Evaluation of the Airport Target Identification System (ATIDS) Beacon Multilateration System (93-CRDA-0052)

摘要

The Airport Target Identification System (ATIDS) is a new surveillance and identification system for locating Mode Select Beacon System (Mode S) equipped aircraft and vehicles. Its primary use is as a surface Beacon surveillance system to provide Flight Number Identification (ID) to the existing Airport Surface Detection Equipment Model 3 (ASDE-3) radar and Airport Movement Area Safety System (AMASS) . The system is also capable of locating and identifying aircraft in flight or on the ground, which permits the use of the ATIDS system for Parallel Runway Monitor (PRM) and other airborne and surface surveillance applications. ATIDS is compatible with Mode S Automatic Dependent Surveillance (Mode S ADS-B), and can display the location and ID of properly equipped aircraft. ATIDS consists of three or more Receiver/Transmitters (R/Ts) encircling a predetermined coverage area. The system operates by receiving and time stamping the Mode S squitter from a target at three or more R/Ts; transmitting the squitter ID and time stamp to a central computer; measuring the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) of the squitter from each time stamp; and calculating the target's position by hyperbolic multilateration. The ATIDS system was evaluated using Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) test aircraft equipped with standard Mode S transponders. Surface accuracy performance was tested first at the Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) and then at the Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport (ATL), and was found to be adequate for the ASDE-3 labeling application, with a Root Mean Square (RMS) error of better than 3% feet. Airborne accuracy performance was evaluated at the ATL and found to be as accurate as the current Electronically Scanned (E-Scan) PRM for ranges greater than 7.24 miles, with an RMS error of better then 44 feet.