Successful completion of the DLR DIAL project on individualised and automated air traffic
The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) has completed the DIAL research project (individual and automated air traffic), which focused on the development of technologies and processes for the automation of flight guidance. The aim of the project was to enable individual and climate-optimised flight routes in order to make a contribution to reducing emissions and limiting the rise in global temperatures. The four-year DLR project was carried out in close co-operation between six DLR institutes, coordinated by the Institute of Flight Guidance.
A central question of the project was how the global rise in temperature can be reduced through optimised flight trajectories. To this end, algorithmic climate change functions (aCCFs) were developed that calculate trajectories taking into account factors such as flight distance, flight time and emissions. These trajectories were optimised, simulated, validated and compared with conventional flight routes to demonstrate their effectiveness.
Another focus was on the automation of flight guidance. New concepts such as single controller operation and sectorless flight guidance were tested in several simulation campaigns. In particular, real-time simulations with air traffic controllers were used. These investigations demonstrated the potential of these concepts to increase efficiency and safety in air traffic while maintaining or reducing the workload of air traffic controllers.
The results of the project lay the foundation for the follow-up project ACCEPT, which will take up and further develop the findings from DIAL. The aim remains to make European air transport more sustainable and fit for the future through digital innovations and automation. For further information on DIAL, please click on the following link.
As part of the 4 years DIAL project, several institutes of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) were involved. The DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation, the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine, the DLR Institute of Atmospheric Physics, the DLR Institute of Combustion Technology, and the DLR Institute of Air Transport played a crucial role in advancing research and development within the project.