MIT engineers infuse FAA Terminal Flight Data Manager prototype with 4D data visualization using Luciad software
WASHINGTON, 7 Nov. 2012. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials needed a technology partner to produce a prototype FAA Terminal Flight Data Manager (FAA TFDM) reference implementation at the Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) International airport. They found their partner in MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL).
The FAA commissioned MIT LL engineers to develop a prototype reference implementation for new TFDM terminal automation platform. MIT LL engineers, in turn, selected an aviation-oriented display product from Luciad, maker of high-performance visualization solutions for situational awareness applications in aviation.
Engineers used Luciad software to develop the Tower Information Display System (TIDS) traffic situational awareness prototype display. They completed the initial implementation in less than four months.
"The speed of development of the Luciad software, combined with the support for open aeronautical exchange models and 4D data representation, enabled MIT LL to rapidly develop the reference implementation," describes Lode Missiaen, CEO at Luciad Inc. "Luciad is pleased that its products are used by MIT LL to set the standard and demonstrate advanced Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) concepts in the TIDS application."
The Luciad-based TIDS application provides an integrated tower-user display suite for surface traffic information, taxi routing, and airport status. Luciad's technology enables the consolidation of disparate legacy tower systems into a single common operating picture.
The prototype TIDS display was shadow demonstrated in field tests at DFW airport, and underwent human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation tests at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center in 2010 and 2011.
The FAA solicitation release for the full operational TFDM capability is expected in Q4 2013 with award in Q3 2014.
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Courtney E. Howard | Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace
Courtney enjoys writing about all things high-tech in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics and space geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+.
