Common ARTS
Encyclopedia
Common ARTS is an air traffic control computer system that air traffic controllers use to track aircraft. The computer system is used to automate the air traffic controllers job by correlating the various radar and human inputs in a meaningful way. This system being used in most of the TRACONs around the United States. Common ARTS is the most modern implementation of ARTS in use at various locations in the United States. Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System
(STARS) was designed to replace Common ARTS at all the US TRACONS, however that project was stalled until 2010. The FAA announced in Spring 2011 that STARS will be replacing the 11 largest CARTS sites under the TAMR Segment 3 Phase 1 plan. The remaining CARTS sites will be replaced under TAMR Segment 3 Phase 2 in the near future.
used in air traffic control
will scan the area about 60 miles every 4–6 seconds. The primary signal returned will contain a range and azimuth of a target. Automation will correlate these targets scan to scan and make estimates of speed and direction. A secondary signal (Transponder (aviation)
) may be available, containing the aircraft transponder code, and possibly altitude (and possibly other information if Mode S). The automation will correlate the primary and secondary signals, and measure horizontal and vertical speed estimates.
Once the automation systems know the details of the aircraft it is tracking, this information is available on the display, as part of the datablock near the aircraft representation. The information will typically show an aircraft ID, if the transponder code is associated with a known flight plan, the altitude, and speed.
Other systems can use the speed and direction information. The safety systems need to use this information. The conflict alert
(CA) system will compare the direction, altitude and speed of multiple aircraft to see if there are any possibilities of aircraft being too close together. Maps of the area along with Mode C or S transponder elevations will allow Minimum Safe Altitude Warning
(MSAW) systems to warn controllers of possible terrain conflicts.
Additional systems may include any of the Final Approach Spacing (FAST/pFAST) tools available, User Request Evaluation Tool, and Parallel Runway monitors.
corporation to help automate the TRACONS operations in the United States. At many TRACONs, a Unisys mainframe computer was installed to handle the processing. In the early 1970s virtually all TRACONs in the US were running ARTS software to help track aircraft displayed on the radar console. The Burroughs Corporation was also working on radar display consoles in the 1970s to 1980s.
In the 1980s Univac and Bouroughs Corporations merged creating Unisys.
By the early 1980s an effort was proposed to port the ARTS functionality to microprocessors. Unisys began this program, and the name changed to CommonARTS. The CommonARTS processes were running on Motorola 68000
microprocessors. The software was mostly rewritten in the C language, running on various real-time operating systems.
In the 1990s, Unisys split out some of the defense work, and Lockheed Martin
acquired the air traffic management unit.
In the 1990s, most of the Common ARTS software was ported to PowerPC
processors, still using the same source code, but with larger memory footprint, allowing control of more aircraft. By 1997, there were 131 small to medium TRACONS and five large TRACONS running Common ARTS software. The PowerPC also allowed the display software to drive ARTS Color Displays (ACD) replacing the vector-based Full Digital ARTs Displays (FDAD).
The STARS program was started to replace the Common ARTS systems at all TRACONS in the late 1990s.
In the late 1990s Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast
(ADS-B) support was added to Common ARTS software to augment RADAR sensors. Multiple sensor inputs were added including long range (ARSR) allowing larger TRACONS to have variable size and shape sectors, since they no longer needed to have round coverage areas matching a single sensor scan area.
With the bidding for En Route Automation Modernization project (ERAM), Raytheon and Lockheed joined teams to finish the ERAM program together, mixing Common ARTS and STARS hardware and software.
Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System
The Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System is an air traffic control automation system currently being used in many TRACONs around the United States. STARS is intended to replace the Automated Radar Terminal System...
(STARS) was designed to replace Common ARTS at all the US TRACONS, however that project was stalled until 2010. The FAA announced in Spring 2011 that STARS will be replacing the 11 largest CARTS sites under the TAMR Segment 3 Phase 1 plan. The remaining CARTS sites will be replaced under TAMR Segment 3 Phase 2 in the near future.
RADAR Automation
A typical short range RADARRadar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
used in air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
will scan the area about 60 miles every 4–6 seconds. The primary signal returned will contain a range and azimuth of a target. Automation will correlate these targets scan to scan and make estimates of speed and direction. A secondary signal (Transponder (aviation)
Transponder (aviation)
A transponder is an electronic device that produces a response when it receives a radio-frequency interrogation...
