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Concept formulation studies of the surveillance apects of the fourth generation air traffic control system

Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-7

Summary

This report presents a first order feasibility study of four particular candidate surveillance systems for the fourth generation air traffic control system. No attempts has been made to compare these systems, rather we have chosen to examine in detail the most crucial aspects of each. This analysis has brought to light many of the features of these systems. These are detailed along with the research and development required to select the most attractive surveillance system.
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Summary

This report presents a first order feasibility study of four particular candidate surveillance systems for the fourth generation air traffic control system. No attempts has been made to compare these systems, rather we have chosen to examine in detail the most crucial aspects of each. This analysis has brought to...

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Concept formulation studies of the control aspects of the fourth generation air traffic control system, final report

Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-6

Summary

A concept formulation study of the control aspects of the fourth generation air traffic control system is presented. The results of this study are not strongly influenced by present-day equipment. They are influenced by certain aspects of present airspace utilization and procedures which appear necessary for the design of an effective system. The inputs to the control system design include the fourth generation air traffic demand, characteristics of fixed elements (types of aircraft, etc.), and disturbances such as weather effects. The control system which has been formulated includes flight plan generation, flow control, conformance monitoring, and collision avoidance as control functions. A baseline control system is given as a first iteration of the fourth generation system. The baseline system is defined by classifying types of airspace, conformance requirements, and required segregation of classes of flight paths. The airspace is divided into three categories: positive control air space containing only controlled aircraft, controlled (mixed) air space containing both controlled and cooperative aircraft, and uncontrolled airspace containing uncontrolled aircraft. Cooperative aircraft must be able to accept IPC co-ands as well as simplified flight plans when flying in high density retied air space. The surveillance, navigation, and communications systems complete the interacting parts of the control system. Candidate fourth generation system concepts ranging from the completely tactical to the highly strategic have been described both in this report and elsewhere. In order to characterize a proposed concept we have drawn up a list of decisions which we find must be made in the course of a flight. We then consider where these decisions are made and thereby characterize the system. The feasibility of generating conflict free flight plans is investigated with the aid of analytical models. A consideration of the factors which influence the flight planning process is presented. Use is made of a generally accepted traffic density model for the 1995 time period. The expected number of conflicts for selected routes and the distances required to resolve conflicts are evaluated. The use of aircraft performance characteristics in evaluating the effectiveness of conflict resolution maneuvers is discussed. The level of conformance necessary for conflict free flight plans is determined for each maneuver. For cases in which the required conformance was unrealistically high, it was determined that providing velocity structure in high density airspace permitted a decrease in conformance requirements. Factors which directly influence the capability of aircraft to conform to flight plans in a strategic system as well as the relevant technology areas peculiar to the implementation of conflict free flight plans are considered. The conclusions reached during this study are followed by recommendations for future work in specific areas.
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Summary

A concept formulation study of the control aspects of the fourth generation air traffic control system is presented. The results of this study are not strongly influenced by present-day equipment. They are influenced by certain aspects of present airspace utilization and procedures which appear necessary for the design of an...

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Technical development plan for a discrete address beacon system, vol. II [draft]

Author:
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-4-II

Summary

The Technical Development Plan for a Discrete Address Beacon System is published in two volumes. Volume I is the basic plan, while this volume (Volume II) contains a more detailed description of the 46 tasks recommended for accomplishment during Phase 1 of the development cycle. It also includes cost estimates for each task.
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Summary

The Technical Development Plan for a Discrete Address Beacon System is published in two volumes. Volume I is the basic plan, while this volume (Volume II) contains a more detailed description of the 46 tasks recommended for accomplishment during Phase 1 of the development cycle. It also includes cost estimates...

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Technical development plan for a discrete address beacon system, vol. I [draft]

Author:
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-4-I

Summary

The requirement for a Discrete Address Beacon System (DABS) was highlighted by the Department of Transportation Air Traffic Control Advisory Committee to provide improved surveillance and ground-air communications in support of air traffic control automation. This document presents a technical development plan for such a system; this plan was developed in close colaboration with FAA personnel in the Office of System Engineering Management and the Systems Research and Development Service. The DABS Technical Development Plan identifies the critical issues and technical options, presents a program for their resolution, followed by the development and test of a feasibility model of the system, and suggests a management structure to coordinate and carry out the many tasks involved in the implementation of the plan.
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Summary

The requirement for a Discrete Address Beacon System (DABS) was highlighted by the Department of Transportation Air Traffic Control Advisory Committee to provide improved surveillance and ground-air communications in support of air traffic control automation. This document presents a technical development plan for such a system; this plan was developed...

