ATCoach Air Traffic Control Simulator

Transcription

1 A ATCoach TCoach is an advanced, multi-purpose, real-time system from UFA. In a single package, ATCoach provides functionality for both stand-alone and embedded simulation environments that support a wide range of end-user applications. The core ATCoach functionality for aircraft and weather modeling, simulation monitor control, and Pseudo Pilot interfaces is common between the two modes. In stand-alone mode, ATCoach supports the functionality needed to conduct multiple exercise training or research simulation sessions without the need for external automation functions. In embedded mode, ATCoach supports the generation of data needed to supply automation systems with surveillance, weather, and flight data. The mode, whether embedded or stand-alone, is selected prior to runtime. To enhance flexibility, ATCoach provides documentation of data and control messaging interfaces and a Data and Command Server API that allows non-ufa applications to be integrated easily with the ATCoach simulation applications. An optional speaker-independent Voice Recognition and Response capability ATVoice is available to reduce the number of personnel required to conduct simulation sessions. Many UFA customers have developed applications ranging from interface units that exchange messages with Operational Systems to Pseudo Pilot User Interfaces and Controller Display Software. ATCoach Overview The components of ATCoach can be distributed across several platforms and communicate over a local area network, or can be combined in various combinations including single workstation configurations. The ATCoach product is built upon industry and de-facto standards such as Linux/Unix, TCP/IP, X Window and OSF/Motif and Java. The ATCoach architecture divides functionality as either Air-side (aircraft) or Ground-side (automation system or automation system components). This division allows for deviations between the actual aircraft navigation and the ground-side view of the air situation. The user can adapt ATCoach to meet his simulation environment requirements by selecting which of the Core, Embedded, and Stand-Alone ATCoach components to activate at runtime. The Core components include capabilities to setup, monitor and control simulation exercises, and model and influence the air traffic and weather situation. The Embedded components include processing to model radar and weather sensors and flight data processing for supporting message exchange between ATCoach and an Operational ATC System. 2003, 2010, 2012 UFA, INC. 1

2 The Stand-Alone components support standalone training by simulating radar data processing and flight data processing. In this mode, data and interaction with a Controller Working Position is provided without the need for an Operational System. Core Components The ATCoach Core Components include Data Preparation, Supervisor, Pseudo Pilots, Data Recording and Playback, Flight Profiler, and Weather Profiler. Data Preparation ATCoach uses ASCII text based exercise files to define simulation flight plans, airspace information and weather conditions. ATCoach also supports the import of Jeppesen data to facilitate the development of simulation airspace files. An ICAO Flight Plan Tool is available to import existing flight plans to simulation flight plans and a Preview capability is available to run exercises offline during exercise development. When integrated with an Operational System and in order to ensure consistency with the Operational System adaptation, UFA suggests the development of an Adaptation Export Filter. An Adaptation Export Filter is used to reformat the Operational System adaptation files to ATCoach format so that both systems utilize a common airspace definition. Supervisor The Supervisor position provides for setup and control of ATCoach. The Supervisor position consists of an exercise control interface for the setup and control of the exercise. This includes the control of the recording and playback capabilities. The position also incorporates a Pseudo Pilot interface, with the support of some additional commands available only to the Supervisor to control radar and weather. Pseudo Pilot The Pseudo Pilot position provides an interface to the user that allows monitoring and updates to simulated aircraft. The Pseudo Pilot position consists of a command display and situation display. The command display provides information for each flight under control of the pilot and aids in the input of commands. The graphical situation display provides graphical view of the aircraft including maps, navigational aids, airports and airways. The Pseudo Pilot position also supports commands to send ATS messages as if the user were acting as a controller in an adjacent facility. Data Recording and Playback The ATCoach Data Recording and Playback feature consists of record and replay facilities for two types of data. The first is record and replay of data generated during an exercise that is transmitted to the Operational System radar, flight plan and weather data. This data is recorded during an exercise and can be replayed. The second is the record and replay of an exercise including commands entered by the Pseudo Pilot and Supervisor. This is accomplished by first recording the Pseudo Pilot and Supervisor inputs during the original run of an exercise. These commands are formatted into pre-programmed events that can be selected for inclusion in a replay of the exercise files. Control of both record and replay facilities is performed at the Supervisor position. 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 UFA, Inc. 2

