UTOPIA II: Enhanced Flight Planning by introducing stochastic trajectory data

Project Overview

Funded by DFG
Project runtime 3 years (from July 2017)

Along the large scale project Single European Sky, EUROCONTROL issued its latest ATM masterplan to pave the way for the next generation ATM System beyond 2020. One pillar of the masterplan refers to the introduction of 4D user preferred business trajectories claiming for a 4D Trajectory management and thus a punctual and efficient air traffic system. To gain insight on both the level of precision and of robustness of a given trajectory for varying look ahead times, stochastic modeling is considered promising to improve the flight planning process. We aim at identifying and describing statistically all relevant error inputs to it and determining the effects onto flight planning quality. To evaluate these models while considering an increase in automation both at ATC and on the flight deck, an appropriately tuned AMAN, SMAN and ATC simulation environment will be jointly used to execute Monte Carlo simulations. The simulation results will be validated through expert (pilots/controller) workshops.

UTOPIA II is the sequel to the SESAR Workpage E project UTOPIA, though funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).

Publications

Thomas Zeh, Judith Rosenow, Richard Alligier, Harmut Fricke (2020): Prediction of the Propagation of Trajectory Uncertainty for Climbing Aircraft, 39th Digitial Avionics Systems Conference (DASC 2020), San Antonio, TX
Martin Lindner, Judith. Rosenow, Thomas Zeh, Hartmut Fricke, (2020): In-flight aircraft trajectory optimization within corridors defined by ensemble weather forecasts, Aerospace 2020, 7, 144.
Thomas Zeh, Judith Rosenow, Hartmut Fricke (2019): Interdependent Uncertainty Handling in Trajectory Prediction, Aerospace 6, no. 2: 15.
Martin Lindner, Thomas Zeh, Hartmut Fricke (2018): Reoptimization of 4D-Flight Trajectories During Flight Considering Forecast Uncertainties, 67. DGLR Kongress, Friedrichshafen, in cooperation with the research project ProfiFuel
Thomas Zeh, Judith Rosenow, Hartmut Fricke (2018): Innovative Luftraumüberwachung mittels stochastischer Flugbahnmodellierung, Ingenieurspiegel, 03/2018

Student's Theses

Analyse der durch den Kurvenflug induzierten zeitlichen und räumlichen Unschärfe von Luftfahrzeugtrajektorien, Diplomarbeit, 2021
Analyse des Einflusses verschiedener Konfigurationen auf die zeitliche und räumliche Unschärfe von Luftfahrzeugtrajektorien, Studienarbeit, 2019