TowerLab
In addition to the Apron and Tower Simulator (ATS), the TowerLab provides the Institute of Flight Guidance with a test facility for innovative workplace concepts and support functions for air traffic control at the airport.
The airport is a highly complex environment for safe traffic management. Aircraft and vehicles manoeuvre on the ground in confined spaces. Take-offs and landings must be coordinated in such a way that there are no conflicts or separation infringements. Tower control authorises take-offs and landings and controls air traffic in the vicinity of the airport. Taxiing control (apron or ground control) ensures safe traffic management on the ground. With the increase in innovative solutions such as the remote tower concept developed at DLR, the demand for spatially flexible solutions for mapping air traffic control workstations is also increasing. The TowerLab at the Institute of Flight Guidance provides the ideal environment for this. Here, innovative workstations are validated to support air traffic controllers in line with requirements.
Simulation environment
The TowerLab is designed for maximum flexibility. The pilot workstations, known as consoles, can be quickly expanded with new systems. The external view is provided via high-resolution flat screens. Due to the size of the TowerLab, the consoles can be flexibly positioned according to the validation requirements and the individual elements can be arranged in relation to each other. The design of a pilot workstation can therefore be tested and carefully analysed in all variants, even for new applications.
Specialised simulation software forms the basis for the simulation environment. It calculates the aircraft movements according to the laws of physics, enables interaction with and between the work equipment and generates the external view. The ability to integrate external systems and programmes forms the basis for joint research projects and cooperation with national and international partners.
The TowerLab can be linked to all other simulators at the Institute of Flight Guidance. This enables complex, distributed simulations of several points in the air traffic system and the modelling of individual flights from take-off to landing.
Research areas
In the TowerLab, the concept of remote monitoring of airports (remote tower) via camera systems was invented and brought to market maturity. Adaptations and further developments, such as the simultaneous monitoring of several airports, are being investigated and tested for their feasibility. Other research topics include the use of 3D stereo projections or the support of air traffic control through the visual or acoustic presentation of situation-appropriate additional information.