Runway Clearance Cross-Check for Accurate Active Runway Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to accurately determine whether a vehicle is active on a clear runway without obstructions, leading to potential collisions during departure procedures due to inaccuracies in runway identification based on state vectors and airport maps.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a clearance received from a traffic control system to confirm the active runway by cross-checking with a vehicle's state vector and airport database, ensuring accuracy by prioritizing the clearance data over map data in case of discrepancies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If runway identification is based on state vector and airport map, then the system can determine vehicle position, but accuracy is reduced due to potential ambiguities in runway identification
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by comparing the runway identified from state vector and airport map with the runway specified in traffic control clearance. This cross-validation feedback mechanism identifies and corrects ambiguities, ensuring accurate runway determination by verifying against an external authoritative source (traffic control clearance).
Solution Approach 2:
Traffic control clearance serves as an intermediary element that mediates between the vehicle's self-determined position (from state vector and map) and the actual active runway. The clearance provides an authoritative reference that resolves ambiguities in runway identification by acting as a trusted third-party verification source.
2Reliability
If the system uses only state vector and airport map for runway determination, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of collision avoidance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The traffic control clearance, originally serving communication functions between air traffic control and vehicles, is repurposed to also serve as a runway verification source for collision avoidance. This multi-functionality approach increases reliability without requiring separate dedicated hardware systems, as the existing clearance communication infrastructure is utilized for dual purposes.
3Measurement precision
If the system prioritizes clearance data over map data, then runway determination accuracy is improved, but loss of information from map data occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of the active runway using state vector and airport map data before final confirmation via traffic control clearance. This preliminary action allows the map data to be utilized for initial assessment and context, while the clearance provides final authoritative verification, thus preserving map data utility without compromising accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
In some examples, a system includes a memory configured to store a database comprising a map of a plurality of runways in an aerodrome and a receiver configured to receive a clearance for a vehicle from a traffic control system. The system also includes processing circuitry determine that the vehicle is active on a first runway of the plurality of runways based on a state vector for the vehicle and based on the map of the plurality of runways. The processing circuitry is also configured to determine that the vehicle is active on a second runway of the plurality of runways based on the received clearance. The processing circuitry is further configured to confirm whether the first runway matches the second runway and present, via a display, an indication that the vehicle is active on the first runway in response to confirming that the first runway matches the second runway.