Engineering topics

Simpson, Robert W.

Publications and source records attributed to Simpson, Robert W..

12 records

NASA NTRS1997

Existing and Required Modeling Capabilities for Evaluating ATM Systems and Concepts

ATM systems throughout the world are entering a period of major transition and change. The combination of important technological developments and of the globalization of the air transportation industry has necessitated a reexamination of some of the fundamental premises of existing Air Traffic Management (ATM) concepts. New ATM concepts have to be examined, concepts that may place more emphasis on: strategic traffic management; planning and control; partial decentralization of decision-making; and added reliance on the aircraft to carry out strategic ATM plans, with ground controllers confined primarily to a monitoring and supervisory role. 'Free Flight' is a case in point. In order to study, evaluate and validate such new concepts, the ATM community will have to rely heavily on models and computer-based tools/utilities, covering a wide range of issues and metrics related to safety, capacity and efficiency. The state of the art in such modeling support is adequate in some respects, but clearly deficient in others. It is the objective of this study to assist in: (1) assessing the strengths and weaknesses of existing fast-time models and tools for the study of ATM systems and concepts and (2) identifying and prioritizing the requirements for the development of additional modeling capabilities in the near future. A three-stage process has been followed to this purpose: 1. Through the analysis of two case studies involving future ATM system scenarios, as well as through expert assessment, modeling capabilities and supporting tools needed for testing and validating future ATM systems and concepts were identified and described. 2. Existing fast-time ATM models and support tools were reviewed and assessed with regard to the degree to which they offer the capabilities identified under Step 1. 3 . The findings of 1 and 2 were combined to draw conclusions about (1) the best capabilities currently existing, (2) the types of concept testing and validation that can be carried out reliably with such existing capabilities and (3) the currently unavailable modeling capabilities that should receive high priority for near-term research and development. It should be emphasized that the study is concerned only with the class of 'fast time' analytical and simulation models. 'Real time' models, that typically involve humans-in-the-loop, comprise another extensive class which is not addressed in this report. However, the relationship between some of the fast-time models reviewed and a few well-known real-time models is identified in several parts of this report and the potential benefits from the combined use of these two classes of models-a very important subject-are discussed in chapters 4 and 7.

Odoni, Amedeo R.↗

NASA NTRS1995

An investigation of air transportation technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 1993-1994

There are two completed projects and two continuing research activities under the sponsorship of the FAA/NASA Joint University Program as the 1993-94 period ends. There were a number of publications during the year which are referenced in this report. A brief summary of the continuing research projects is provided. The completed projects were (1) Analysis of Aircraft Surface Motion at Boston Logan International Airport and (2) A State of the Art Review and Critical Analysis of World Jet Transport Safety and Aviation Fire Safety. The active research projects are (1) ASLOTS - An Interactive Adaptive System for Automated Approach Spacing of Aircraft and (2) Alerting in Automated and Datalink Capable Cockpits.

Simpson, Robert W.↗

NASA NTRS1994

An investigation of air transportation technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1992-1993

An investigation of air transportation technology at MIT during 1992 - 1993 is presented. One completed project and two continuing research activities are under the sponsorship of the FAA/NASA Joint University Program. The completed project was on tracking aircraft around a turn with wind effects. Active research projects are on ASLOTS - an interactive adaptive system of automated approach spacing of aircraft and alerting in automated and datalink capable cockpits.

Simpson, Robert W.↗

NASA NTRS1993

An investigation of air transportation technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991-1992

There are two completed projects and five new or continuing research activities under the sponsorship of the FAA/NASA Joint University Program as the 1991-92 period ends. A brief summary of some of the continuing research projects is provided. The active research projects are: (1) extensions for the FASA (Final Approach Spacing Advisory) System; (2) radar tracking around a turn; (3) impact of advanced technologies of single pilot IFR operations; (4) system and human limitations in millimeter wave and infrared synthetic vision systems; and (5) differences in party line information usage by operational user groups.

Simpson, Robert W.↗

NASA NTRS1993

The ASLOTS concept: An interactive, adaptive decision support concept for Final Approach Spacing of Aircraft (FASA). FAA-NASA Joint University Program

This presentation outlines a concept for an adaptive, interactive decision support system to assist controllers at a busy airport in achieving efficient use of multiple runways. The concept is being implemented as a computer code called FASA (Final Approach Spacing for Aircraft), and will be tested and demonstrated in ATCSIM, a high fidelity simulation of terminal area airspace and airport surface operations. Objectives are: (1) to provide automated cues to assist controllers in the sequencing and spacing of landing and takeoff aircraft; (2) to provide the controller with a limited ability to modify the sequence and spacings between aircraft, and to insert takeoffs and missed approach aircraft in the landing flows; (3) to increase spacing accuracy using more complex and precise separation criteria while reducing controller workload; and (4) achieve higher operational takeoff and landing rates on multiple runways in poor visibility.

