Real-time Simulations to Evaluate RPAS Contingencies in Shared Airspace

Abstract

This paper presents the work done within the second year of WP-E project ERAINT (Evaluation of the RPAS-ATM Interaction in Non-Segregated Airspace) that intends to evaluate by means of human-in-the-loop real-time simulations the interaction between a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) and the Air Traffic Management (ATM) when the first is being operated in shared airspace. This interaction will be evaluated from three different perspectives. First, the separation management its results were profusely described in [1]. Secondly, the contingency management, also including loss link situations, its results are presented in this paper. Finally, the impact of the dynamic mission changes on the overall ATM system will be investigated over the rest of the year. The used simulation infrastructure allows to simulate realistic exercises from both the RPAS Pilot-in-Command (PiC) and the Air Traffic Controller (ATCo) perspectives. Moreover, it permits to analyze the actual workload of the ATCo and to evaluate several support tools and different RPAS levels of automation from the PiC and ATCo sides. Preliminary results and the usefulness of the support tools are presented for each selected concept of operations.