AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL ALERTING SYSTEM

Our system monitors activity in the control tower to ensure alertness of personnel. ACAS is an inexpensive alerting system that can be easily installed within existing control towers and ATC facilities without requiring prohibitively expensive retrofitting of components or systems. A control box is plugged into the control panel and radar scope. It monitors incoming and outgoing voice transmissions on selected VHF/UHF frequencies monitored on the panel/workstation. It also monitors keystrokes on the same panel by the controller.

  • In the case of repeated or unanswered radio incoming calls, or lack of controller activity for a predetermined period, a discrete amber light on the scope is illuminated. Requiring “Controller Response.”

  • If after another predetermined period there is still no activity or response, the light starts flashing with an oral alert. Still no response, the system immediately contacts outside command and control / first responders in the chain of command and control.

ACAS PROBLEM & OPPORTUNITY

Problem:

  • Findings by the Federal Aviation Administration have shown that a problem exists with inattentive or sleeping air traffic controllers. “Chronic fatigue has increased in the operational Air Traffic Control (ATC) population.”

  • Low airport or air traffic, especially during night operations, coupled with chronic fatigue, can result in operators either becoming inattentive or falling asleep on the job. “Controllers reported they experienced fatigue and also perceived fatigue in their colleagues.”

  • Given the critical nature of the air traffic controller's job, inattention or falling asleep can have disastrous consequences up to and including airplane crashes and loss of life.

Opportunity:

• Velocity Metrics, LLC has developed a theoretical system that will alert air traffic controllers and/or first emergency responders when air traffic controllers have become inattentive or otherwise disabled. The invention can be used in any setting where human interjection and monitoring is required.

• ACAS is compatible with existing control tower equipment or devices. ACAS is relatively simple to operate and will utilize a minimal amount of hardware since complexity and addition of components increases cost, both in initial install or setup and in ongoing maintenance.

• The ideal alerting system will operate in stages with progressively intrusive alerting mechanisms for garnering the awareness of an ATC Controller. Furthermore, ACAS would operate on both a local level within the controlling facility and be capable of external notification outside of or remote to the control tower or ATC facilities.

 MARKET TRACTION/R&D

  • Pilot systems in the commercial airline industry have responded to similar issues with inattentive or sleeping pilots. Aircrafts have been outfitted with an alerting system to ensure pilots do not fall asleep while operating an airborne aircraft. This system starts with a caution light, elevates to warning with an oral alert, then elevates to land based company dispatch (who can further elevate to authorities as needed).

  • NASA/JPL expressed interest in this system as it applies to spacecraft / personnel monitoring.

  • JPL, in support of future planetary relay communications from multiple assets, has already investigated this and published a paper on the subject.

  • Velocity Metrics, LLC proposes to leverage unique experience in developing autonomous communications systems as well as autonomous communications algorithms, digital signal processing and Software Defined Radios to architect, develop, build, and demonstrate the ACAS.

  • Given that the ACAS will need to autonomously monitor air traffic controller radio communications, ACAS requirements are strikingly similar to Electra's autonomous communications requirements.
    In fact, one of ACAS requirements is to monitor multiple radio channels simultaneously and to autonomously make decisions based upon the information derived from those channels concurrently.