A Distributed Networked Capability for Simulations of Current Day and NextGen Airspace Environments

Thomas Z. StrybelCenter for Human Factors in Advanced Aeronautics Technologies (CHAAT)

A NASA University Research CenterAugust 15, 2011

Overview

• What is CHAAT• Why distributed simulations?• NASA Software Involved:

– AOL and FDDRL• Benefits to NASA

– Remote support– Onsite support

• Benefits to CHAAT– Education experiences– Research

• Acknowledgements

A NASA University Research Center Achieve broad-based, competitive aerospace research capability among the nation's minority institutions Foster new aerospace science and technology concepts and expand the nation's base for aerospace R & D Increase the participation of socially and economically disadvantaged students in STEM careers

What is CHAAT?

CHAAT Research Goals• Metrics for operator situation awareness,

workload and performance in NextGen• Part-task simulations for identifying the most

promising automation concepts• Information requirements and critical task

components for training future NextGen operators

• Design recommendations for human-machine interfaces

CHAAT Education Goals• Attract and train more students in NASA-

relevant majors (especially minority and underrepresented groups )

• Inspire K-12 students to pursue STEM careers.

• Opportunities for faculty collaborations between NASA and other universities

Overview: NextGen

NextGen changes: • Roles and responsibilities

between air and ground operators

• Automation technologies • CONOPS• Increased reliance on

automation

Changes affect:• Situation awareness• Workload• Performance

CHAAT:• Metrics for operator situation awareness, workload

and performance in NextGen• Part-task simulations for identifying the most

promising automation concepts• Information requirements and critical task

components for training future NextGen operators • Design recommendations for human-machine

interfaces

Comprehensive Overhaul of NAS

• increase capacity • improve safety• increase reliability

Distributed Simulation?

*Lee, A.T. (2005). Flight Simulation: Virtual Environments in Aviation. Vermont: Ashgate

** Prevot, T. (2002). Exploring the many perspectives of distributed air traffic management: The multi aircraft control system MACS. International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction in Aeronautics, HCI-Aero 2002, 23-25 October, MIT, Cambridge, MA..

Why: Cognitive Fidelity*• Degree to which the simulated task environment

places cognitive demands on operators that are comparable to those experienced in operational settings

Implications for Human-in-the-Loop (HIL) Simulations • Simulations must place demands on information

acquisition and integration, decision making, problem solving, etc.

• Involves simulators and task environment

NextGen Simulations** • Cognitive fidelity achieved by:

• Automating roles that are not the focus of the researchAdding more role players to

the simulationEducational Benefit• A valuable tool for training the

future workforce in human factors and NASA-relevant STEM technologies

What: Human-in-the-loop simulations over the internet when operators and/or participants are located at remote sites

Distributed Simulation CHAAT- FDDRL

Multi-aircraft Control System (MACS)• Used for simulations, rapid prototyping,

and concept evaluation• Can be configured for several operating

modes: • ATC en route, ATC TRACON, pilot,

pseudopilot, simulation manager, etc.)

Aeronautical Datalink and Radar Simulator (ADRS) • Routes information amongst client

processes during a simulation• Provides data about precise aircraft

positions and states, flight plans, etc.

Software: MACS and ADRS from NASA AOL (Prevot, 2002)

MACS DSR Mode MACS Simulation MangerMACS Single Pilot Mode

Software: 3D-CSD and DagVoice from FDDRL 3D Cockpit Situation Display (CSD) (Grandada et al., 2005)• Volumetric representation of the

surrounding 3D traffic environment, • Terrain, weather, CD&R, spacing

DAGVoice (Canton et al., 2005)• Multicast, multichannel, voiceIP

communication system • Emulates pilot and ATC radio

communications

Distributed Master - FDDRL (George Lawton)

Capabilities• Integrates simulation system start-up using

single interface • Send commands using script-based code• Provides system-wide status feedback• Updates simulation software on all stations• Finds, copies, and transfers data to file serverAdvantages• Reduces number of points of failure• Provides control over system start-up and

shutdown• Provides basic system error alerting• Enables minimally-intrusive remote

troubleshooting and system restart control• Easy and consistent data archiving function

CHAAT Simulation Capability Benefits NASA• A flexible high-cognitive-fidelity HIL simulation capability

at a reduced cost• NASA FDDRL has expanded its flight deck simulation

capability by adding pseudopilot stations and an ATC center for its simulations of flight deck automation tools without adding physical components and personnel

– CHAAT has served as ground control for several FDDRL simulations of pilot merging and spacing operations in the presence of weather.

– Hardware, software, and trained operators available for all simulation roles– Operators obtained from retired ATCs in the community, student ATCs from

MtSAC, and students at CSULB who are studying human factors

CHAAT Remote-Site Support of NASA FDDRL Simulations • Distributed Simulation of UAS’s Flying in Terminal Airspace (2006)

• Trajectory Oriented Operations with Limited Delegation during Convective Weather (TOOWiLDx) Simulation Demonstrations (2008)

• Evaluation of Automated Spacing Support Tools for Interval Management Operations under Hazardous Weather Conditions (2009)

• Situation Awareness and Workload with Trajectory Oriented Operation in Weather I and II (2009)

Situation Awareness and Workload in Trajectory Oriented Operations with Weather

777 Cockpit Simulator

Desktop Cockpits

Simulation Manager Distributed Master

En route ATCs

Ghost ATCs

Pseudopilots

CHAAT CSULB NASA FDDRL

ADRS

PseudopilotsPseudopilots

A Distributed Simulation: NASA and Three Universities

CHAAT On-Site Support of NASA Simulations• FDDRL

– Five students support FDDRL simulation project WATERSHED (2011)

– Four students and faculty support FDDRL simulation project SAFARI (2010)

– Three students support FDDRL Audio Twitter simulation project (2009)

• FDDRL and AOL– Three students support air-ground simulation of off-nominal

events (2008)• Aviation Systems Division

– One student supports UAVs flying in high altitude airspace simulation (Access-5)

Educational Benefits of Distributed Simulation

Distributed Simulation

“Hands On” Distance Learning

CHAAT Students • Interact with NASA scientists remotely and directly

• E.g., CHAAT interns trained at CSULB prior to arriving at NASA• Students graduate with expertise and experience in

• Basic and applied research and experimental design• Airspace operations (air and ground)• Simulation development and analysis• Scenario development• Airspace human factors

•NASA and aerospace industry get workforce with “known” capabilities

CHAAT Students Benefit from NASA Software• 4 student theses in progress based on MACS and CSD

• Over 40 graduate/undergraduate students trained in NASA software, simulation techniques, airspace operations and human factors

• Over 60 students from MtSAC have gained radar experience prior to entering the FAA Academy

• Approximately 20 eighth-grade girls were exposed to ATC operations and NASA software

AcknowledgementsWe at CSULB and CHAAT thank NASA for their continued support of our distributed simulation capability, research and training programs.

Walter JohnsonVern BattisteJoel LachterArik-Quang DaoRiva CantonDominic WongRichard MogfordSummer BrandtGeorge LawtonJay Shively

Tom PrevotEv PalmerJoey MercerPaul LeeNancy SmithJeff HomolaDave McNallyP.K. KopardekarMichelle Eschow

Patty JonesTodd CallentineJohn RobinsonMary ConnorsSavvy VermaBrenda CollinsMaria LopezKatrina Emery

Thank You!!