Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Receiver Research Articles

A Dual-Hierarchy Synchronization Method for Signal Preambles with High Detection Rates for Satellite-Based ADS-B Receivers with Different Sensitivities

Existing methods are unable to achieve high detection rates and low false alarm rates of satellite-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) signal preambles at extremely low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) using limited on-star resources. In this paper, a dual-hierarchy synchronization method is proposed, including a first-level coarse synchronization and a second-level fine synchronization. The coarse synchronization process involves three steps: (1) detection of unknown signals, (2) soft decision, and (3) adaptive interval output. The first step introduces the threshold (TMSED) of the minimum signal energy to be detected to guarantee a high detection rate. In the soft decision step, a value (SV) designed to improve the robustness of the system curbs false detection caused by noise interference. In the last step, the coarse synchronization interval radius (r) is mapped out according to the SNR to reduce resource consumption. The fine synchronization process is based on the coarse synchronization output, and the correlation peak is calculated to complete the synchronization of the signal preambles. The results show that the proposed method achieves a high detection rate of 96% at an extremely low SNR using a low sampling frequency of 10 MHz. Furthermore, the adjustment of TMSED allows this method to be applied to ADS-B receivers with different sensitivities. The comprehensive performance of this method to achieve high detection rates and acceptable false alarm rates at extremely low SNRs with limited on-star resources is verified by final simulations to be superior to other methods.

Exploring acoustic characteristics of different aircraft types by fusing with aircraft tracking data.

In this study, we develop a method that assigns acoustic signals with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data to build a labeled dataset of acoustic signals from aircraft without expensive ground-truth experiments. An exploration of the resultant labeled dataset enables an assessment of the acoustic characteristics from three types of aircraft. The fusion framework is evaluated using data from an acoustic sensor and collocated ADS-B receiver in the middle of a large urban area at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Our results demonstrate the benefit of combining multiple types of data to generate a labeled dataset leveraging open-source aircraft surveillance data. By studying three classes of aircraft, we find that the smaller fixed wing single engine (FWSE) class is mostly detected within approximately 5000 m, while the larger fixed wing multi-engine (FWME) class is commonly detected out to greater distances above 7500 m. The FWSE class has a median source frequency at 100 Hz, compared to FWME class with median source frequency at 80 Hz, while rotorcraft has a source frequency falling into a lower range of 30-100 Hz.

Satellite Attitude Determination Using ADS-B Receiver and MEMS Gyro

Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) is a very important communication and surveillance technology in air traffic control (ATC). In the future, more and more satellites will carry out ADS-B technology to perform a global coverage. In order to make full use of the resources in the satellite, this paper proposes a solution for satellite three-axis attitude determination using the ADS-B receiver. The principle of ADS-B-based attitude determination is presented first. On this basis, ADS-B-based methods are employed to solve the problem. To achieve a higher attitude determination precision, gyro is combined with the ADS-B receiver using a multiplicative extended Kalman filter (MEKF). Finally, a simulation is carried out and the result is presented.

Enhancing the performance of the Primary Surveillance Radar using Multilateration

One way to improve the measurements of the PSR (Primary Surveillance Radar) is to utilize the cinematic model of the aircraft (A/C) in a Kalman filter. Another newly developed method would be to implement multilateration using a large number of ground-based ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) receivers. Originating in airport surveillance, multilateration grew to become the primary system for ATM (Air Traffic Management) in airspaces without PSR coverage. Given that each of the systems has its own advantages and limitations, we propose an evaluation of an alternative approach that uses data from multiple ADS-B receivers to implement a data fusion algorithm between PSR acquired position and MLAT (Multilateration) estimated position. Among the many ways to implement data fusion, have chosen to analyze two possible solutions: the direct fusion of the two available positions provided by the two systems using a traditional Kalman Filter and a linearization approach for the multilateration solution that does not require position computation. In both cases, these will improve the Kalman filter and lower the position estimation errors. The evaluation takes into consideration the possible sources of inaccuracies and provides sensibility analyses in regards to the number and positioning of ADS-B receivers involved in multilateration. This paper will conclude with a discussion of the computational power required for the two implementations.

