Work Domain Analysis of TCAS Interface Design

1. TCAS Symbology Non - Threat Traffic Traffic Advisory (TA) An open white diamond indicates that A symbol change to a filled an intruder’s relative altitude is greater yellow circle indicates that the than plus or minus 1200 feet vertically intruding aircraft is considered to or its distance is beyond 6 nm range. It be potentially hazardous. is not yet considered a threat. Dep ending on your altitude TCAS II will display a TA when the time This one is 1700 feet below your own to CPA is between 20 and 48 altitude, climbing at 500 feet per minute seconds. or greater. A voice announcement is heard in the cockpit, advising, “Traffic, Traffic” Proximity Traffic Resolution Advisory (RA) A solid red sq uare indicates that A filled white diamond indicates that the intruding aircraft is projected the intruding aircraft is within plus or to be a collision threat. The time minus 1200 feet vertically and within 6 to closest approach with the nm range, but is still not considered a intruder is now between 15 and threat. 35 seconds depending on your altitude. This intruder is now 1000 feet below your aircraft and climbing. A synthesized voice announces a vertical maneuver command, such a s, “Climb, Climb, Climb.” Work Domain Analysis of TCAS Interface Design Danny Ho and Catherine M . Burns Advanced Interface Design Lab Department of Systems Design Engineering University of Waterloo Research Summary TCAS II Functional Goals TCAS II System Components This poster discusses the progress of Work Domain Analysis ( WDA ) applied to the Traffic Alerts and Collision Avoidance System ( TCAS ) in the aircraft cockpit . The goal is to investigate automation effects on TCAS - pilot interaction , and to develop and test new interfaces that may improve the performance of mid - air collision detection and avoidance without increasing pilot workload . Challenges include the creation of accurate framework representation that models collision detection and avoidance , and applying Ecological Interface Design ( EID ) to develop appropriate status and command interface components . Prototyped displays will be user tested and evaluated to measure automation effects on TCAS performance . Potential results from this research will help reduce midair collision incidents . Leveson N . et al , " Sample TCAS Intent Specification " , Safeware Engineering Corp . Leveson N . et al , " Sample TCAS Intent Specification " , Safeware Engineering Corp . Current TCAS II System Abstraction Hierarchy Automated Message Standard System for TCAS Symbols and Response Moradi - Nadimian et al , Ecological Interface Design in Aviation Systems , ' http :// sydewww . uwaterloo . ca / Research / AIDL / new / v 1 / Projects / Aviation / index . htm ', 2002 . References Ongoing Research Direction Work domain analysis ( WDA ) is being conducted with the focus on goals 1 ) Leveson N . et al , " Sample TCAS Intent Specification " , Safeware in the context of collision detection and avoidance only . Engineering Corp . The accumulative automation effects of air traffic control , intruder ship 2 ) Collision Avoidance System User’s Manual TCAS II / ACAS II , ACS - 5059 , systems , and ownship TCAS is being further explored to develop interface Rev 5 - 02 / 2000 , Honeywell Inc . designs to improve performance of the TCAS system .