Application of fuel/time minimization techniques to route planning and trajectory optimization

Rising fuel costs combined with other economic pressures have resulted in industry requirements for more efficient air traffic control and airborne operations. NASA has responded with an on-going research program to investigate the requirements and benefits of using new airborne guidance and pilot procedures that are compatible with advanced air traffic control systems and that will result in more fuel efficient flight. The results of flight testing an airborne computer algorithm designed to provide either open-loop or closed-loop guidance for fuel efficient descents while satisfying time constraints imposed by the air traffic control system is summarized. Some of the potential cost and fuel savings that are obtained with sophisticated vertical path optimization capabilities are described

Experimental determination of position-estimate accuracy using back-azimuth signals from a microwave landing system

Flight tests using the Boeing 737 airplane to obtain position estimates with back azimuth signals from a microwave landing system (MLS) are discussed. The equations and logic used to generate a navigation position estimate in the MLS back azimuth signal environment are described. The error in the navigation position estimate is determined. A summary of the Boeing 737 position estimate update process is described. The navigation position estimate error calculated flight data and radar tracking information is analyzed. The position estimate error data using the MLS inputs are compared with error data obtained during dual distance measuring equipment updates

Chance-Constrained Efficiency Analysis

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is extended to the case of stochastic inputs and outputs through the use of chance-constrained programming. The chance-constrained envelope envelops a given set of observations "most of the time." We show that the chance-constrained enveloping process leads to the definition of a conventional (certainty-equivalent) efficiency ratio (a ratio between weighted outputs and weighted inputs). Furthermore, extending the concept of Pareto and Koopmans efficiency to the case of chance-constrained dominance (to be defined), we establish the identity of the following two chance-constrained efficiency concepts: (i) the chance constrained DEA efficiency measure of a particular output-input point is unity, and all chance-constraints are binding; (ii) the point is efficient in the sense Pareto and Koopmans. Finally we discuss the implications of our approach for econometric frontier analysis.IC2 Institut

Preliminary test results of a flight management algorithm for fuel conservative descents in a time based metered traffic environment

A flight management algorithm designed to improve the accuracy of delivering the airplane fuel efficiently to a metering fix at a time designated by air traffic control is discussed. The algorithm provides a 3-D path with time control (4-D) for a test B 737 airplane to make an idle thrust, clean configured descent to arrive at the metering fix at a predetermined time, altitude, and airspeed. The descent path is calculated for a constant Mach/airspeed schedule from linear approximations of airplane performance with considerations given for gross weight, wind, and nonstandard pressure and temperature effects. The flight management descent algorithms and the results of the flight tests are discussed

Description of the computations and pilot procedures for planning fuel-conservative descents with a small programmable calculator

A simplified flight management descent algorithm was developed and programmed on a small programmable calculator. It was designed to aid the pilot in planning and executing a fuel conservative descent to arrive at a metering fix at a time designated by the air traffic control system. The algorithm may also be used for planning fuel conservative descents when time is not a consideration. The descent path was calculated for a constant Mach/airspeed schedule from linear approximations of airplane performance with considerations given for gross weight, wind, and nonstandard temperature effects. The flight management descent algorithm and the vertical performance modeling required for the DC-10 airplane is described

A comparison of two position estimate algorithms that use ILS localizer and DME information. Simulation and flight test results

Simulation and flight tests were conducted to compare the accuracy of two algorithms designed to compute a position estimate with an airborne navigation computer. Both algorithms used ILS localizer and DME radio signals to compute a position difference vector to be used as an input to the navigation computer position estimate filter. The results of these tests show that the position estimate accuracy and response to artificially induced errors are improved when the position estimate is computed by an algorithm that geometrically combines DME and ILS localizer information to form a single component of error rather than by an algorithm that produces two independent components of error, one from a DMD input and the other from the ILS localizer input

Profits and Productivity

In this study we consider the linkage between productivity change and profit change. We develop an analytical framework in which profit change between one period and the next is decomposed into three sources: (i) a productivity change effect (which includes a technical change effect and an operating efficiency effect), (ii) an activity effect (which includes a product mix effect, a resource mix effect and a scale effect), and (iii) a price effect. We then show how to quantify the contribution of each effect, using only observed prices and quantities of products and resources in the two periods. We illustrate our analytical decomposition of profit change with an empirical application to Spanish banking during the period 1987 - 1994.Profits, Productivity

Applications of Machine Learning for Real-time Road Anomaly Identification

Infrastructure degradation is becoming a wide-reaching problem in the United States, and there is a need to determine ways to intelligently distribute taxpayer money when addressing the issues. This paper investigates the use of smartphones to classify various road anomalies by using on-board sensors, including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and a cameras. Having a relatively robust sensor array in a ubiquitous device allows for crowdsourcing of data collection, and makes mapping large road networks that are prevalent in the US much more feasible. Specifically, this paper will propose a novel machine learning algorithm that can identify and differentiate between four different classifications of road anomalies, as opposed to the binary approach (using thresholding) that has been employed in similar studies. Additionally, this approach will be able to classify anomalies by severity, as well as provide an estimate of overall road roughness using the International Roughness Index (IRI). This data will allow for more accurate evaluations of overall road conditions than similar methods, and will allow preventive maintenance to be performed, potentially saving time and money

The reduction of the effect of the Muller-Lyer illusion on saccade amplitude by classic adaptation

The effect of Müller-Lyer stimuli on saccade amplitude varies across studies. One methodological difference between studies is stimulus display time; studies with long stimulus display times tend to report smaller effects than studies with short display times. Is it possible that long display times might provide conditions in which saccade adaption takes place? Five adult subjects were exposed to runs of the same illusion-inducing Müller-Lyer stimulus, presented for 1 s, interspersed with probe trials in which a point target was presented for 200 ms. While saccade amplitude was consistently larger with ‘in-configurations’ than with ‘out-configurations’ at the beginning of runs, amplitude declined over runs with the in-configuration. On average, it was constant in out-configuration runs. The net effect was a decline in the apparent effect size (in-amp − out-amp / out-amp) of the Müller-Lyer stimulus. Probe trial saccade amplitude increased in ‘out’ runs and decreased in ‘in’ runs. These effects were not present in control experiments, in which stimulus display time was 200 ms. One explanation for this pattern of results is that long stimulus presentation times allow for the generation of retinal error signals. This in turn leads to saccade adaptation, causing an underestimation of the effect of this type of stimulus on saccade amplitude