Engineering Air Traffic

Build Materials (For each team)

Required Materials

• Internet access
• NASA Flight Simulator – https://atcsim.nasa.gov/

Design Challenge

You are a team of engineers who have been given the challenge of evaluating current Air Traffic Control (ATC) technology — by using it yourselves — and recommending engineering changes that might make ATC safer or more efficient.

1. Break class into teams of 2-3.
2. Hand out the Engineering Air Traffic worksheet and give the NASA Flight Simulator website https://atcsim.nasa.gov/
3. Discuss the topics in the Background Concepts Section. Consider asking students whether they have seen an air control tower when they’ve traveled by plane. What are some of the things the people in the control tower need to worry about?
4. Review the Engineering Design Process and Design Challenge.
5. Explain that students will work as a team to virtually take over air traffic control in Sector 33 in the United States. Students will use a NASA simulation (https://atcsim.nasa.gov/) to plan route and/or speed changes to line up three planes so that they are traveling 3 nautical miles apart when they reach Modesto, CA (MOD).

In addition, time is critical, so the last plane must arrive as soon as possible, and the planes must never get closer than 2 nautical miles to each other.

6. Announce the amount of time they have to develop a plan (1 hour recommended).
7. Use a timer or an on-line stopwatch (count down feature) to ensure you keep on time. www.online-stopwatch.com/full-screen-stopwatch). Give students regular “time checks” so they stay on task. If they are struggling, ask questions that will lead them to a solution quicker.
8. Students meet and develop a plan for resolving the paths and speeds of their aircraft.
9. Teams execute their plans and try out the simulator.
10. Each team should complete four attempts at the problem and record their fastest completion speed.
11. Each team evaluates their results, and then meets to identify improvements they would engineer into the current interface between the radar and the human. For example, students might consider the criteria for selecting which plane should land first. Would they recommend the one with the most people, the one with the least fuel, or the one with more people making time sensitive flight connections?
12. As a class, discuss the student reflection questions.
13. For more content on the topic, see the “Digging Deeper” section.

For advanced high school students

Consider exploring Microsoft Flight Simulator Software (www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/avion-flight-simulator2015/9nblggh1p8lq#activetab=pivot:overviewtab)

Student Reflection (engineering notebook)

1. What was your team’s fastest speed in solving the air traffic control problem? How did this compare to the speed of other teams in your class?
2. What enhancements did your team determine engineers should consider adding to the radar interface? What problems did you think these engineered improvements would solve?
3. Software and hardware used in computing and data systems are frequently re-engineered. List a few examples in your classroom or school of equipment that has changed over the past few years? What problems do you think the engineers were attempting to address through their new design?
4. Discuss as a team what you think travel would be like if all the supporting technology and engineering were eliminated. Describe how a trip across your country would change in terms of time, cost, and comfort.
5. How else could air traffic be controlled?  Consider the use of global positioning systems, simple visual controls, and other methods.  What system or combination of current systems do you think is safest?

The lesson can be done in as little as 1 class period for older students. However, to help students from feeling rushed and to ensure student success (especially for younger students), split the lesson into two periods giving students more time to brainstorm, test ideas and finalize their design. Conduct the testing and debrief in the next class period.

Air Traffic Control System Technology 

ATC Explained 

Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. A controller’s primary task is to separate certain aircraft — to prevent them from coming too close to each other by use of lateral, vertical and longitudinal separation. Secondary tasks include ensuring orderly and expeditious flow of traffic and providing information to pilots, such as weather, navigation information and NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen).  

Technology Makes a Difference 

While some air traffic is managed visually, many technologies are used in air traffic control systems. Primary and secondary radar are used to enhance a controller’s “situational awareness” within his assigned airspace, because all types of aircraft send back primary echoes of varying sizes to controllers’ screens as radar energy is bounced off their skins, and transponder-equipped aircraft reply to secondary radar interrogations by giving an ID, an altitude and/or a unique callsign. Certain types of weather may also register on the radar screen. These inputs, added to data from other radars, are correlated to build the air situation. Some basic processing occurs on the radar tracks, such as calculating ground speed and magnetic headings. Other correlations with electronic flight plans are also available to controllers on modern operational display systems.  

