Dynamic Quality Parameter Adjustment in ADS-B Surveillance Messages
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The low deployment of automatic-dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) Out capability in general aviation and rotorcraft, as well as drones and air taxis, is due to the high cost of certified equipment, resulting in low-quality surveillance messages that are not usable by safety-critical applications.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a transceiver and processing circuitry to transmit surveillance messages with initial quality parameters, which are then adjusted based on reply messages from navigation systems, allowing for increased quality parameters to meet higher integrity or accuracy levels, enabling the use of inexpensive GNSS receivers and reducing certification requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If low-cost GNSS receivers are used in surveillance systems, then equipment cost is reduced, but the quality parameter indicating integrity or accuracy level is insufficient for safety-critical applications
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits surveillance messages with initial quality parameters and receives reply messages from receiving vehicles. Based on feedback from these reply messages, the system determines whether to increase the quality parameter values. This feedback loop enables low-cost equipment to achieve higher quality ratings through external verification rather than expensive certified hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification mechanism where receiving vehicles act as mediators to verify the actual performance of transmitted surveillance data. Instead of relying solely on expensive certified equipment, the system uses reply messages from receiving vehicles as intermediary validation to justify increased quality parameter values
2Measurement precision
If high quality parameters are set in surveillance messages to meet safety-critical application requirements, then measurement precision is improved, but the deployment cost increases due to certified equipment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the quality parameter values in surveillance messages based on performance verification. Instead of requiring expensive certified equipment to achieve high quality parameters, the system adjusts these parameters upward when reply messages confirm that the actual surveillance data meets required standards, allowing parameter flexibility without hardware upgrades
3Device complexity
If surveillance messages transmit low quality parameter values to reflect actual equipment capabilities, then device complexity is reduced, but the usability of surveillance data in safety-critical applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The quality parameters in surveillance messages transition from static values determined by equipment certification to dynamic values that adjust based on actual performance verification. The system starts with lower quality parameters reflecting unverified equipment, then increases these parameters dynamically when reply messages confirm satisfactory performance, enabling adaptability without increased device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a system that mounts on a vehicle includes a transceiver configured to transmit a first surveillance message including a first value for a quality parameter, wherein the first value indicates a first level of integrity or accuracy for the first surveillance message. The transceiver is also configured to receive a reply message to the first surveillance message. The system also includes processing circuitry configured to determine a second value for the quality parameter in response to the transceiver receiving the reply message, wherein the second quality parameter indicates a second level of integrity or accuracy for surveillance messages transmitted by the transceiver, and wherein the second level of integrity or accuracy is higher than the first level. The transceiver is configured to transmit a second surveillance message including the second value for the quality parameter in response to the processing circuitry determining the second quality parameter.