Surface movement radar

Abstract: The Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) requirements are challenging because airports have many shadowing problems, targets with dgferent dynamics and minimal spatial separation, heavy clutter and multipath. This paper illustrates a new approach to the tracking applied to the data of the SMR (Surface Movement Radar) based on Variable Structure Interactive Multiple Model (VS- IMW which uses the airport map data. On the airport the target movement is in fact locally constrained by roads and runways, while in proximity of junctions the targets have a limited numbers of manoeuvres. The improvement brought by the VS-IMM with respect to the classical tracking algorithm has been demonstrated by simulation results and application to real data.

Abstract: A block-processing methodology to dynamically estimate and cancel systematic multiple sensor errors is proposed and analyzed. Bias estimators are obtained from sequential consecutive blocks of measurement differences, achieving an accuracy equivalent to that reachable with an extended Kalman filter (EKF) operating over each pair, but with improved computational efficiency. The algorithm is formulated generically first and then applied to solve practical problems identified when fusing data on airport surfaces: global calibration, clock shift and local systematic deviations of sensor references. Performance, with significant improvement in tracking accuracy, is illustrated in simulated representative airport scenarios, fusing data from surface movement radar (SMR) and cooperative sensors

Abstract: An airport surveillance function operating on surface movement radar (SMR) images is proposed and evaluated. The main contributions presented are the statistical error models of the target centroid and attributes extracted from radar images, developed and applied to the design of its main data processing blocks. Besides a multihypothesis image-to-tracks assignment method, a tracking filter using the extracted orientation and a classification scheme based on target attributes is detailed. The error models confidence and processing methods performance are demonstrated through simulation in representative scenarios.

Abstract: Runway incursion is defined by the FAA as "any occurrence at an airport involving an aircraft, vehicle, person or object on the ground that creates collision hazard or results in a loss of separation with an aircraft taking off, intending to take off, landing or intending to land." A summary of how severe this problem is can be found in a 2001 hearing before the Subcommittee on Aviation. Surface movement radar (SMR) technology has evolved over the years as part of an effort to mitigate runway incursion risks and enhance airport capacity. Surface movement surveillance systems of various types have been installed in major airports as early as the 1960s, and have kept evolving. The most recent system currently being deployed in the US by the FAA is the airport surface movement detection equipment model X (ASDE-X) system. In this system, unlike previous systems, the surface movement radar is just one of several sensors that are used in addition to transponder multilateration and GPS-based position reports, referred to as automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast or ADS-B; however, the SMR is a key subsystem. This paper contains an overview of the state-of-the-art SMR technology and provides an introduction on the use of radar technology for this commercial application. It focuses on the architecture, characteristics and technology of the radar sensor, the characteristics of the clutter and how it affects the performance, effects of multipath, automatic detection and comparison of several sensor architectures. Sensis Corporation has recently completed the testing of a new, improved SMR, which is now part of ASDE-X system. This paper summarizes the main features of this radar