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Kleine Flugplätze durch Virtual Reality unterstützen

Supporting small airfields through virtual reality

byNathalie
April 21, 2020
2 minute read

The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and universities have developed a concept for cost-effective remote monitoring of small airfields. With the combination of several cameras and virtual reality goggles, one controller can carry out the work for several small airfields.

Camera systems that monitor aerodromes remotely offer air traffic control and aerodrome operators many new possibilities. However, the associated costs for the purchase, installation and maintenance of the latest remote monitoring technologies are almost impossible to bear for aerodromes with low traffic volumes and revenues. To enable these airfields to benefit from the advantages of remote monitoring, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) together with Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and RWTH Aachen University has developed an alternative concept that relies on more cost-effective components and virtual reality (VR).

View through virtual binoculars

Many smaller and very small aerodromes do not offer their air traffic customers complete and continuous air traffic control on site. At such aerodromes, there are only basic security services. The idea for such airports is a combination of a single pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera and a simple panoramic image of the aerodrome, the video images of which are displayed via virtual reality goggles.

If traffic is announced over the flight radio, the flight controller puts on the VR goggles, which he uses to control the PTZ camera. He captures the aircraft with the PTZ camera and sees the corresponding video image. By moving his head, he intuitively changes the direction of the PTZ camera in order to monitor the aerodrome area and traffic in a similar way to binoculars. To give the flight controller a better overall view, the image from the PTZ camera is supplemented with a simple panoramic image of the airfield, and the VR headset also gives the operator the opportunity to interact with their workstation system and other participants. Using virtual control elements, the operator can communicate as usual with other air traffic control services, operate aerodrome systems or process electronic flight strips, for example.

Tower for your pocket

In their concept, the researchers assume that small airfields could be connected to a central remote monitoring centre (remote tower centre) with such a remote monitoring solution in the future. One air traffic controller would then be centrally responsible for several aerodromes, which would theoretically open up new possibilities for small aerodromes. For example, they could offer location-independent and time-limited information and safety services that are currently not available to their customers.

The concept is at an early stage of development. Its usability in practice and the resulting effects are to be analysed and tested in further research work at the institute.

First prototype undergoing testing in Braunschweig

An initial prototype was developed at the DLR Institute of Flight Guidance in Braunschweig and tested with live data from Braunschweig Airport. Nine air traffic controllers and employees of flight information services (Aerodome Flight Information Service Officers) took part in a test campaign. Even though it became apparent that the use of VR is not suitable for all airports, the feedback from the groups basically confirmed the potential, especially for airports with low traffic volumes and the simplest flight information services.

Source: dlr

 

 

 

 

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