Simpson, Robert W.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Impacts of technology on the capacity needs of the US national airspace system

A review of the U.S. air transportation system is undertaken, focusing on airspace and airport capacity. Causes of delay and congestion are investigated. Aircraft noise is identified as the fundamental hindrance to capacity improvement. Research areas for NASA are suggested to improve capacity through technology.

Ausrotas, Raymond A.↗

NASA NTRS1991

An investigation of air transportation technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1990-1991

Brief summaries are given of research activities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) under the sponsorship of the FAA/NASA Joint University Program. Topics covered include hazard assessment and cockpit presentation issues for microburst alerting systems; the situational awareness effect of automated air traffic control (ATC) datalink clearance amendments; a graphical simulation system for adaptive, automated approach spacing; an expert system for temporal planning with application to runway configuration management; deterministic multi-zone ice accretion modeling; alert generation and cockpit presentation for an integrated microburst alerting system; and passive infrared ice detection for helicopter applications.

Simpson, Robert W.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Investigation of air transportation technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1988-1989

There are four areas of research being pursued in 1988 under sponsorship of the FAA/NASA Joint University Research Program, and one area which has been completed. The four active areas were: (1) Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) in Air Traffic Control. The purpose of this research effort is to demonstrate the feasibility of using ASR technology within the ATC environment and to address the problems involved, especially the relevant human factors issues. (2) A Rule-Based Planning and Scheduling System. Planning denotes the formulation of a detailed scheme, program, or method worked out beforehand for the accomplishment of a goal. It involves the analysis of the desired goal and its division into sub-goals which are subsequently treated in the same way until a set of primitive objectives is obtained. (3) Modeling of Ice Accretion on Aircraft in Glaze Icing Conditions. The work in aircraft icing over the past year has focused on the fundamental aspects of glaze ice accretion, with the goal of improving analytical ice accretion models. Over the past year, studies have been conducted on the generation of surface roughness on accreting ice surfaces with the goal of providing a deterministic surface roughness in the ice accretion models. (4) Cockpit Display of Hazardous Weather Information. Information transfer and display issues associated with the dissemination of hazardous weather warnings are studied in the context of windshear alerts.

Simpson, Robert W.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Investigation of air transportation technology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1986

There were three areas of research sponsored in the Flight Transportation Lab. at MIT under the Joint University Research Program during 1986. The first was the completion of efforts investigating the possibility of using Loran-C for final approach guidance to a runway; the second is a preliminary exploration of the application of automated speech recognition in Air Traffic Control; the third is a continuation of a series of research topics into aircraft icing problems.

Simpson, Robert W.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Investigation of air transportation technology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1985

Two areas of research are discussed, an investigation into runway approach flying with Loran C and a series of research topics in the development of experimental validation of methodologies to support aircraft icing analysis. Flight tests with the Loran C led to the conclusion that it is a suitable system for non-precision approaches, and that time-difference corrections made every eight weeks in the instrument approach plates will produce acceptable errors. In the area of aircraft icing analysis, wind tunnel and flight test results are discussed.

Simpson, Robert W.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Investigation of air transportation technology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1984

Three projects sponsored by the Joint University Program at MIT are summarized. Two projects were focussed on the potential application of Loran-C in flying nonprecision approaches to general aviation runways, and the third project involved research on aircraft icing. In one Loran-C project, Aircraft Approach Guidance Using Relative Loran-C Navigation, the concept was flight tested. It used the difference in TD's from those of the touchdown point to simplify and speed navigation computer processing and took advantage of the short term accuracy of less than 100 feet for Loran-C. The goal of the project, Probabilistic Modelling of Loran-C Error for Nonprecision Approaches, was to develop a mathematical model which would predict the probability that an approach flown to a runway with a particular Loran-C receiver would fall within a given standard. The Aircraft Icing project focussed on measurement of droplet trajectories and droplet impingement/runback characteristics and measurement of real time ice accretion using ultrasonic pulse echo techniques.

Simpson, Robert W.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Investigation of air transport technology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1983

The limitations in providing both centerline and altitude guidance for runways in good Loran-C signal coverage were determined. The high data rate (10/sec) and good repeatable accuracy of Loran-C indicate that it will be possible to provide the pilot with continuous, cross pointer display of guidance information similar to that provided by ILS/MLS, at least when good signal-to-noise ratios and good geometry from Loran-C Lines of Position (LOP) exist at the airport.

Simpson, Robert W.↗