Air Conflict Resolution Trajectory Selection for Controller Workload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air conflict resolution methods rely heavily on manual analysis by air traffic controllers, leading to increased workload and complexity, especially with rising air traffic, and lack automated tools for efficient and reliable conflict resolution proposals.
Innovation Solution
An automated method and device that analyze air conflict data to determine conflict categories, relevance, and propose optimal resolution trajectories considering operational constraints and flight plan management, providing a single, reliable, and operationally relevant solution without creating new conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated conflict resolution tools are implemented, then controller workload is reduced and productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated conflict resolution system is divided into distinct functional modules: conflict detection unit, conflict categorization unit, resolution proposal unit, and validation unit. Each module handles a specific aspect of the conflict resolution process, making the overall complex system manageable through functional segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an automated resolution proposal system as an intermediary between conflict detection and controller decision-making. This intermediary automatically generates and validates resolution proposals, reducing the cognitive burden on controllers while maintaining systematic complexity management.
2Reliability
If multiple resolution proposals are generated, then solution reliability increases, but controller workload increases due to analysis complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation of resolution proposals by checking them against flight plan management system constraints before presenting them to the controller. This preliminary action ensures that only viable, pre-validated solutions are analyzed by the controller, reducing workload while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where resolution proposals are automatically validated and tested for conflicts with other aircraft. This feedback loop ensures that only reliable, conflict-free proposals are presented to the controller, improving reliability without increasing analysis complexity.
3Ease of operation
If automated resolution proposals are provided, then ease of operation improves, but measurement precision requirements increase for conflict detection
Solution Approach 1:
The conflict detection system performs preliminary classification of conflicts into categories (e.g., head-on, converging, trailing) with associated precision requirements. This preliminary action allows the system to apply appropriate measurement precision thresholds for each conflict type, improving ease of operation while maintaining necessary detection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for automatically proposing an air conflict resolution, the method includes a step of receiving air conflict and air situation data at a time when an air conflict is detected, the method comprising the steps of: determining a conflict category associated with the detected air conflict based on the conflict data; determining a degree of relevance in proposing a resolution to the air conflict according to the category and the air situation; determining one or more types of resolution to be applied to resolve the detected air conflict according to the degree of relevance; determining set of alternative trajectories corresponding to the one or more types of resolution; determining a set of candidate trajectories from among the set of alternative trajectories, a candidate trajectory being an alternative trajectory which does not generate an air conflict; selecting, from among the candidate trajectories, a candidate trajectory which fulfills a selection criterion relating to the operational relevance of the candidate trajectories and to the acceptability of the candidate trajectories by the flight plan management system; returning the candidate trajectory, the candidate trajectory being saved and re-evaluated as long as it does not generate an air conflict or has not been accepted by an air traffic controller.