How Radar Works 

Radar is a system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range, altitude, direction, or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as aircraft, ships, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. A transmitter emits radio waves, which are reflected by the target and detected by a receiver, typically in the same location as the transmitter. Although the radio signal returned is usually very weak, radio signals can easily be amplified. Radar is used in many contexts, including meteorological detection of precipitation, air traffic control, police detection of speeding traffic, and by the military. The term RADAR was coined in 1941 as an acronym for Radio Detection and Ranging. This acronym of American origin replaced the previously used British abbreviation RDF (which stands for Radio Direction Finding). 

Measuring Distance 

One way to measure the distance to an object is to transmit a short pulse of radio signal (electromagnetic radiation), and measure the time it takes for the reflection to return. The distance is one-half the product of round trip time (because the signal has to travel to the target and then back to the receiver) and the speed of the signal. Since radio waves travel at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second or 300,000,000 meters per second), accurate distance measurement requires high-performance electronics. Another form of distance measuring radar is based on frequency modulation. Frequency comparison between two signals is considerably more accurate, even with older electronics, than timing the signal. By changing the frequency of the returned signal and comparing that with the original, the difference can be easily measured. This technique can be used in continuous wave radar, and is often found in aircraft radar altimeters.  

Global Radar Coverage 

Since air traffic centers control a large airspace area, they will typically use long range radar that has the capability to see aircraft within 200 nautical miles (370 km) of the radar antenna. In the U.S. system, at higher altitudes, over 90% of the U.S. airspace is covered by radar and often by multiple radar systems. A center may require numerous radar systems to cover the airspace assigned to them. This results in a large amount of data being available to the controller. To address this, automation systems have been designed that consolidate the radar data for the controller. This consolidation includes eliminating duplicate radar returns, ensuring the best radar for each geographical area is providing the data, and displaying the data in an effective format. Some Air Navigation Service Providers (e.g Airservices Australia, Alaska Center, etc.) are implementing Automatic dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) as part of their surveillance capability. This new technology reverses the radar concept. Instead of radar “finding” a target by interrogating the transponder, ADS transmits the aircraft’s position several times a second. ADS also has other modes such as the “contract” mode where the aircraft reports a position based on a predetermined time interval. This is significant because it can be used where it is not possible to locate the infrastructure for a radar system (e.g. over water). Computerized radar displays are now being designed to accept ADS inputs as part of the display. As this technology develops, oceanic ATC procedures will be modernized to take advantage of the benefits this technology provides.  

Global Considerations 

Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) is a concept for satellite-based communication, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management. The Federal Aviation Administration and the International Civil Aviation Organization, a special agency of the United Nations, established GATM standards in order to keep air travel safe and effective in increasingly crowded worldwide air space. Efforts are made all over the world to implement the new technologies that will allow GATM to efficiently support Air Traffic Controllers. Airservices Australia ADS-B initiative is one of the major implementation programs in this field.

• Air Traffic Control System: A service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air.
• Altitude: Height above the ground or above sea level.
• Constraints: Limitations with material, time, size of team, etc.
• Criteria: Conditions that the design must satisfy like its overall size, etc.
• Engineers: Inventors and problem-solvers of the world. Twenty-five major specialties are recognized in engineering (see infographic).
• Engineering Design Process: Process engineers use to solve problems. 
• Engineering Habits of Mind (EHM): Six unique ways that engineers think.
• Iteration: Test & redesign is one iteration. Repeat (multiple iterations).
• Prototype: A working model of the solution to be tested.
• Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging): A system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range, altitude, direction, or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as aircraft, ships, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain.

Internet Connections

Air Traffic Simulator
NASA Future Flight Design
Air Traffic Control System Command Center
Listen to live air traffic controllers
International Civil Aviation Organization

Recommended Reading

Fundamentals of Air Traffic Control (ISBN: 0534393888)
Organizational Simulation (Wiley Series in Systems Engineering and Management) (ISBN: 0471681636) 

Writing Activity

Write an essay or a paragraph about the how you think engineering developments in air traffic control have impacted the global economy. Consider the ability for more people and items to travel more efficiently.

