Algorithms for Control of Arrival and Departure Traffic in Terminal Airspace

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence
• Operations Research

Background:

• Current air traffic management in terminal areas relies heavily on manual control, limiting capacity and efficiency.
• Increasing air traffic complexity, including the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles, necessitates advanced automation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present algorithms for an autonomous ground-based system for terminal area air traffic management.
• To enable conflict resolution, arrival scheduling, and convective weather avoidance with high autonomy.

Main Methods:

• Development of fundamental trajectory and scheduling algorithms.
• Integration of speed, horizontal path, and altitude maneuver generation for conflict resolution.
• Implementation of a runway reassignment method to mitigate delays.

Main Results:

• Algorithms generate conflict-free trajectories for arrivals and departures in complex terminal airspace.
• Demonstrated ability to avoid convective weather and maintain scheduled landing times with in-trail spacing.
• Simulations at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field show system performance.

Conclusions:

• The proposed autonomous system provides a foundation for future air traffic management in terminal areas.
• The algorithms effectively handle aircraft conflicts, weather, and scheduling, paving the way for increased air traffic capacity.
• Autonomous systems offer a viable solution for managing mixed traffic including conventional and unmanned aerial vehicles.