Evolution of the Tactical Separation System to support the Integrated Mission Management System in the COAST project

Abstract

Abstract This paper refers to the developments of the single pilot enabling technologies that are designed, implemented and validated in the Clean Sky funded project COAST (Cost Optimized Avionics SysTem). The target industry domain of such technologies is the aviation segment of Small Air Transport (SAT), referring specifically to commuter category vehicles (5 to 19 pax), under the EASA CS-23 regulation. Among the several technologies that have been designed, developed and demonstrated in flight, there is the Tactical Separation System (TSS), which reached TRL 6 in 2021 thanks to successful flight demonstration. It represents fundamental decision-making support system, able to assist the single pilot in the management of the separation task, under delegation of the separation responsibility to the pilot by the ATC. Nevertheless, in order to properly integrate and enhance the individual enabling technologies for single pilot operations, in the COAST project a unique Integrated Mission Management System (IMMS) is being designed. It constitutes a further technological advancement to support more effective and safe management of situations of pilot’s incapacitation during the flight, under single pilot operations, and a relevant step forward towards more autonomous aircraft. To support the IMMS implementation, therefore, the Tactical Separation System is currently subject to proper evolution, in order to include specific functionalities that will be needed as part of the IMMS. This paper outlines the main outcomes from the design and demonstration of the Tactical Separation System as individual technology. After that, it describes the IMMS and the specific role that the tactical separation functionality will play in such framework. Finally, the paper reports the evolved TSS version design currently ongoing in the COAST project, with specific focus on the implementation of the tactical traffic clustering functionality.