A new vision for simulation

Imagine a future where domain-specific simulators from across Europe can seamlessly interact. A future where collaboration accelerates the development of innovative ATM concepts.

Shaping that future is the VISORS project.

Real-time simulations have long been an essential component of validating air traffic management (ATM) systems and procedures.

But with the advent of new airspace users and such emerging concepts as U-space and advanced air mobility (AAM), the processes used to verify and validate these systems and procedures have become increasingly complex.

"Validating novel concepts under operational conditions requires that our simulation solutions become more integrated and interoperable," says Gunnar Schwoch, a researcher at DLR, the German Aerospace Center.

Enter VISORS, a SESAR-supported project that aims to redefine Europe's simulator environment.

One platform, multiple simulators

With the goal of advancing interoperability among ATM validation platforms, VISORS is working to connect multiple simulators via a single platform. In doing so, it hopes to enable real-time simulations with multiple actors working from different simulation facilities.

"Europe has a wealth of simulator capacity and knowhow, but these resources are spread across different countries and organisations," explains Schwoch, the project coordinator. "By pooling these resources into a distributed, interoperable solution, Europe will be better positioned to efficiently advance and validate the many ATM, U-space and AAM concepts currently in development."

The project has already created an innovative prototype platform that, using published standards and established communication methods, connects different simulators into a single, distributed solution.

In practice, this means that a user will connect their simulator into a runtime infrastructure that enables all connected simulators to communicate with each other. Interaction with the system will be either automated or via a predefined interaction concept, such as the user requesting an alternate flight plan at a specific time or during a set event. Meanwhile, the synchronised starting, pausing and stopping of the simulation is controlled by a centralised exercise manager.

Integrating human performance data into real-time simulations

To be truly effective, the platform must be able to integrate human performance data into its real-time simulations.

"While distributed simulations already support the sharing of flight data and other technical metrics, one of the project's core objectives is to elevate human performance data to the same level of interoperability," says Schwoch.

To deliver on this objective, the project has made the collection of human performance data a native part of the VISORS platform.

"By publishing this data directly on the platform, our solution enables a federated network in which a human performance dashboard can receive and visualise operator states in real-time, regardless of where participants are physical located," adds Schwoch.

Case studies ahead

To assess the feasibility of the VISORS interconnected solution, the project is in the process of launching three use cases. Developed with input from external experts, each use case is designed to address a different ATM environment (IFR, VFR), a new airspace environment (U-space) or new airspace user (drones, air taxi).

Building on these use cases, the project will then launch a validation campaign where four different simulation facilities will connect via the project's prototype platform. Once connected, the facilities will jointly simulate the use cases.

The goal of this extensive campaign is to answer such pertinent research questions as:

• Can distributed simulations be used to assess new airspace and ATM frameworks without negatively affecting human performance assessment?
• What standards and protocols need to be used to ensure interoperability?
• Is distributed simulation an economically viable method for evaluating new concepts and systems?

While the project remains a work-in-progress, Schwoch is confident that this validation campaign will demonstrate the feasibility - and benefits - of using an interconnected simulation model. "I believe that distributed simulation systems offer a clear path towards a new era of simulation - one characterised by lower costs, shared resources, expanded accessibility and the flexibility to simulate a wide range of scenarios," he concludes.