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A laser system for detecting shipping in the approach zone at Logan Airport

Published in:
Project Report ATC-1, MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Summary

Runway 4-R at Logan Airport cannot now be used with full effectiveness because of tall ships passing through the runway's approach clearance zone. The key to utilizing the full length of Runway 4-R at Logan Airport for longer periods of time is to establish a channel surveillance system that would allow both ships and aircraft to safely share the air space above the channel. A laser-gate alarm system across the channel, at the approaches to the clearance zone, has been proposed for alerting tower operators to the passage of tall ships. A surface detection (ASDE) radar would maintain surveillance during passage of the ship. This ship detection concept was explored and developed within Lincoln Laboratory with cooperation and encouragement from MASSPORT and members of the FAA Burlington office. This report completes the study and field measurements program, sponsored by MASSPORT, for the evaluation of an experimental laser-gate ship-detection system. The study and field Measurements program supports the conclusion that a reliable, fail-safe, laser-gate system can be designed, installed and operated to detect ships entering the clearance zone of Runway 4-R. System feasibility has been established for visual meteorological conditions both day and night. Ship masts of 1-inch diameter at speeds up to 15 knots can be reliably detected under visual meteorological conditions for laser-path-lengths up to 3000 feet. An operational system can be de signed for visibility ranges down to 1/4 mile with laser path lengths of 1800 feet and with the expectation that performance would be substantially the same. The system design is amenable to various balance s between mast-height margin, VFR runway length and displaced threshold duty factor. In the recommended system, the laser-gates may be placed at a height of about 45 feet, which will detect ships tall enough to intrude the clearance zone, while allowing small craft to pass without alarm. This configuration would permit full use of the 10,000-foot runway, while providing an 11- to 21-foot margin for narrow objects which might be less than one-inch wide at the laser-gate height. Analysis of ship traffic indicates that the use of a laser-gate system at the 40- to 50-foot height under nighttime visual meteorological conditions would permit the full-length use of Runway 4-R throughout the night except for the times of passage of 4 to 7 ships on the average. During the early nighttime hours having the heaviest nighttime air traffic, less than one ship alarm would be expected on the average. Operational system design relations are presented which permit a spectrum of design options. False alarms would be at a negligible level in a multiple-parallel-beam operational system and an infrequent false alarm could be checked with the ASDE radar. Recommendations are made for a program which would lead to an operational laser-gate ship-detection system fully integrated with airport facilities and activities. This program would initially involve the design and installation of one prototype laser-gate, which would be integrated with the airport surface detection radar to establish optimum system configuration, develop operational procedures, and to test more extensively the reliability and fail-safe features of the surveillance system. Upon satisfactory completion of the tests and studies, the prototype could be used as one element of an operational system. This report contains in Appendix B engineering guidelines for the recommended prototype laser-gate system.
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Summary

Runway 4-R at Logan Airport cannot now be used with full effectiveness because of tall ships passing through the runway's approach clearance zone. The key to utilizing the full length of Runway 4-R at Logan Airport for longer periods of time is to establish a channel surveillance system that would...

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Transponder Test Program Plan

Published in:
Project Report ATC-3, MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Summary

Released to sponsor only
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Summary

Released to sponsor only

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Concept formulation studies of the control aspects of the fourth generation air traffic control system, interim report

Published in:
Project Report ATC-2, MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Summary

