Classification and reduction of pilot error

Human error is a primary or contributing factor in about two-thirds of commercial aviation accidents worldwide. With the ultimate goal of reducing pilot error accidents, this contract effort is aimed at understanding the factors underlying error events and reducing the probability of certain types of errors by modifying underlying factors such as flight deck design and procedures. A review of the literature relevant to error classification was conducted. Classification includes categorizing types of errors, the information processing mechanisms and factors underlying them, and identifying factor-mechanism-error relationships. The classification scheme developed by Jens Rasmussen was adopted because it provided a comprehensive yet basic error classification shell or structure that could easily accommodate addition of details on domain-specific factors. For these purposes, factors specific to the aviation environment were incorporated. Hypotheses concerning the relationship of a small number of underlying factors, information processing mechanisms, and error types types identified in the classification scheme were formulated. ASRS data were reviewed and a simulation experiment was performed to evaluate and quantify the hypotheses

Initial Implementation and Operational Use of TASAR in Alaska Airlines Flight Operations

NASA has been developing and testing the Traffic Aware Strategic Aircrew Requests (TASAR) concept for aircraft operations featuring a NASA-developed cockpit automation tool, the Traffic Aware Planner (TAP), which computes route changes compatible with nearby traffic and airspace constraints to improve flight efficiency. The TAP technology is anticipated to save fuel, flight time, and operating costs and thereby provide immediate and pervasive benefits to the aircraft operator. Alaska Airlines is partnered with NASA to implement and evaluate TASAR in revenue service. This paper will describe activities undertaken to achieve TASAR operational status at Alaska Airlines, and it will present preliminary results from initial flight operations

A novel ensemble modeling for intrusion detection system

Vast increase in data through internet services has made computer systems more vulnerable and difficult to protect from malicious attacks. Intrusion detection systems (IDSs) must be more potent in monitoring intrusions. Therefore an effectual Intrusion Detection system architecture is built which employs a facile classification model and generates low false alarm rates and high accuracy. Noticeably, IDS endure enormous amounts of data traffic that contain redundant and irrelevant features, which affect the performance of the IDS negatively. Despite good feature selection approaches leads to a reduction of unrelated and redundant features and attain better classification accuracy in IDS. This paper proposes a novel ensemble model for IDS based on two algorithms Fuzzy Ensemble Feature selection (FEFS) and Fusion of Multiple Classifier (FMC). FEFS is a unification of five feature scores. These scores are obtained by using feature-class distance functions. Aggregation is done using fuzzy union operation. On the other hand, the FMC is the fusion of three classifiers. It works based on Ensemble decisive function. Experiments were made on KDD cup 99 data set have shown that our proposed system works superior to well-known methods such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). Our examinations ensured clearly the prominence of using ensemble methodology for modeling IDSs. And hence our system is robust and efficient

Development of the L-1011 four-dimensional flight management system

The development of 4-D guidance and control algorithms for the L-1011 Flight Management System is described. Four-D Flight Management is a concept by which an aircraft's flight is optimized along the 3-D path within the constraints of today's ATC environment, while its arrival time is controlled to fit into the air traffic flow without incurring or causing delays. The methods developed herein were designed to be compatible with the time-based en route metering techniques that were recently developed by the Dallas/Fort Worth and Denver Air Route Traffic Control Centers. The ensuing development of the 4-D guidance algorithms, the necessary control laws and the operational procedures are discussed. Results of computer simulation evaluation of the guidance algorithms and control laws are presented, along with a description of the software development procedures utilized

Advanced flight deck/crew station simulator functional requirements

This report documents a study of flight deck/crew system research facility requirements for investigating issues involved with developing systems, and procedures for interfacing transport aircraft with air traffic control systems planned for 1985 to 2000. Crew system needs of NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and industry were investigated and reported. A matrix of these is included, as are recommended functional requirements and design criteria for simulation facilities in which to conduct this research. Methods of exploiting the commonality and similarity in facilities are identified, and plans for exploiting this in order to reduce implementation costs and allow efficient transfer of experiments from one facility to another are presented

An intelligent, free-flying robot

The ground based demonstration of the extensive extravehicular activity (EVA) Retriever, a voice-supervised, intelligent, free flying robot, is designed to evaluate the capability to retrieve objects (astronauts, equipment, and tools) which have accidentally separated from the Space Station. The major objective of the EVA Retriever Project is to design, develop, and evaluate an integrated robotic hardware and on-board software system which autonomously: (1) performs system activation and check-out; (2) searches for and acquires the target; (3) plans and executes a rendezvous while continuously tracking the target; (4) avoids stationary and moving obstacles; (5) reaches for and grapples the target; (6) returns to transfer the object; and (7) returns to base

