Digital Twin Simulator for National Airspace System Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The National Airspace System (NAS) faces challenges in efficiently testing and validating changes and new technologies due to the complexity and size of its systems, leading to a time-consuming and costly iterative process that delays the implementation of improvements and safety measures.
Innovation Solution
A digital twin simulator is developed to operate with live and historical NAS data, using a central testbed, component manager, and simulation manager, with a dedicated API for communication, allowing for simulations with mixed actual and simulated data to compare results and extrapolate behavior over time, facilitating the integration of new elements and validation of autonomous systems without impacting live operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional testing methods with synthetic data are used to validate NAS changes, then system safety can be maintained, but the testing process becomes time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital twin - a virtual copy of the NAS system that replicates real system behavior using historical and live data. This copy allows testing of proposed changes without affecting the actual NAS, enabling faster validation while maintaining safety through realistic simulation rather than synthetic data
Solution Approach 2:
The digital twin is populated with historical NAS data in advance, creating a pre-configured testing environment. This preliminary preparation allows immediate testing of changes without needing to set up synthetic scenarios, reducing testing time while preserving real system characteristics
2Reliability
If iterative testing is performed to validate new features before NAS integration, then implementation safety is ensured, but the implementation timeline is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
By using a digital twin copy of the NAS system, new features can be extensively tested in a realistic environment before deployment. The copy provides authentic system behavior without the risks to live operations, enabling faster iteration cycles while maintaining safety through virtual validation
Solution Approach 2:
The digital twin can dynamically update with live NAS data, allowing testing conditions to evolve and reflect current system states. This dynamic capability enables more comprehensive validation in less time compared to static synthetic testing environments
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive NAS simulations are developed to test system changes, then testing accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than building complex simulation models from scratch, the patent creates a digital twin that copies existing NAS system data and behavior patterns. This approach achieves high testing accuracy by replicating real system characteristics without the complexity of developing accurate simulation models
Data Source
AI summary
System and methods for a digital twin simulator according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a source of actual National Airspace System data, a testbed, a set of interfaces containing instructions on how to process archived data, a set of external components for processing the archived data according to the interfaces, and a simulator. The testbed receives archived National Airspace System data during a test and feeds the data to the external components. Processed results are forwarded to the simulator to run a simulation. The digital twin simulator may then compare differences between the simulated results and the archived National Airspace System data.