Future Outlook

  • A modern FAA communications architecture will encompass sensor data, decision-support applications, and efficient sharing of information amongst the decision makers involved in operating the National Airspace System.
  • Applications are planned that will leverage Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) to improve safety, efficiency, and capacity in congested airspace.

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    weather radar imageryLincoln Laboratory is supporting the FAA's development of ADS-B surveillance applications over the Gulf of Mexico. Satellite-derived positions for ADS-B will be merged with ground radar tracks to provide a high-quality integrated surveillance picture to air traffic controllers.

     

  • Increased emphasis is being placed on the development and testing of next-generation paradigms for aircraft-separation assurance on the airport surface and during flight. This effort includes evolution of deployed collision-avoidance technologies such as TCAS and Runway Status Lights, as well as simulation, analysis, and robustness testing of future concepts.
  • The Laboratory will develop concepts and prototypes of enhanced air traffic management decision-support tools focused on weather-delay reduction.
  • Development and test of an MPAR prototype array with associated control and processing functions are under way to demonstrate aircraft and weather surveillance.
  • The Laboratory will develop low-cost sensors and advanced algorithms to improve the safe integration of unmanned aircraft into civil airspace.

 

 

 

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