A Hybrid Estimation Algorithm for Terminal-Area Aircraft Tracking

Abstract

Accurate tracking of aircraft movements around airports is important in order to improve tra‐c capacity and safety. We propose a hybrid estimation algorithm that utilizes the knowledge of departure or arrival aircraft ∞ight plans and nominal ∞ight proflles to improve tracking of aircraft movements around airports. The algorithm also provides an accurate estimation of aircraft ∞ight modes that is often used in con∞ict detection, intent inference, and trajectory prediction algorithms. In the algorithm, we flrst develop a methodology to model ∞ight mode transitions based on typical aircraft landing proflles, take-ofi proflles, and standard ∞ight routes around airports. Based on the model, we derive a conditional mode transition matrix that is dependent (or conditioned) on the continuous state of the aircraft. The aircraft tracking problem is then solved using a hybrid estimation algorithm with continuous-state-dependent mode transition matrix. We also presents an analytical result that reduces the dimension, and hence the computational cost, of a multivariate integral that arises due to the continuous-state-dependent mode transition matrix. We present two simulation examples to illustrate the performance of our aircraft tracking algorithm.