Autonomous System for Air Traffic Control in Terminal Airspace

Abstract

In this article we present recent work towards the development of an autonomous system that performs conflict resolution and arrival scheduling for aircraft in the terminal airspace around an airport. An autonomous air traffic control system is defined as a system that can safely solve the major traffic management problems currently handled by human controllers. It has the potential to handle higher traffic levels and a mix of conventional and unmanned aerial vehicles with reduced dependency on controllers. The main objective of this paper is to describe the fundamental trajectory algorithms that must be incorporated in such a system. These algorithms generate arrival trajectories that are free of conflicts with other traffic, and meet scheduled times of arrival for landing with specified in-trail spacings. The maneuvers the system employs to resolve separation and spacing conflicts include speed control, horizontal maneuvers, and altitude changes. Furthermore, the system can reassign arrival aircraft to a different runway in order to reduce delays. Examples of problems solved and performance statistics from a fast-time simulation using simulated traffic of arrivals and departures at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport are also provided.