Project Title:

Aircraft Wake Tracking, Analysis and Algorithm Development

Coherent Technologies, Inc.
P.O.  Box 7488
Boulder, CO 80306-7488

93-1		03.02	8736			Amount Requested $ 69,116

Aircraft Wake Tracking, Analysis and Algorithm Development

Abstract:

NASA has recently begun a program to improve terminal area 
productivity (capacity) that will serve to simultaneously save 
airline operating costs and improve aviation safety.  Reduction of 
aircraft spacing during instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions 
requires a thorough understanding of environmental effects on wake 
vortex transport and decay mechanisms.  In the proposed program, 
existing algorithms for processing coherent lidar data to locate 
and track aircraft wake vortices and to display the wake structure 
are to be expanded.  A currently available database of wake 
measurements made at Stapleton International Airport will be 
analyzed with existing algorithms for wake tracks and wake 
strengths.  Tracks will be correlated with available environmental 
data and analyzed for wake decay and transport mechanisms.  A 2D 
Kalman hydro-code analysis will be upgraded and applied to these 
data and the results assessed for capability of the Kalman 
procedure to identify wake structure.  An analysis of the 
requirements for implementation in 3D with a high PRF system will 
be developed and incorporated into the existing real-time processor 
using a limited 3D grid and evaluated for capability to handle an 
upgrade to a high PRF.  Memory and CPU requirements for a 3D 
implementation of the Kalman analysis will be determined and a 
design for an upgraded real-time processor will be developed.

The proposed development of algorithms and an advanced real-time 
processor will support a wide range of applications.  Applications 
include: ground-based airport scanning systems for windshear and 
vortex wake applications; various on-board sensing scenarios, 
including detection of trailing vortices; airdata applications 
involving wind vector data acquisition; and processing for 
autopilot input and flight control during clear-air turbulence or 
wake vortex encounters.

lidar, laser radar, coherent detection, wake vortex