1. NASA Related CNS Test Facilities – Future Use for AI Development
Presented at
Airborne Internet Consortium Meeting
March 3, 2004

2. 4th Integrated CNS Conference & Workshop
Hosted by the Space Communications Program,
NASA Glenn Research Center
April 26-29, 2004
Hyatt Fair Lakes, Fairfax, Virginia
Audience
Industry and academic communities performing research and technology development for advanced digital communications systems and associated applications supporting the national and global air transportation systems.
Goals
Understand current efforts and recent results in near- and far-term research and technology demonstration.
Identify integrated digital communications, navigation and surveillance research requirements necessary for a safe, high-capacity, advanced air transportation system.
Foster collaboration and coordination among all stakeholders.
Discuss critical issues and develop recommendations to achieve the future integrated CNS vision for the national and global air transportation system.
Integrated Communications Navigation Surveillance

3. Outline
Today’s Purpose: Understand and assist in setting directions for AIC input into the use of existing and planned test facilities at the NASA Glenn Research Center ---- from a contractor’s perspective.
Background – overall evolving concept
FASTE-CNS
Virtual Aircraft & Controller Test System
Aeronautical Network Research System
Supported by:

4. N-ACT: The Concept
N-ACTS = National Aeronautical CNS Test System: A study to look at concept of CNS Test Facilities to be considered for the ACAST Project
Develop the national capability to provide a realistic environment that supports the assessment, validation, and the development of future advanced, integrated Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) information infrastructure for both national and global airspace systems.

5. Integrated CNS Laboratory Concept
N-ACT Laboratory Management and Control
System Administrator
System Manager
Experiment Support Software
Test and Metrics Software
Electronic Development Library
Access Control and Security Management
On-Site
User
Off-Site
User
ATN
NADIN PSN
WWW
Interfaces
VSCS
Telco
Others
Communications Models
Navigation Models
Surveillance Models
Integrated CNS Models
Modeling & Simulation
Facility
Mobile Testbeds
Information Exchange
Aircraft Comm Systems
Ground Comm Systems
Scripted Applications
“Man-in-the-Loop” App’ls
Multi-System Test
Laboratory Testbed
Communications
Air/Air
Air/Ground
Ground/Ground
Data Link
SATCOM
Multi-Spectrum
Voice
VDL
Space Centric
Aircraft Centric
Ground Centric
Navigation
Surveillance
Radar/SIF
Multilateration
Space Based
Aircraft Centric
Other Ground Centric

6. N-ACT Laboratory Test bed Concept
Virtual
Aircraft
Environment
Surveillance Environment
(System Under Test)
Communications Environment
R/T
Router
Ground
Radio
A/G Router
Air
Navigation Environment
GPS DB
“Man-in-the-Loop”
Applications
System
Manager
N-ACT
Server
On-Site
Experiment
Users
Electronic
Development
Library
Scripted
SATCOM
Station
Web Router
Interface
Data Exchange
Off-Site
User

7. N-ACT Functional Interactions
ATM Facilities
ATCSCC
FSS/AFSS
ATCT
TRACON
ARTCC
N-ACT
R & D Facilities C N S
Future
EuroControl
Volpe TC
GRC
WJHTC
FFRDC
System Under Test
Data Exchange
LaRC
Landing
Aids
Surveillance
ARC
Navigation
Vendors
COMM
RCAG
Avionics
Airframe
CNS/ATM System
Providers
Communications
Service Providers
Weather Service
DoHLS
R & D Universities
DoD
CNS Field Sites
AOC

8. Future Aeronautical Subnetwork Traffic Emulator – CNS (FASTE-CNS)

9. Background
Need for effective tools to model and analyze existing communications loads, and plan for required communications capacity in future
NASA initiated Virtual Airspace Modeling and Simulation (VAMS) project
NASA GRC leading the effort to integrate Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS ) tools to be part of the Virtual Airspace Simulation Technologies (VAST) toolbox
As part of VAMS and VAST efforts NASA sponsored the development of Future Aeronautical Sub-networks Traffic Evaluator (FASTE) for CNS System – Beta tested in 2003
GRC developed Software Requirements Specifications for CNS models

