Co-operative optional airborne separation assurance in free flight airspace

This paper proposes a new paradigm for airborne separation assurance of aircraft operating in free flight airspace. The paradigm is considered novel in that it provides a framework for explicit co-operation and cost sharing in conflict avoidance. The operational methods and algorithms that support t he proposed separation assurance scheme a re based o n Distributed Artificial Intelligence (DAI). In this model, aircraft flying in free flight airspace are represented as autonomous intelligent entities (agents) embedded in a multi-agent system. Within this s cheme, proximate a ircraft form teams to establish a plan to maintain safe separation with an agreed set of conditions. The plan is developed from a dynamic programming algorithm in which the requirement for proximate a ircraft t o manoeuvre away from their defined free flight routes to avoid a conflict is minimised according to bo th safety and economic criteria.