Analysis of Radar and ADS-B Influences on Aircraft Detect and Avoid (DAA) Systems

William Semke,Nicholas Allen,Kyle Snyder,Michael Wing,Evan Arnold,Asma Tabassum,Matthew Mccrink,Dawson Stott,Mohammad Moallemi

doi:10.3390/aerospace4030049

Abstract

Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems are complex communication and locational technologies comprising multiple independent components. DAA technologies support communications between ground-based and space-based operations with aircraft. Both manned and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) rely on DAA communication and location technologies for safe flight operations. We examined the occurrence and duration of communication losses between radar and automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B) systems with aircraft operating in proximate airspace using data collected during actual flight operations. Our objectives were to identify the number and duration of communication losses for both radar and ADS-B systems that occurred within a discrete time period. We also investigated whether other unique communication behavior and anomalies were occurring, such as reported elevation deviations. We found that loss of communication with both radar and ADS-B systems does occur, with variation in the length of communication losses. We also discovered that other unexpected behaviors were occurring with communications. Although our data were gathered from manned aircraft, there are also implications for UAS that are operating within active airspaces. We are unaware of any previously published work on occurrence and duration of communication losses between radar and ADS-B systems.

Highlights

Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems are complex communication and locational assemblies that consist of several independent components that are used throughout the aviation industry
It is expected that Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) will become a more common component of future civilian unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) applications as manufacturers continue to improve upon the miniaturization and affordability of this technology
Our analyses considered data that were collected during actual flight operations

Summary

Introduction

Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems are complex communication and locational assemblies that consist of several independent components that are used throughout the aviation industry. DAA components have extensive history and are used in manned aircraft systems Manned and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) rely on DAA communication and location technologies to maintain safe flight operations. The positions of aircraft relative to one another can be managed by air traffic control (ATC) and pilots when all systems are operating correctly. Some of these components, including GPS and altimeter, are common UAS components in civilian applications. Even the effects of wind turbines on air traffic control radars were evaluated [10]

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