3 Flight Profiler The Flight Profiler is responsible for modeling aircraft based on the defined exercise flight plans, aircraft performance characteristics, definition of wind and weather conditions and changes input by the pilot during run time. The function is capable of managing all aircraft automatic navigation or allowing a user to manage aircraft piloted navigation. The navigation mode is defined in the exercise definition, but can be overridden globally or individually during the exercise. A comprehensive set of navigation and route commands are available for Pseudo Pilot input or as pre-programmed events for automated exercises. ATCoach supports the EUROCONTROL GAME/BADA model. The Flight Profiler is also responsible for generating several important messages including aircraft events (fix over-flights, conflicts, and aircraft maneuvers), aircraft 4D profiles, and cyclic aircraft position reports. These messages are broadcast on a local area network. Weather Profiler The Weather Profiler is responsible for managing the definition of wind and weather created during exercise preparation. ATCoach supports a multilayer wind model including the definition of wind speed and heading changes prior to or during an exercise. Stand-Alone Components The Stand-Alone Components are Displayable Track Generation, Expanded Flight Plan Generation and Displayable Weather Generation. The Stand-Alone Components utilize data provided by the Flight and Weather Profiler to model displayable track data. An advanced Flight Data Processing capability supports a range of ATC Automation capabilities. Displayable Track Data Generation ATCoach supports the generation of ASTERIX Data Category 0 & 3 Track Data. This message has sufficient information to allow display software to present a situation data display. Displayed data can be further enhanced using the large number of messages and information regarding aircraft state.. Simulation Subsystem ATCoach (Stand-Alone Mode) Supervisor Pseudo Pilot Flight Profiler Weather Profiler Displayable Track Generation Expanded Flight Plan Data Generation Displayable Weather Data Genaration Simulation Control & Clock Displayable Track Data Expanded Flight Plan Data Flight Plan Amendments Displayable Weather Data Timing & Control Display Subsystem Display Applications Radar Data Display Flight Data Display and Amendments Flight Strip Printing Information Support Expanded Flight Plan Generation This is a powerful flight plan data processing component that processes an ICAO Flight Plan to produce a detailed plan of the aircraft planned route through the airspace. ATCoach supports the definition of complex 3-dimensional airspace structures. The lowest level of constructor is a 3-d Airspace Block polygon. Fix Calculation Blocks (FCBs) are constructed from Airspace Blocks. These FCBs create sectors that finally create Facilities. The Expanded Flight Plan contains the planned trajectory including time/speed/altitude at fixes, abeam fix positions, FCB reference points and sector boundaries. A full suite of amendments are available during runtime that cause recalculation of a new Expanded Flight Plan to reflect changes in the flight. The Expanded Flight Plan Data Generation component further supports conformance monitoring that can automatically. 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 UFA, Inc. 3

4 Simulation Interface Unit ATCoach re-calculate an XFPL when the actual position of the simulated aircraft deviates an adaptable time from the planned estimates. Displayable Weather Data Generation The Displayable Weather Data Generation component provides precipitation data in a format that can be directly displayed with the aircraft situation. ATCoach supports moving and changing precipitation regions. Embedded Components The Embedded Components of ATCoach are Radar Data Generation, Flight Data Generation and Weather Data Generation. The Embedded Components utilize data provided by the Flight and Weather Profiler to model radar observations and the generation of flight and weather messages. Radar Data Generation Radar Data Generation supports the modeling of radar observations of the modeled aircraft in the exercise. Based on the characteristics of the radar defined during exercise preparation, the function models the observation of the simulated targets and weather, formats the data, and transmits the radar messages. The ATCoach product supports ASTERIX Data Categories 0, 1, 2 and 8; Mode S Data Categories 34 and 48; and ADS-B Data Category 21 format messages. Support for additional ASTERIX data categories is available. Flight Plan Data Generation The Flight Plan Data Generation function is responsible for supporting Flight Plan message exchange with the Automation System. The function acts as outside air traffic control facilities that exchange ATS and OLDI messages with the Automation System. A detailed review of the messaging supported by the Operational System is needed to determine if ATCoach supports the messages and logic required. If not, enhancements can easily be made to support system specific requirements.. Simulation Subsystem ATCoach (Embedded Mode) Supervisor Pseudo Pilot Flight Profiler Weather Profiler Radar Data Generation Flight Plan Data Generation Weather Data Genaration Simulation Control & Clock Radar Plot and Status Messages (ASTERIX Cat 1, 2 & 8 ATS Flight Plan Messages OLDI Messages Text Weeather Messages (METAR, etc.) Timing & Control Operational ATC System Radar Data Processing Flight Data Processing Recording and Playback Monitor and Control Controller Working Position Voice Communications Weather Data Generation The Weather Data Generation function is responsible for formatting and transmitting text weather messages based on the current weather conditions. ATCoach currently supports the generation of automatic METAR messages and a general text message capability. Typical ATCoach Configuration ATCoach s operating environments include PC Linux, Sun Solaris, and other Linux/Unix variants. For a single exercise environment one workstation server is used to host the Data Generation functions and Data Playback. One dual-monitor workstation is configured as a Supervisor position and hosts the Data Recording function , 2010, 2011, 2012 UFA, Inc. 4

