Composite Air Traffic Surveillance Data Compositing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air traffic control systems face challenges in maintaining safe and efficient air traffic separation in remote airspace, where ground-based radio surveillance is limited, leading to larger procedural separation distances and reduced capacity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for combining air traffic surveillance data from multiple aircraft using radio surveillance messages, such as ADS-B, to create a composite data set that can be transmitted to aircraft and ground stations, enabling more precise situational awareness and reducing separation distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ground-based radio surveillance is used in remote airspace, then air traffic safety can be maintained, but the separation distance between aircraft must be significantly increased, reducing airspace capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines surveillance data from multiple aircraft into a composite data set that provides collective situational awareness. By merging individual aircraft surveillance capabilities with ground-based radar data, the system achieves comprehensive air traffic monitoring in remote airspace without requiring increased separation distances, thus maintaining safety while preserving airspace capacity.
2Ease of operation
If procedural separation standards are applied in remote airspace, then air traffic can be managed without ground-based surveillance, but separation distances must be significantly increased, reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where aircraft continuously broadcast their position and status information via data link systems, and this information is combined with ground-based radar surveillance data. The composite surveillance data set provides real-time feedback on air traffic conditions, enabling air traffic control to manage remote airspace efficiently with reduced separation standards, thereby improving flight efficiency while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one example, a method for combining radio surveillance data includes receiving air traffic surveillance data from one or more aircraft via one or more remotely operable data link systems. The method further includes combining the air traffic surveillance data from the one or more aircraft into a composite air traffic surveillance data set. The air traffic surveillance data is based at least in part on radio surveillance messages received by the one or more aircraft from additional aircraft.