Automated Conflict Resolution for Air Traffic Management Using Cooperative Multiagent Negotiation Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • The National Airspace System in its current incarnation is nearing its maximum capacity. The Free Flight initiative, which would alter the current system by allowing pilots to select more direct routes to their destinations, has been proposed as a solution to these problems. Allowing pilots to fly anywhere, as opposed to being restricted to planned jet-ways, greatly complicates the problem of ensuring separation between aircraft. In this paper we propose using cooperative, multi-agent negotiation techniques in order to efficiently and pseudo-optimally resolve air traffic conflicts. Our system makes use of software agents running in each aircraft that negotiate with one another to determine a safe and acceptable solution when a potential air traffic conflict is detected. The agents negotiate using the Monotonic Concession Protocol and communicate using aircraft to aircraft data links. There are many benefits to using such a system to handle the resolution of air traffic conflicts. Automating CD&R will improve safety by reducing the workload of air traffic controllers. Additionally, the robustness of the system is improved, as the decentralization provided by software agents running in each aircraft reduces the dependence on a single ground based system to coordinate all aircraft movements. The pilots, passengers, and carriers benefit as well due to the increased efficiency of the solutions reached by negotiation. Copyright 2004 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.

name of conference

  • AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference and Exhibit

published proceedings

  • AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference and Exhibit

author list (cited authors)

  • Wollkind, S., Valasek, J., & Ioerger, T.

citation count

  • 61

complete list of authors

  • Wollkind, Steve||Valasek, John||Ioerger, Thomas

publication date

  • August 2004