Design and Analysis of Hybrid Vessel Monitoring System Based on DTN and Internet Collaboration

In this paper, we propose hybrid Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) design as alternative for current VMS scheme by collaborating internet connection and Disruption-Tolerant-Networks (DTN). The hybrid solution combines offline VMS that use radio networks and online VMS that utilizing satellite-based internet. Hybrid VMS aims to provide a more flexible VMS design and able to speed up delivery process of offline vessel's data. The concept is both type of vessels must install a standard radio networks for data forwarding. The proposed method to speed up data delivery is by forwarding VMS data from one vessel to another using DTN forwarding scheme. Data can be forwarded to another offline vessel that will return to harbor earlier or to online vessels which have internet connection. Performance measurement is done through simulation analysis using ONE simulator. It aims to measure the speed up data delivery using hybrid VMS implementation compare to a pure offline VMS implementation. Simulation result show that hybrid VMS able to speed up data delivery for offline vessel data in 1.5 up to 2 times faster compare to a pure offline VMS implementation. Hybrid VMS also has advantages in flexible implementation by easily switching between online and offline VMS scheme, according to fisherman financial situation. Spray-and-Wait routing is the most suitable routing algorithm for hybrid VMS according to the efficiency ratio

Achieving TASAR Operational Readiness

NASA has been developing and testing the Traffic Aware Strategic Aircrew Requests (TASAR) concept for aircraft operations featuring a NASA-developed cockpit automation tool, the Traffic Aware Planner (TAP), which computes traffic/hazard-compatible route changes to improve flight efficiency. The TAP technology is anticipated to save fuel and flight time and thereby provide immediate and pervasive benefits to the aircraft operator, as well as improving flight schedule compliance, passenger comfort, and pilot and controller workload. Previous work has indicated the potential for significant benefits for TASAR-equipped aircraft, and a flight trial of the TAP software application in the National Airspace System has demonstrated its technical viability. This paper reviews previous and ongoing activities to prepare TASAR for operational use

Trajectory Specification for Automation of Terminal Air Traffic Control

"Trajectory specification" is the explicit bounding and control of aircraft tra- jectories such that the position at each point in time is constrained to a precisely defined volume of space. The bounding space is defined by cross-track, along-track, and vertical tolerances relative to a reference trajectory that specifies position as a function of time. The tolerances are dynamic and will be based on the aircraft nav- igation capabilities and the current traffic situation. A standard language will be developed to represent these specifications and to communicate them by datalink. Assuming conformance, trajectory specification can guarantee safe separation for an arbitrary period of time even in the event of an air traffic control (ATC) sys- tem or datalink failure, hence it can help to achieve the high level of safety and reliability needed for ATC automation. As a more proactive form of ATC, it can also maximize airspace capacity and reduce the reliance on tactical backup systems during normal operation. It applies to both enroute airspace and the terminal area around airports, but this paper focuses on arrival spacing in the terminal area and presents ATC algorithms and software for achieving a specified delay of runway arrival time

Design and Analysis of Hybrid Vessel Monitoring System based on DTN and Internet Collaboration

In this paper, we propose hybrid Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) design as alternative for current VMS scheme by collaborating internet connection and Disruption-Tolerant-Networks (DTN). The hybrid solution combines offline VMS that use radio networks and online VMS that utilizing satellite-based internet. Hybrid VMS aims to provide a more flexible VMS design and able to speed up delivery process of offline vessel’s data. The concept is both type of vessels must install a standard radio networks for data forwarding. The proposed method to speed up data delivery is by forwarding VMS data from one vessel to another using DTN forwarding scheme. Data can be forwarded to another offline vessel that will return to harbor earlier or to online vessels which have internet connection. Performance measurement is done through simulation analysis using ONE simulator. It aims to measure the speed up data delivery using hybrid VMS implementation compare to a pure offline VMS implementation. Simulation result show that hybrid VMS able to speed up data delivery for offline vessel data in 1.5 up to 2 times faster compare to a pure offline VMS implementation. Hybrid VMS also has advantages in flexible implementation by easily switching between online and offline VMS scheme, according to fisherman financial situation. Spray-and-Wait routing is the most suitable routing algorithm for hybrid VMS according to the efficiency ratio