Collision Prediction and Avoidance Using Enhanced GPS

H. Robert Pilley and Lois Valliere Pilley

Abstract:	The increased concerns over airport safety, airline operating costs and airport capacity have prompted investigations into new technologies. Cost effective improvements in current airport procedures and systems are needed to satisfy future terminal area needs. The wide spread use of Differential Global Navigation Satellite Systems (DGNSS) will provide new, cost effective solutions for airport control and management. This paper discusses relevant research conducted by the authors involving enhanced Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities in the airport environment. The use of Enhanced GPS was utilized in a number of surface and flight tests conducted at the Manchester, New Hampshire Airport. The enhanced GPS navigator developed by DSDC utilized Magnavox GPS receiver technology and DSDC developed processing algorithms and software. Common mathematical relationships developed for collision detection and avoidance were designed to satisfy both aircraft, vehicular and air traffic control needs. Through the use of DSDC’s anticipatory software, differential GPS positions were used to predict projected positions for all equipped aircraft/vehicles with respect to their current velocity and heading. With this information, potential collisions between moving vehicles and between moving vehicles and stationary objects can be automatically detected and reported. Stationary objects may be non-moving vehicles which are transmitting GPS position reports or may be permanent/semi-permanent obstacles which are part of the geographical area of concern. Geographic zones may be defined around obstacles which may pose a hazard to navigation, such as transmission towers, tall buildings, and terrain features. Zones may also be keyed to the airport’s NOTAUS, identifying areas of the airport which have restricted usage. Zone definition and processing is compatible with global ECEF navigation and coordinate frames. Precise GPS-based position, velocity and time is used to support mathematical algorithms compatible with all airport movement operations. The developed algorithms, when supported with Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS) and a 3 dimensional airport database, can also provide the controller and pilot with a true 3-D situational awareness capability.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 5th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1992) September 16 - 18, 1992 Albuquerque, NM
Pages:	407 - 416
Cite this article:	Pilley, H. Robert, Pilley, Lois Valliere, "Collision Prediction and Avoidance Using Enhanced GPS," Proceedings of the 5th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1992), Albuquerque, NM, September 1992, pp. 407-416.
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