10. Generic Loading Analysis
App. 1
Aircraft Load
Profile
Trans.1-n
Param.1-k
Aircraft
Density
Performance .
Type of Aircraft
- Commercial
- Regional
- Business
- General
- Military
Phase of Flight
Assigned Media
App. n
Location
Type of Aircraft
Media Characteristics
System Loading
Resources Required
What if?
Trans.1-n
Param.1-k
Media 1 .
Media n
FASTE-CNS Process Model

11. FASTE-CNS Architecture
User Management
Application Message Sets
Media
Communications Profile
Geographic Region
Aircraft Density
Communication Load
# - Frequencies Needed
Capabilities
Web and
Application
Services
(IIS Server)
IE / Netscape
Data
Repository
(SQL Server)
Government
Universities
Industry
Internet

12. FASTE-CNS Project

13. Communications Load Display

14. Aircraft Density Profiles

15. Load/Frequency Report

16. Providing the means to foster inter-agency and industry collaboration
Library Models
Private and public (library) analysis files
Models in library can be copied and modified by user
Included Reference Geographic Regions
Continental United States (CONUS)
East Coast Corridor
East Coast
West Coast
Los Angles Basin
Providing the means to foster inter-agency and industry collaboration

17. CONUS Model Characteristics
Divided into 153 subregions (200 mi squares)
Almost 8,000 aircraft, which is a busy hour in 2010
Aircraft types
Commercial carriers (CC)
Regional carriers (RC)
General aviation (GA)
Model data link applications and media
ADS-B on 1090 ES (CC & RC) and UAT (GA)
TIS-B on 1090 ES (CC & RC) and UAT (GA)
FIS-B on VDL-2 Broadcast (All)
CPDLC on VDL-2 (CC & RC)
LAAS on VHF Datalink (CC & RC)

18. CONUS Model

19. CONUS Model Applications & Media

20. Comm Profile - Single Commercial Aircraft

21. Comm Requirements for the Region

22. FASTE Enhancements for CNS
Enhancements support pre- and post-trial analysis for OpCons
Pre-trial: Communications data input into current FASTE-CNS system
Post-trial: OpCons simulation data used to perform analysis
Communications models - Medium fidelity
Model voice, ACARS, and VDL Mode 2 media
Pre-trial results are available using the current version of FASTE-CNS with GUI enhancements
Post-trial analysis will use data collected from the operational simulation conducted in the ACES environment. Enhanced FASTE comm simulation model will provide the impact of comm on the OpCon.

23. FASTE Enhancements for CNS
Navigation model - Low fidelity
Data collected from the operational simulation conducted in the ACES environment used to model GPS and VOR/DME reported positions throughout the flight.
Enhanced FASTE simulation model will provide occurrences of separation criteria violations.

24. FASTE Enhancements for CNS
Surveillance model - Medium fidelity
Data collected from the operational simulation conducted in the ACES environment used to model Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) reported positions throughout the flight.
Enhanced FASTE simulation model will provide occurrences of separation criteria violations.

25. Access & Participation
Ready for use today without CNS Models Enhancements
Consider AIC Working Group to use as an AI Requirements tool
Go to to sign up
CNS Models available in August 2004

26. Virtual Aircraft and Controller (VAC)
CNS Test System

27. NASA GRC System Testbed Configuration
ATN Build A
Developed over 120,000 LOC of ATN Compliant Software
Part of Aerosapient Flight Tests
C++ and JAVA
MCDU and Enroute Controller HMIs

