Mode S system design and architecture

Article Abstract:

The Model Select Beacon System (Mode S) secondary surveillance radar system for the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS) uses selective interrogation and monopulse processing to improve aircraft surveillance. Mode S also provides the data link communications required to control dense air traffic. The simple two-pulse interrogations used now in ATCRBS provide limited surveillance of closely spaced aircraft, gives inaccurate azimuths, suffers from signal interference and offers limited aircraft identification. Mode S uses selective addressing to overcome problems associated with synchronous garble: aircraft vertically spaced communicate with the control system via interrogations scheduled by Mode S to occur when there will be no interference. The monopulse signal processing technique determines aircraft azimuth using an antenna with multiple patterns: sum beams and difference beams.

Systems analysis, Industrial research, Telecommunications systems, Radar, Research and Development, System Design, Radio Communication, Radar Systems

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Workforce considerations: maintenance of the future ATC system

Article Abstract:

The US Federal Aviation Administration National Airspace System (NAS) plan is intended to allow the US air traffic control (ATC) system to handle the growing number of flights in US airspace and improve the productivity and job satisfaction of the people who use and maintain the system. The FAA implemented the Remote Maintenance Monitoring Subsystem (RMMS) in the NAS plan to update system maintenance, and the Maintenance Control Centers (MCCs) added to the plan in 1984 were intended to provide centralized maintenance and control facilities. Both are expected to allow consolidation of field maintenance work centers. The 'Work Center Consolidation Model' automated modeling tool is described, and the methodology used to validate a 'node substitution' algorithm is discussed. The model is now being used by FAA field managers for personnel consolidation planning.

Management, Human resource management, Tracking systems (Navigation), Automation, Maintenance, Facilities management, Efficiency, Facility Management, Personnel Management, Enhancements, Tracking Systems

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Applications of simulation and artificial intelligence technology for ATC training

Article Abstract:

Air traffic control (ATC) simulators have been limited by equipment and software to date, but if it were possible to introduce the learning and experience picked up in working on real-life ATC systems into a simulator, a self-paced individual training environment could be developed. The National Airspace System (NAS) Plan envisions such a multilevel control and communications environment for ATC training. The use of artificial intelligence techniques to improve ATC training, as well as to enhance safety, capacity, resource limitations and traffic system efficiency in a real-time environment, is discussed. The intelligent adaptive trainer device learns a task and then trains a human to perform the task; the device could be based on neural or connectionists networks. Several other new approaches to controller training are examined.

Training, Artificial intelligence, Expert systems, Applications, Simulation, Controllers

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