Satellite coverage traffic volume prediction using a new surrogate model

The space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) can significantly improve aircraft traffic efficiency and safety but suffers from the issue of signal collision. A potential solution for this limitation is employing an adaptive ADS-B antenna, e.g., the phased array antenna, which can adjust its coverage area in real-time during the satellite movement according to the satellite coverage traffic volume (SCTV). This paper proposes a new surrogate modeling technique, i.e., subregion radial basis function (RBF), and applies the proposed surrogate to predict the SCTV so that the adaptive strategy for the ADS-B antenna can be designed. Instead of training one model using all training samples as the classical RBF does, the proposed subregion RBF approach first partitions the input space into multiple fuzzy regions, then trains a RBF model in each region, and finally integrates the multiple subregion RBF models in a weighted average manner. By using this partition of unity strategy, the proposed method can greatly reduce the computational complexity of training models meanwhile maintain the interpolation property and high accuracy of RBF models. Further, the proposed subregion RBF is applied to construct a surrogate for the SCTV model to guide the design of the adaptive strategy for the space-based ADS-B. Simulation results show that compared with the classical and state-of-the-art methods, the proposed method has arrived a better balance between predictive accuracy and computational cost. In the simulation scenarios, it is also observed that by using the adaptive strategy, the detection probability of ADS-B receiver can always be greater than 95% and nearly 1/3 of power consumption can be saved. The simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Analytical Performance of Low Noise Amplifier Using Single-Stage Configuration for ADS-B Receiver

Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) is an equipment of a radar system to reach difficult areas. For radar applications, an ADS-B requires a low noise amplifier (LNA) with high gain, stability, and a low noise figure. In this research, to produce an LNA with good performance, an LNA was designed using a BJT transistor 2SC5006 with DC bias, VCE = 3 V, and current Ic = 10 mA, also a DC supply with VCC = 12 V, to achieve a high gain with a low noise figure. The initial LNA impedance circuit was simulated using 2 elements and then converted into 3 elements to obtain parameters according to the target specification through the tuning process, impedance matching circuit was used to reduce return loss and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) values. The LNA sequence obtains the working frequency of 1090 MHz, return loss of -52.103 dB, a gain of 10.382, VSWR of 1.005, a noise figure of 0.552, stability factor of 0.997, and bandwidth of 83 MHz. From the simulation results, the LNA has been successfully designed according to the ADS-B receiver specifications.

Data-driven airport management enabled by operational milestones derived from ADS-B messages

Standardized, collaborative decision-making processes have already been implemented at some network-relevant airports, and these can be further enhanced through data-driven approaches (e.g., data analytics, predictions). New cost-effective implementations will also enable the appropriate integration of small and medium-sized airports into the aviation network. The required data can increasingly be gathered and processed by the airports themselves. For example, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) messages are sent by arriving and departing aircraft and enable a data-driven analysis of aircraft movements, taking into account local constraints (e.g., weather or capacity). Analytical and model-based approaches that leverage these data also offer deeper insights into the complex and interdependent airport operations. This includes systematic monitoring of relevant operational milestones as well as a corresponding predictive analysis to estimate future system states. In fact, local ADS-B receivers can be purchased, installed, and maintained at low cost, providing both very good coverage of the airport apron operations (runway, taxi system, parking positions) and communication of current airport performance to the network management. To prevent every small and medium-sized airport from having to develop its own monitoring system, we present a basic concept with our approach. We demonstrate that appropriate processing of ADS-B messages leads to improved situational awareness. Our concept is aligned with the operational milestones of Eurocontrol’s Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) framework. Therefore, we analyze the A-CDM airport London–Gatwick Airport as it allows us to validate our concept against the data from the A-CDM implementation at a later stage. Finally, with our research, we also make a decisive contribution to the open-data and scientific community.