28. VAC the Data Link Testing Tool
Purpose: Support realistic message traffic testing of multiple subnetworks (e.g., VDL M2, VDL M3, SATCOM, etc.)
How: Distributed data link communications emulator:
160 individual, separately script-driven (autonomous) aircraft with “free-play” responses
Script-driven (autonomous) controller with “free-play” responses
Human-interactive aircraft (pilot) position
Human-interactive controller position
System manager:
Single point of control and test data collection
and reporting
Online and offline performance reporting
Using: Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN) SARPs compliant:
Build C using ADS-B and TIS-B
Context Management (CM) service messages
CPDLC Baseline 1 message set (68 uplink, 36 downlink)
Up to 5 Concatenated Message elements per message
TP4/CNLP ISO Protocols

29. Functional Configuration
Communications Subnetwork
Human Interactive
Aircraft
G/A Router
Receiver /
Transmitter
Autonomous
Aircraft
A/G Router
Autonomous
Aircraft
Human Interactive
Controller
Autonomous
Aircraft
Receiver /
Transmitter
Autonomous
Controller
Autonomous
Aircraft
System
Manager

30. Virtual Aircraft & Controller
Airborne
Radio(s) &
A/G Router
Sub-Network Environment
(System Under Test)
R/T
Router
Ground
Radio
Laboratory Facility
Human
Interactive
Controller
Aircraft
System
Manager
Virtual Aircraft Environment
(Up to 160 A/C)
LAN
Virtual
Controller PC
Aircraft PCs
Virtual Controller Environment

31. VAC Build B System Architecture

32. Aircraft/Controller Functionality
GUIs
Emulates Generic ATC Workstation
Emulates Generic MCDU
Message Alerting & Display
Message Selection & Composition
Actions Taken Indicators
“Free Play” CPDLC with ATSP
Controller Display has Full Data Blocks
Human Interactive Aircraft & Controller
“Human in the Loop” Testing
User Configuration, Initialization and Experiment
Responses Based on Received Message
Monitored by System Manager
Communications:
ATN Compliant (TP4/CLNP)
Between Interactive Controller and Aircraft via ATN Subnetwork
With System Manager
Automatically Saves all Configuration and Experiment Data
CM Services
CM Logon
CM End
CM Abort
CPDLC Services
CPDLC Start Request
CPDLC Message Service
CPDLC End Service Request
Autonomous Aircraft & Controller
Up to 160 Aircraft Emulated
Script Driven
Timed Aircraft Requests
Timed Controller Instructions
Automated Response to Requests based on Received Message
Managed, Controlled and Monitored by System Manager
Communications:
ATN Compliant (TP4/CLNP)
Between Aircraft and Controller via ATN Subnetwork
With System Manager
Automatically Saves all Configuration and Experiment data
CPDLC Messages
SARPs Compliant CPDLC
69 Uplink Messages
36 Downlink Messages
ADLS Baseline 1 Message Set
Message Element Concatenation

33. System Manager Functionality
Experiment Scripting
User Constructs Scenario Scripts
Supports Aircraft Departure to Arrival Profile
Supports Background Loading with CPDLC Messages
ATN SARPs Compliant Messages
Script Library
Prints Scripts in Human Readable Form
System Configuration
Select Workstations for Experiment
Select Controller Workstations
Assign Aircraft for Each Workstation
Assign Script to Each Aircraft
Assign 24-bit Address to Each Aircraft
Assign Facility Designation to Controller
Assign Unique NSAPs to Each Aircraft and Controller
Enter Experiment Start and Stop Times
Autonomous Operations
Initiated and Controlled by System Manager
Not Affected by Human Interactive Operations
System Initialization
Distributes Configuration Data to Workstations
Monitor
Communications Delay Measurements
Communications Status of Each Workstation
Error Message Status
Reporting
User Selectable Reports
Display, Save, and Print Reports
On-line Reports
End-to-End Delay
Error Messages
Off-line Reports
Experiment Summary
Message Transmitted List
Message Received List
Master Message List
Related Events
Data Transfer
Online - Real Time Status
Offline - Post-Experiment File Transfer of Aircraft and Controller Files for Data Reduction
Script Monitoring and Display
Monitor Scenario Progress on System Manager Display
Monitor Status of Individual Autonomous Aircraft Script Execution
System Control
Start and Stop Experiment
Data Reduction
Processes Data for use in Reporting