) may be available, containing the aircraft transponder code, and possibly altitude (and possibly other information if Mode S). The automation will correlate the primary and secondary signals, and measure horizontal and vertical speed estimates.
Once the automation systems know the details of the aircraft it is tracking, this information is available on the display, as part of the datablock near the aircraft representation. The information will typically show an aircraft ID, if the transponder code is associated with a known flight plan, the altitude, and speed.
Other systems can use the speed and direction information. The safety systems need to use this information. The conflict alert
Short Term Conflict Alert
Short Term Conflict Alert is an automated warning system for air traffic controllers . It is a ground-based safety net intended to assist the controller in preventing collision between aircraft by generating, in a timely manner, an alert of a potential or actual infringement of separation minima.-...
(CA) system will compare the direction, altitude and speed of multiple aircraft to see if there are any possibilities of aircraft being too close together. Maps of the area along with Mode C or S transponder elevations will allow Minimum Safe Altitude Warning
Minimum Safe Altitude Warning
Minimum Safe Altitude Warning is an automated warning system for air traffic controllers . It is a ground-based safety net intended to warn the controller about increased risk of controlled flight into terrain accidents by generating, in a timely manner, an alert of aircraft proximity to terrain...
(MSAW) systems to warn controllers of possible terrain conflicts.
Additional systems may include any of the Final Approach Spacing (FAST/pFAST) tools available, User Request Evaluation Tool, and Parallel Runway monitors.
History
ARTS was developed in the late 1960s by UnivacUNIVAC
UNIVAC is the name of a business unit and division of the Remington Rand company formed by the 1950 purchase of the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, founded four years earlier by ENIAC inventors J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, and the associated line of computers which continues to this day...
corporation to help automate the TRACONS operations in the United States. At many TRACONs, a Unisys mainframe computer was installed to handle the processing. In the early 1970s virtually all TRACONs in the US were running ARTS software to help track aircraft displayed on the radar console. The Burroughs Corporation was also working on radar display consoles in the 1970s to 1980s.
In the 1980s Univac and Bouroughs Corporations merged creating Unisys.
By the early 1980s an effort was proposed to port the ARTS functionality to microprocessors. Unisys began this program, and the name changed to CommonARTS. The CommonARTS processes were running on Motorola 68000
Motorola 68000
The Motorola 68000 is a 16/32-bit CISC microprocessor core designed and marketed by Freescale Semiconductor...
microprocessors. The software was mostly rewritten in the C language, running on various real-time operating systems.
In the 1990s, Unisys split out some of the defense work, and Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
acquired the air traffic management unit.
In the 1990s, most of the Common ARTS software was ported to PowerPC
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...
processors, still using the same source code, but with larger memory footprint, allowing control of more aircraft. By 1997, there were 131 small to medium TRACONS and five large TRACONS running Common ARTS software. The PowerPC also allowed the display software to drive ARTS Color Displays (ACD) replacing the vector-based Full Digital ARTs Displays (FDAD).
The STARS program was started to replace the Common ARTS systems at all TRACONS in the late 1990s.
In the late 1990s Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast
Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast is a surveillance technology for tracking aircraft as part of the Next Generation Air Transportation System ...
(ADS-B) support was added to Common ARTS software to augment RADAR sensors. Multiple sensor inputs were added including long range (ARSR) allowing larger TRACONS to have variable size and shape sectors, since they no longer needed to have round coverage areas matching a single sensor scan area.
With the bidding for En Route Automation Modernization project (ERAM), Raytheon and Lockheed joined teams to finish the ERAM program together, mixing Common ARTS and STARS hardware and software.
Sources
- http://www.as.nasa.gov/atcseminar/previous/ATCSeminarTRACON.pdf
- http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-03-343 Look about page 18-21
- http://www.usfamily.net/web/labenson/Legacy_files/Eagan_ATC_history.pdf
- http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0GZQ/is_27_43/ai_89156890
- http://www.usfamily.net/web/labenson/ATC1219.htm
- http://www.usfamily.net/web/labenson/ATCDEDS.htm
- http://www.usfamily.net/web/labenson/SystemsAirTraffic.htm
- http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7066
- http://www.tc.faa.gov/acb300/techreports/HighAltitude_memo.pdf