Receivers location privacy in avionic crowdsourced networks: Issues and countermeasures

The lack of message encryption characterizing wireless avionic protocols, including Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B), recently favored the rise of a few communities that, gathering data collected by receivers at the ground or in space, offer advanced services, while at the same time releasing the cited data to the public.In this context, hiding the location of an ADS-B receiver could be useful for several reasons, including military and privacy aspects. Therefore, taking into account these considerations, the data provided by a few antennas in one of the most popular crowdsourcing platforms, Opensky Network, are released removing any information that could lead to their direct location identification.In this manuscript, we investigate the effectiveness of protecting location privacy in avionic crowdsourced networks. As a worst-case scenario, we demonstrate that, when a feasible number of receivers are deployed in the same area of a protected one, due to the nature of involved ADS-B data, standard time-based localization schemes can identify the location of any protected receiver. Our model, applied to real data, can identify the location of a protected receiver with an error ranging from 0.9 km to 2.6 km, depending on the target sensor—while the location uncertainty induced by the anonymization technique was expected to be of approximately 450 km.Our findings, supported by an extensive experimental campaign run over real data, apply to a variety of potentially protected receivers. Moreover, we also provide effective countermeasures to increase receivers’ location privacy. Finally, we discuss the trade-offs implied by the cited countermeasures, showing that it is possible to increase location privacy while not decreasing data utility.

A Study on the Collision Probability of Satellite-Based ADS-B Messages Based on Homogeneous Poisson Process

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is an air traffic surveillance system in which aircraft broadcast GPS position, velocity and status on 1090 MHz. Nowadays, as a valid alternative to SSR, ADS-B is the main technology for Air Traffic Management (ATM). With the rapid growth of airspace traffic and disappearance of MH370, satellite-based ADS-B is proposed to realize aerial surveillance globally. The satellite-based ADS-B has a series of new features that Terrestrial based does not have including wider coverage, lower SNR. These new features make ADS-B signal collisions at the receiver more severe. This paper is to analyze the collision probability of satellite-based ADS-B messages based on homogeneous Poisson process. According to the theoretical derivation and simulation analysis, a conclusion can be drawn that the collisions of two and three messages dominate in all cases. It helps in guiding the design of the hardware and software of satellite-based ADS-B receiver to focus on the separation of two and/or three collision messages only, which will dramatically reduce the complexity of the system and the load of satellite.

Analisis Data ADS-B untuk Menentukan Probability of Target Report pada Sistem A-SMGCS

A-SMGCS is an airport system that is used to improve the efficiency of using runways, apron and taxiways by maximizing runway capacities in all situations and weather while maintaining the required level of security. One of the parameters that becomes a requirement in the A-SMGCS system is the Probabillity of Target Report (PTR) whose value must be greater or equal to 95% in the area maneuver with update rate of the data one second [1]. Automatic Dependent SurveillanceBroadcast (ADS-B) is one of the cooperative sensors in the A-SMGCS system. The ADS-B sensor is a receiver that is used to capture ADS-B data from aircraft or vehicles equipped with ADS-B transmitters. The amount of ADSB data received by the ADS-B receiver and is needed for the A-SMGCS system is one of the factors that determine the Probability of Target Report (PTR). This paper will test three ADS-B receivers which will be selected for use as a cooperative sensor in the next A-SMGCS development. From the results of analysis and retrieval of data obtained by Radarcape ADS-B receiver more suitable for the development of the A-SMGCS system.

Aircraft monitoring by the fusion of satellite and ground ADS-B data

The Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast (ADS-B) system is today a standard equipment on civil aircraft, transmitting periodically data packages containing information of key data such as aircraft ID, position, altitude and intention. It is designed for terrestrial based ground station to monitor air traffic flow in certain regions. Space based ADS-B is the idea to place sensitive receivers on board satellites in orbit, which can receive ADS-B packages and relay them the relevant ground stations. The terrestrial ADS-B receiver has been widely applied for airport information system, help monitor and control traffic flow, etc. However, its coverage is strongly limited by sea or mountain conditions. This paper first introduces the CubeSat mission, then discusses the integrated application of ADS-B data received from ground stations and from satellites, analyze their characteristics with statistical results of comparison, and explore the technologies to fuse these two different data resources for an integrated application. The satellite data is based on a Chinese CubeSat, STU-2C, being launched into space on Sept 25th 2015. The ADS-B data received from two different resources have shown a good complementary each other, such as to increase the coverage of space for air traffic, and to monitor the whole space in a better and complete way.

