Visual Guidance Automation Technology Assessment

This report provides an assessment of current devices and technologies which may be applicable to the navigation and control of aircraft and service support vehicles on the airport surface traffic management area. The areas investigated included object sensing systems, object location and detection systems, visual aids, communication and control systems, and human factors facilities. The components, devices, or systems in each area were rated based on the maturity, applicability, compatibility, and risk as related to the FAA mission of airport surface control. A major finding of this assessment was that although there are so many devices used in commercial vehicular traffic control systems and in industrial process control systems, the application of these devices to the FAA mission is restricted by the large signal range needed for object detection for airports in all types of weather and visibility conditions.

DOT/FAA/CT-95/3
Author: Keith Bagot