5 One dual-monitor workstation is configured for each Pseudo Pilot position and it is suggested that one Pseudo Pilot be allocated to each Operational System Controller Working Position. If desired, additional Pseudo Pilot positions can be configured to act as Adjacent Controllers. A suitable Voice Communications system is required to provide Pseudo Pilot communications during an exercise. UFA suggests utilizing components of the existing Voice Communications infrastructure and contacting the manufacturer for the appropriate upgrades to support Simulation. UFA has successfully adapted ATVoice to non-us speakers of English. Customized speech models have been created for the following speakers of English: German, Danish, Australian, North American, New Zealanders, and Cantonese. Additional speech models are available upon request. One dedicated workstation (or more, depending on the interfaces) is also required to host the Simulation Interface Unit for connectivity to Operational System interfaces. For ease of maintenance, all workstations can be configured from standard Commercial Off-the- Shelf offerings. A single Ethernet Local Area Network is sufficient, but in some cases a second Local Area Network is used for Voice Communications. A single exercise configuration as described above can support exercises with 1500 defined aircraft, 400 active aircraft, eight radar sensors and a two-hour duration. Duration and load is limited by workstation resources so larger loads and longer exercises are possible with additional testing on the target hardware. Other ATCoach Capabilities The ATCoach product can support several optional features that are relevant to training and integration with an operational ATC System. Voice As an option with ATCoach, UFA offers a voice recognition product, ATVoice, for training and simulation. ATVoice is based on the BBN HARK speaker independent, continuous speech product. ATVoice alleviates Pseudo Pilot workload by converting Controller clearances to ATCoach Pseudo Pilot commands and generating an appropriate voice response. 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 UFA, Inc. 5

6 ATCoach as a Test Tool As a test and evaluation tool, ATCoach is integrated with Air Traffic Control functions, such as Radar Data Processing and Flight Data Processing Systems. ATCoach s role is to deliver simulated radar and flight plan data to the ATC Systems. In this way, ATCoach s role is similar to that as in the simulation environment. The goal in this environment is to quantitatively analyze and verify, with data of known characteristics, the functionality and performance of ATC functions. specific accuracy and response time requirements are met. Provide data for regression testing of new releases of software as they are accepted into integration and test or the system test environment. In each of these applications ATCoach is generally installed on a single hardware platform and used by System, Software and Test Engineers to perform testing and evaluation. The information presented below relating to the use of ATCoach as a test and evaluation tool is based on UFA s experience with its customers and may not be equally applicable to all customer environments. As a test and evaluation tool, ATCoach has been used in the following roles: Provide radar and flight data input for ATC function integration and test. In this role, the ATC function developers have used ATCoach to provide test data during internal integration and testing. This includes use by Software Engineers to test software components prior to delivery to integration and test. Provide radar and flight data input for ATC function system acceptance testing. In this role, the ATC function developers have used ATCoach to provide test data for verification of system requirements during the acceptance process. ATCoach is applied for the following types of requirement verification: System Performance and Capacity: Exercise files are developed to provide maximum stress workloads (number of targets, radar, messages, etc.) to the ATC functions. Functional Testing: Exercise files are developed so that ATC functions are activated and results visually or analytically verified. Functional Performance Testing: Exercise files are developed to provide known data input to the ATC functions. Results of processing are collected and analyzed to determine if 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 UFA, Inc. 6

7 ATPrepare Application for Exercise Preparation 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 UFA, Inc. 7

8 ATAnalysis Application for Analyzing Exercise Data 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 UFA, Inc. 8

9 ATSetup Application for Setup and Control of Lab and Simulations 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 UFA, Inc. 9

10 ATPilot Command and Data Display for Pseudo Pilots 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 UFA, Inc. 10

11 ATPilot Situation Data Display for Pseudo Pilots 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 UFA, Inc. 11

12 To obtain additional information or arrange for a demonstration please contact any of the following: UFA, Inc. 12 South Summit Avenue Suite 220 Gaithersburg, Maryland USA Mr. Rajiv J. Sood soodr@ufainc.com UFA, Inc. 80 Blanchard Road Suite 101 Burlington, Massachusetts USA Mr. David Wolff dwolff@ufainc.com ATCSim GmbH Bavariaring Kaufbeuren Germany Mr. André Neubert andre.neubert@atcsim.de ATCSim GmbH Robert-Koch-Straße Mainz Germany Mr. Axel Seitz axel@atcsim.de ATCoach is a registered trademark of UFA, Inc. ATTower is a trademark of UFA, Inc. TOWSIM is a registered trademark of UFA, Inc. ATVoice is a registered trademark of UFA, Inc. 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 UFA, Inc. 12