Obstacle Detection System for Small UAVs using ADS-B and Thermal Imaging

Thermal Infrared (TIR) imaging is a promising technology which can provide enhanced capabilities to current vision-based Sense-and-Avoid (SAA) systems. It allows operation under extreme illumination conditions, such as direct sun exposure and during nighttime. This paper presents a lightweight obstacle detection system for small UAVs that integrates a TIR camera and an Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver. Algorithms for the detection of flying obstacles in TIR images were developed and TIR images were experimentally compared with synchronized RGB images for validation. Matching between aircraft detected in TIR images and those reported by an ADS-B receiver was performed to obtain distance information to the visually detected aircraft. We experimentally proved that our system is able to enhance individual ADS-B and TIR detection capabilities by detecting aircraft under challenging illumination conditions at real-time frame rates while providing distance estimations to visual detections.

How to Protect ADS-B: Confidentiality Framework and Efficient Realization Based on Staged Identity-Based Encryption

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is one of the key technologies for future “e-Enabled” aircrafts. ADS-B uses avionics in the e-Enabled aircrafts to broadcast essential flight data such as call sign, altitude, heading, and other extra positioning information. On the one hand, ADS-B brings significant benefits to the aviation industry, but, on the other hand, it could pose security concerns as channels between ground controllers and aircrafts for the ADS-B communication are not secured, and ADS-B messages could be captured by random individuals who own ADS-B receivers. In certain situations, ADS-B messages contain sensitive information, particularly when communications occur among mission-critical civil airplanes. These messages need to be protected from any interruption and eavesdropping. The challenge here is to construct an encryption scheme that is fast enough for very frequent encryption and that is flexible enough for effective key management. In this paper, we propose a Staged Identity-Based Encryption (SIBE) scheme, which modifies Boneh and Franklin's original IBE scheme to address those challenges, that is, to construct an efficient and functional encryption scheme for ADS-B system. Based on the proposed SIBE scheme, we provide a confidentiality framework for future e-Enabled aircraft with ADS-B capability.

A New ADS-B Authentication Framework Based on Efficient Hierarchical Identity-Based Signature with Batch Verification

Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) has become a crucial part of next generation air traffic surveillance technology and will be mandatorily deployed for most of the airspaces worldwide by 2020. Each aircraft equipped with an ADS-B device keeps broadcasting plaintext messages to other aircraft and the ground station controllers once or twice per second. The lack of security measures in ADS-B systems makes it susceptible to different attacks. Among the various security issues, we investigate the integrity and authenticity of ADS-B messages. We propose a new framework for providing ADS-B with authentication based on three-level hierarchical identity-based signature (HIBS) with batch verification. Previous signature-based ADS-B authentication protocols focused on how to generate signatures efficiently, while our schemes can also significantly reduce the verification cost, which is critical to ADS-B systems, since at any time an ADS-B receiver may receive lots of signatures. We design two concrete schemes. The basic scheme supports partial batch verification and the extended scheme provides full batch verification. We give a formal security proof for the extended scheme. Experiment results show that our schemes with batch verification are tremendously more efficient in batch verifying $n$ signatures than verifying $n$ signatures independently. For example, the running time of verifying 100 signatures is 502 and 484 ms for the basic scheme and the extended scheme respectively, while the time is 2500 ms if verifying the signatures independently.

The CanX-7 Nanosatellite ADS-B Mission: A Preliminary Assessment

The development of space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) will allow surveillance of aircraft in areas not covered by radar or ground-based ADS-B systems. In September 2016, the Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment-7 (CanX-7) satellite was launched into a 690 km sun synchronous orbit with an ADS-B receiver payload. The first phase of ADS-B data collection took place over the North Atlantic between 4 and 31 October. A preliminary assessment of the data indicates that the average ADS-B signal strength is close to the calculated receiver detection threshold of D94.5 ± 0.5 dBm. The pattern of received ADS-B reception appears to be consistent with a signal propagation model developed for the CanX-7 mission. Future work includes the comparison of coincidental flight plan data for the operations area and an analysis of the payload antenna pattern.