To develop plans for a viable ATC system over the next 25 years a whole spectrum of studies can be conducted, each concerned with a different time frame. The spectrum, when laid out over time, is bracketed by two extreme cases. 1. One extreme is analysis of the present ATC system to identify its shortcomings, followed by synthesis studies to identify evolutionary ways of overcoming these shortcomings. 2. At the other extreme one can study the ATC system sufficiently far into the future that decisions need not be constrained by existing equipment, airspace utilization and procedures. Between these two extremes are other studies concerned with developing plans for intermediate time frames. To be effective, study (1) must be done immediately. Study (2) should precede many of the studies for intermediate time frames since the results of study (2) should be available to influence what is done in intervening periods. In this report we view the Fourth Generation Concept Formulation Study as study (2). Thus the results are not strongly influenced by present day equipment and are influenced by present airspace utilization and procedures only where they appear to be as good or better than other ways of operating the system. The ATC system is designed to fulfill certain needs of the nation. To satisfy those needs the ATC system must achieve specific objectives. The major objective of the system is to provide safe, expeditious flow of air traffic at reasonable cost. It is generally accepted that to achieve this objective certain functions in the area of surveillance, navigation, and communication must be performed and that considerable data processing in the ATC system is required. The examination of ways of achieving various performance levels of these functions is the subject of concept formulation in -- the areas of surveillance, navigation, communication and data processing. Given that the surveillance, communication, and navigation functions are performed, there are other functions which are required in order to achieve the objectives of the ATC system. These functions, which include flow control, metering, sequencing, spacing, conformance and hazard monitoring, and conflict and hazard resolution make up the control aspects of the ATC system. In terms of the operation of the ATC system the surveillance, communication and navigation functions must be performed if the control functions are to be performed. In terms of the design of the system, however, the surveillance, communication, and navigation functions cannot be specified in detail until the required control functions are determined in detail. Thus, studies in the control area must be performed in a timely manner in order to insure that studies in the other areas will be conducted at a high level of efficiency. Control studies seek to determine the detailed characteristics of the functions which will be performed to achieve the objectives of the ATC system.
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Summary

To develop plans for a viable ATC system over the next 25 years a whole spectrum of studies can be conducted, each concerned with a different time frame. The spectrum, when laid out over time, is bracketed by two extreme cases. 1. One extreme is analysis of the present ATC...

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An airborne traffic situation display system

Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report TN-1971-19

Summary

An airborne traffic situation display system which could be used as an adjunct to the evolving National Airspace System/Automatic Radar Control Terminal System (NAS/ARTS) is described. In the proposed system, a contemporary realization of an old concept, the NAS/ARTS data are broadcast. A small digital computer in an aircraft then selects from the message stream the data on its own aircraft, nearby aircraft, and a local map. These data, plus aircraft heading data from a directional gyro, are used to generate a situation display that can be aircraft-centered and heading-oriented.
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Summary

An airborne traffic situation display system which could be used as an adjunct to the evolving National Airspace System/Automatic Radar Control Terminal System (NAS/ARTS) is described. In the proposed system, a contemporary realization of an old concept, the NAS/ARTS data are broadcast. A small digital computer in an aircraft then...

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Propagation phenomena affecting satellite communications systems operating in the centimeter and millimeter wavelength bands

Author:
Published in:
Proc. IEEE, Vol. 59, No. 2, February 1971, pp. 173-188.

Summary

The theories describing the effects of the troposphere on satellite communication systems operating in the microwave region are reviewed. The results of computations based upon the theories and atmospheric models are presented and compared with available experimental data. From the model computations it is seen that rain causes the major propagation problems for the frequency bands allocated to or proposed for allocation to the satellite communications service. Two effects are dominant: attenuation due to rainfall along the line-of-sight and interference between two systems operating at the same frequency and beyond each other's radio horizon due to rain scatter. The methods for calculating the magnitude of the effects of rain given the spatial distribution of rainfall intensity are available. The statistical data required for the prediction of the spatial distribution of rainfall intensity are not available.
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Summary

The theories describing the effects of the troposphere on satellite communication systems operating in the microwave region are reviewed. The results of computations based upon the theories and atmospheric models are presented and compared with available experimental data. From the model computations it is seen that rain causes the major...

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Radar meteorological applications of automatic film reading

Author:
Published in:
Opt. Eng., Vol. 9, No. 2, January 1971, 090246.

Summary

The data recording of storm information as detected by a weather radar has been customarily made on photographic film. Research radars and an occasional U. S. Weather Bureau radar are fitted with scope cameras to record the radar plan position indicator (PPI) display. Over the past 15 years a large sample of weather radar data has been accumulated in this fashion. The photographic technique provides an easy, quick, and inexpensive way to record weather radar data. The major drawback of this technique is data reduction. Information on storm shape, size, and intensity is normally extracted from the photographic images by hand. This means that only the most interesting aspects of individual storms are analyzed and the vast majority of the collected radar data is not analyzed. A vast amount of climatological information could be obtained from the existing store of weather radar data if an automatic technique of data retrieval were available. The first part of this report describes the use of a computer-controlled programmable film reader to process weather radar PPI photographs to obtain digital maps of rainfall intensity for use in climatological studies.
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Summary

The data recording of storm information as detected by a weather radar has been customarily made on photographic film. Research radars and an occasional U. S. Weather Bureau radar are fitted with scope cameras to record the radar plan position indicator (PPI) display. Over the past 15 years a large...

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