Data Link Performance for Air-to-Air Collision Avoidance

Abstract

One of the key technologies in future air traffic management is air-to-air communication. Especially data links, that is, direct wireless transmission of digital data will play a major role for air traffic applications like ad-hoc integration in air spaces, separation, collision avoidance and landing. Recently, the avionics engineering center of the Ohio University has developed a high-precision navigation solution for use in these areas, especially collision avoidance. Prerequisite for this is the availability of a reliable data link. DLR deals with the development and simulation of future data links within the project Air2Air. Working together, Ohio University and DLR have carried out a series of flight experiments in late 2012 and start of 2013, during which data link performance was recorded and evaluated with a special emphasis on transmission of high-framerate, high-precision navigational information. In this paper we will present some results from these recordings together with considerations concerning future applications of data links for collision avoidance methods.