NEXT-GENERATION AIRCRAFT COLLISION AVOIDANCE

The Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) provides maneuver instructions to pilots during the last minute prior to collision. The current TCAS logic uses deterministic models and heuristic rules that limit the robustness of the system. This talk presents a new approach for designing collision avoidance logic that significantly enhances robustness and supports next generation airspace. The approach involves computer-based optimization based on a set of performance metrics and probabilistic models. The resulting collision avoidance system is poised to become the next international standard for collision avoidance for both manned and unmanned aircraft.

Speaker: Dr. Mykel Kochenderfer, Stanford