Expert system for air traffic control and controller training

• US 4,827,418 A
• Filed: 11/18/1986
• Issued: 05/02/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UFA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: UFA, Inc.
• Inventors: Gerstenfeld, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Application Number:
  US06/931,867
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/300 MS File, 364/513, 364/578, 364/439
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/91 for traffic control G01S13/93 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/006 for locating or ranging of objects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/905 Vehicle or aerospace

Abstract

A expert system form of artificial intelligence for control of air traffic which may also be utilized for air traffic controller training. The expert system receives input data representing the altitude and heading of all aircraft in the control area. The aircraft data is compared with the data of the other aircraft. Sequencing and local flow control is optimized and if a potential conflict arises between two aircraft, clearances are transmitted to the aircraft to resolve the conflict. The aircraft data is also compared with a knowledge base of air traffic control rules for the particular airport involved. An inference engine written in LISP (or another AI language) allows real time access to the knowledge base. The position and heading of each aircraft is monitored and controlled until turned over to the tower for final approach. The expert system may also be used for air traffic controller training and be used as a intelligent tutor. The air traffic controller trainee'"'"'s clearances are input and compared to those generated by the system. If the trainee'"'"'s clearances are in error, or can be improved, the expert system prompts the trainee and coaches him in a way so that he learns from his past errors.

Claims

1. An expert data processing system to act as an intelligent tutor for air traffic controller training comprising:

means for simulating data transmitted from the aircraft that are to be controlled, said simulated data representing the position and heading of the aircraft;

means for input of air traffic control clearances by an air traffic controller trainee;

a stored program controlled computer having data input means for input of said simulated aircraft data and output means for output of control clearances;

data processing means for accessing the simulated aircraft data from a first aircraft and comparing said data to simulated data from another aircraft, means for comparing the data of said first and second aircraft with a knowledge base of aircraft control data, means for branching within said knowledge base based on said comparison, means for outputting control clearances based on a comparison of the simulated aircraft data with said knowledge base, means for comparing the control clearance generated by said data processing with said trainee'"'"'s control clearance and means for output of said control clearance, said trainee'"'"'s clearance and said comparison.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 further including display means connected to said output means, said display means displaying said control clearance, said trainee'"'"'s clearance and said comparison in juxtaposition to each other.