Alignment to Curriculum Frameworks

Note: Lesson plans in this series are aligned to one or more of the following sets of standards:  

• U.S. Science Education Standards (http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=4962)
• U.S. Next Generation Science Standards (http://www.nextgenscience.org/) 
• International Technology Education Association’s Standards for Technological Literacy (http://www.iteea.org/TAA/PDFs/xstnd.pdf)
• U.S. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (http://www.nctm.org/standards/content.aspx?id=16909)
• U.S. Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (http://www.corestandards.org/Math)
• Computer Science Teachers Association K-12 Computer Science Standards (http://csta.acm.org/Curriculum/sub/K12Standards.html)

National Science Education Standards Grades 5-8 (ages 10 – 14)

CONTENT STANDARD A: Science as Inquiry

As a result of activities, all students should develop

• Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry 
• Understandings about scientific inquiry 

CONTENT STANDARD B: Physical Science

As a result of their activities, all students should develop an understanding of

• Motions and forces 

CONTENT STANDARD E: Science and Technology

As a result of activities in grades 5-8, all students should develop

• Abilities of technological design 
• Understandings about science and technology 

CONTENT STANDARD F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

As a result of activities, all students should develop understanding of

• Science and technology in society

National Science Education Standards Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)

CONTENT STANDARD A: Science as Inquiry

As a result of activities, all students should develop

• Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry 
• Understandings about scientific inquiry 

CONTENT STANDARD E: Science and Technology

As a result of activities, all students should develop

• Abilities of technological design 
• Understandings about science and technology 

CONTENT STANDARD F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

As a result of activities, all students should develop understanding of

• Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges 

Next Generation Science Standards Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Energy

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

• 4-PS3-1. Use evidence to construct an explanation relating the speed of an object to the energy of that object.

Next Generation Science Standards Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Engineering Design 

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

• 3-5-ETS1-1.Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
• 3-5-ETS1-2.Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
• 3-5-ETS1-3.Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.

Next Generation Science Standards Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-14)

Engineering Design 

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

• MS-ETS1-2 Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Next Generation Science Standards Grades 9-12 (Ages 14-18)

Engineering Design

• HS-ETS1-4.  Use a computer simulation to model the impact of proposed solutions to a complex real-world problem with numerous criteria and constraints on interactions within and between systems relevant to the problem.

Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (ages 11 – 14)

Numbers and Operations   

• Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates   
• Develop, analyze, and explain methods for solving problems involving proportions, such as scaling and finding equivalent ratios.

Algebra   

• Use mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships.   
• Model and solve contextualized problems using various representations, such as graphs, tables, and equations.

Measurement   

• Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements.
• Solve simple problems involving rates and derived measurements for such attributes as velocity and density.

Problem Solving   

•   Solve problems that arise in mathematics and other contexts. 
•   Apply and adapt a variety of strategies to solve problems. 

Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (ages 11 – 14) (continued)

Connections   

• Recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics.

Representation   

• Select, apply, and translate among mathematical representations to solve problems.
• Use representation to model and interpret physical, social, and mathematical phenomena.

Algebra   

• Analyze change in various contexts.
• Approximate and interpret rates of change from graphical and numerical data. 

Problem Solving   

• Solve problems that arise in mathematics and other contexts.
• Apply and adapt a variety of strategies to solve problems.

Connections   

• Recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics. 

Representation   

• Select, apply, and translate among mathematical representations to solve problems. 

Common Core State Standards for School Mathematics: Content (ages 10-14)

Ratios and Proportional Relationships

• Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
• CCSS.Math.Content.7.RP.A.1 Compute unit rates associated with ratios of fractions, including ratios of lengths, areas and other quantities measured in like or different units. For example, if a person walks 1/2 mile in each 1/4 hour, compute the unit rate as the complex fraction 1/2/1/4 miles per hour, equivalently 2 miles per hour.

Standards for Technological Literacy – All Ages

The Nature of Technology

• Standard 1: Students will develop an understanding of the characteristics and scope of technology.
• Standard 2: Students will develop an understanding of the core concepts of technology.
• Standard 3: Students will develop an understanding of the relationships among technologies and the connections between technology and other fields of study.

Technology and Society

• Standard 4: Students will develop an understanding of the cultural, social, economic, and political effects of technology.
• Standard 6: Students will develop an understanding of the role of society in the development and use of technology.

Design

• Standard 9: Students will develop an understanding of engineering design.
• Standard 10: Students will develop an understanding of the role of troubleshooting, research and development, invention and innovation, and experimentation in problem solving.

Abilities for a Technological World

• Standard 12: Students will develop abilities to use and maintain technological products and systems.
• Standard 13: Students will develop abilities to assess the impact of products and systems.

The Designed World

• Standard 17: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use information and communication technologies.
• Standard 18: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use transportation technologies.

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