Conflict detection and resolution using predicted aircraft trajectories

摘要

A method of detecting conflicts between aircraft passing through managed airspace, and to resolving the detected conflicts strategically. Air traffic control apparatus arranged to manage airspace through which aircraft are flying is provided that comprises processing means configured to receive aircraft intent data describing an aircraft's intended flight path, to launch a conflict detection procedure in which it computes a user-preferred trajectory for each of the aircraft based on the aircraft intent and determines whether any conflicts will arise, to launch a conflict resolution procedure in which it calculates revisions of the aircraft intent of the conflicted aircraft to remove the conflicts, and to transmit to the aircraft the revised aircraft intent data.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method of managing airspace through which a plurality of aircraft are flying, comprising:
receiving, from the aircraft, user preferred aircraft intent data that unambiguously defines the user preferred trajectory of each aircraft; calling an initial conflict detection procedure comprising:
calculating a corresponding user preferred trajectories from the user preferred aircraft intent data; andcomparing the user preferred trajectories so as to identify one or more conflicts between trajectories and to identify conflicted aircraft predicted to fly an identified conflicting trajectories; calling an initial conflict resolution procedure comprising:
revising the user preferred aircraft intent data of one or more of the conflicted aircraft to produce revised aircraft intent data that will unambiguously define a corresponding revised trajectory; and sending the revised aircraft intent data to the corresponding conflicted aircraft.