34. Human Interactive Message Exchanges
Features
Emulates Generic MCDU/Controller
SARPs Compliant Baseline 1 CPDLC message set
105 Messages
Message Element Concatenation
5 Message Elements
“Free Play” CPDLC between Aircraft & Controller
Message Alerting & Display
Message Selection & Composition
Aircraft Display
Enroute Controller Display
ATN
NETWORK*
TP4/
CLNP
TP4/
CLNP
Manual Message Input and Response
* CPDLC over IPv4 and IPv6 available

35. VAC-Build C System Overview
Provides for TIS-B and ADS-B communications loading for testing of related subnetworks (conforms to RTCA Standards)
Consists of upgrades to Build B major component applications:
Human Interactive Aircraft (HIA)
Human Interactive Controller (HIC)
Autonomous Aircraft (AA)
Autonomous Controller (AC)
System Manager
TIS-B and ADS-B receive capability to be added to AA (max 160), AC, HIA and HIC; ADS-B transmit to be added to HIA and AA (up to 40)
Add user capability to display TIS-B traffic on a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) – Ames Software GFE
SM upgraded to provide means to script flight plans for up to 160 aircraft, control experiments, and record data.

36. VAC- Build C Logical System ArchitectureAA
ATN EP
C-Agent
A-Syscon
I-Agent
Aircraft
1of N
TIS-B
Handler
ADS-B
CDTI
I/F
UDP
TIGER
CDTI*
Display
CP-ASE CF DS
ACSE
COPP
COSP
CM-ASE CM AE
CPDLC xN
HIC
C-Syscon
GUI
HIA
Local
Store AC
UDP/IP
(TIS-B, ADS-B)
TP4/CNLP (Control and CM/CPDLC)
ATN EP
Mascon
Configure
M-Agent
Initializer
Monitor
Start
Stop
Logger
Reporter
Scripts
System Manager
Database
TIS-B
Handler
ADS-B
CDTI
I/F
UDP
TIGER
CDTI*
Display
C Agent
Data
Reduction
ATN EP
I-Agent
ASFPG
*NASA Provided

37. Leverage Investments for ACAST
Aeronautical Network Research System (ANRS)
VAC Build C plus functional messages sets for AOC, FIS
Enhanced Flight Planning Scenario tools
RF simulation of moving platforms equipped with multiple emitters
Employs capabilities developed in the multiyear program of the USAF (Joint Communications Simulator)
Systems Engineering Phase to guide directions and capabilities

38. NASA Eurocontrol IPv6 Project

39. Aviation IP Project - Network Interconnection Diagram
NASA GRC (Cleveland, OH)
Eurocontrol (Brussels, Belgium)
Mobile IPv4
DNS CA
IPv4
IPv6
DNS CA
ATS Application
NETWORK
IPv4
IPv6
ATS Application
IPv4
IPv6
Regional Network
NAS Emulator
x.25
IPv6
IPv4
Regional Network
IPv4
IPv6
Experimental Centre (Paris, France)
IPv6
Computer Networks & Software, Inc (Springfield, VA)
Secure CPDLC
DNS CA
DNS CA
Secure CPDLC
ATS Application

40. NASA – Eurocontrol IPv6 Test Infrastructure
50+ entities

41. Next Steps
Form a know process to relate our inputs to the NASA GRC Program and Technical Managers

42. Computer Networks & Software, Inc.
Contacts
Computer Networks & Software, Inc.
7405 Alban Station Ct.
Suite B-215
Springfield, VA
Chris Wargo
(cell)