsibility for aircraft trajectory generation and management. This paper presents preliminary research investigating a distributed trajectory-oriented approach to manage traffic complexity, based on preserving trajectory flexibility. The underlying hypotheses are that preserving trajectory flexibility autonomously by aircraft naturally achieves the aggregate objective of avoiding excessive traffic complexity, and that trajectory flexibility is increased by collaboratively minimizing trajectory constraints without jeopardizing the intended air traffic management objectives. This paper presents an analytical framework in which flexibility is defined in terms of robustness and adaptability to disturbances and preliminary metrics are proposed that can be used to preserve trajectory flexibility. The hypothesized impacts are illustrated through analyzing a trajectory solution space in a simple scenario with only speed as a degree of freedom, and in constraint situations involving meeting multiple times of arrival and resolving conflicts.

• Corporate Authors:

  L-3 Communications Corporation

  ,    

  Ames Research Center

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  Moffett Field, CA  United States  94035
• Authors:
  • Idris, H
  • Vivona, R A
  • Garcia-Chico, J L
  • Wang, D J
• Conference:
  • 26th Digital Avionics Systems Conference
  • Location: Dallas TX, United States
  • Date: 2007-10-21 to 2007-10-25
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: 12p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Air transportation; Aircraft; Approach control; Degrees of freedom; Flight paths; Trajectory control
• Uncontrolled Terms: Systems integration
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01111215
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: WBS 411931.01.11.01.01.03
• Contract Numbers: NNA07BA86C
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 24 2008 10:39AM