A Simulation of Signal Collisions over the North Atlantic for a Spaceborne ADS-B Receiver Using Aloha Protocol

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is an air traffic surveillance system in which aircraft broadcast GPS position, velocity and status on 1090 MHz at random intervals between 0.4 and 0.6 seconds. ADS-B networks for air traffic monitoring have been implemented worldwide, but ground stations cannot be installed in oceanic regions, leaving these areas uncovered. A solution for tracking aircraft over the ocean is through the monitoring of ADS-B signals by using spaceborne receivers. The Royal Military College of Canada has developed an ADS-B receiver that is scheduled to fly as a technology demonstrator on the Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment-7 (CanX-7) nanosatellite. The payload will collect ADS-B data over the North Atlantic that will be compared to truth data provided by air traffic services. A potential issue for the CanX-7 payload is signal collisions. The extended footprint of the satellite coverage means that a large number of aircraft may be in view at any one time, leading to ADS-B messages that arrive simultaneously at the receiver not being decoded. A simulation of CanX-7 passage over the operations area was carried out to calculate the probability of signal collisions. Using the Aloha Protocol, it was determined that the loss of information as a result of signal collisions is well within the standards of ground based radars used by air traffic system agencies.

Aircraft used as a sensor for atmospheric behaviour determination. Practical case: pressure estimation using automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast

Knowledge of the characteristics of the atmosphere will benefit future air traffic management systems, particularly the so-called ‘four-dimensional trajectory management’. Trajectory prediction should incorporate variables such as air pressure ( p), wind velocity ( w) and temperature ( T), as well as clouds/visibility, gusts/microbursts and the concentration of particles or other elements that can affect aircraft travel through the atmosphere. Today’s commercial aircraft normally carry equipment that contains automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast system which broadcast usable information that can be used for different purposes. This article explores the characteristics of the information supplied by automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, not for surveillance purposes, but for the provision of valuable atmospheric information that could support four-dimensional trajectory management. It also provides information on the strengths and weaknesses of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast for supporting atmospheric status estimation and on the main differences between the regulatory framework and the information that is currently available from aircraft. Based on data obtained from an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast receiver, the study investigates the possibility to determine the actual atmospheric pressure at different points and then uses a mathematical model to estimate the atmospheric pressure at any desired altitude at any time. It goes on further to assess the accuracy of the international standard atmosphere model based on the recorded data. During the data processing it was realised that not all of the data transmitted from the aircraft referred to the same reference surface, that is either the mean sea level or the height above ellipsoid were used. This ambiguity in the reference surface complicated the data processing, especially when the geoid ondulation value was close to the deviation value of the data.

Balloon-borne air traffic management (ATM) as a precursor to space-based ATM

The International Space University—Balloon Air traffic control Technology Experiment (I-BATE 1 1 I-BATE: International Space University—Balloon Air traffic control Technology Experiment. ) has flown on board two stratospheric balloons and has tracked nearby aircraft by receiving their Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transmissions. Air traffic worldwide is facing increasing congestion. It is predicted that daily European flight volumes will more than double by 2030 compared to 2009 volumes. ADS-B is an air traffic management system being used to mitigate air traffic congestion. Each aircraft is equipped with both a GPS receiver and an ADS-B transponder. The transponder transmits an equipped aircraft's unique identifier, position, heading, and velocity once per second. The ADS-B transmissions can then be received by ground stations for use in traditional air traffic management. Airspace not monitored by these ground stations or other traditional means remains uncontrolled and poorly monitored. A constellation of space-based ADS-B receivers could close these gaps and provide global air traffic monitoring. By flying an ADS-B receiver on a stratospheric balloon, I-BATE has served as a precursor to a constellation of ADS-B-equipped Earth-orbiting satellites. From the ∼30 km balloon altitude, I-BATE tracked aircraft ranging up to 850 km. The experiment has served as a proof of concept for space-based air traffic management and supports a technology readiness level 6 of space-based ADS-B reception.