A Web-Based Negotiation Tool for Conflict Resolution in Upper Class E Traffic Management

What is it about?

This tool is a first of its kind software that uses a structured approach to help pilots in high-altitude operations (60,000+ ft) resolve potential conflicts ahead of time in a collaborative and iterative process. The paper explains in-depth how the implemented negotiation model works, the features of our application, and how a study was conducted using the tool. Our study's results explores the effectiveness of this software and its benefits for pilots that use the tool versus conventional methods.

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Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Currently, if two pilots were to come into conflict with one another at 60,000 ft and above, then the proposed communication method to resolve conflict is to call and/or message the other pilot to work together and figure out a solution to avoid conflict. However, this method is unstructured and does not guarantee a successful resolution or a fair and equitable solution. This can lead to a single pilot taking upon the burden of a full maneuver responsibility to avoid conflict, which adds extra mileage and fuel burned. Instead of hoping for a fair and equitable solution, our interactive program uses a structured based approach in a dual web-browser setting where two users go through an input-based back and forth proposal and response system to develop conflict-free new flight trajectories. By using a structured approach where two pilots in conflict cooperate and work together to algorithmically develop conflict-free flight trajectories, our initial results show that in most cases, there is a 25% in savings for the extra mileage needed to resolve conflict if two pilots take upon some maneuver responsibility versus one pilot taking the burden of a full maneuver responsibility.

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