ASTAIR: AI is coming to a control tower near you

Artificial intelligence from the ASTAIR project is designed to help traffic managers focus on more complex, safety-critical manoeuvres.

Aircraft taxiing is a task typically orchestrated from the air traffic control tower, where air traffic managers give clearances to move aircraft to and from the runway safely. "Although important, managing such routine movements takes up a considerable amount of a controller's time - time that could be better used on more complex, safety-critical manoeuvres," says Mathieu Cousy, a research engineer at the National School of Civil Aviation in France.

According to Cousy, this makes the management of aircraft ground movements a strong candidate for automation. ASTAIR is developing artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that can collaborate with ground operators and supervise routine taxiing tasks such as allocating tow vehicles.

Supported by SESAR JU, ASTAIR is designing a new concept of human-automation teaming, which combines advancements in autonomous taxiing vehicles with automation technologies, AI and user-centred interactions.

The project is also designing innovative human-machine interfaces that will coordinate the work being done by the air traffic controller with that being done by the algorithm, ensuring they both share a mutual situational awareness of what the other is doing.

Keeping humans in the loop

While AI will handle routine ground operations, it doesn't cut the human factor completely out ofthe picture."If anoutbound aircraft fails to adviseATC about a departure delay, our solution will automatically handle normal traffic, allowing the human controller to focus their complete attention on efficiently resolving the unexpected issue," adds Cousy.

The project is currently puttingthe finaltouches on its human-machine interfaces and AI algorithms. Partners are currently preparing to launch validation exercises simulating several European airports, during which operational feedback on the concept's usability will be collected.

"By combining taxiing solutions withautomation technology, ASTAIR is well-positioned to increase airport ground traffic capacity and predictability, giving air traffic control

a clear path towards more efficient ground operations and more on-time departures," concludes Cousy.

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