Avionics News November 2013 - 50

THE TEAM EFFORT BEHIND TSAA
Continued from page 49

And while there's no data that theorizes these nuisance
alerts have any impact (no pun intended) on the number of
mid-airs, it's a safe assumption that after nuisance alert after
nuisance alert, many pilots figuratively or actively tune out
their TAS/TCAS system's warnings.
At the heart of the new TSAA system is a highly advanced
mathematical algorithm aimed at providing more accurate
data while minimizing nuisance alerts.
"It's a very sophisticated algorithm," Schwinn said. "We
look at this stuff and say it's so complex, there are only a
handful of people who can understand how it really works.
But it does. They ran hundreds of millions of simulated
encounters using different versions of the algorithms and so
forth to see which ones were the best.
"Every time we tweaked an algorithm, we'd run a million
encounters through five different sets of parameters. It's been
a very computationally intensive development program, and
it's been optimized to be much better than what is out there. I
think people are going to see a vastly improved system."
THE PROOF IS IN THE FLYING
Prior to flight testing, the team ran a number of human
factors tests. "Human factors were initially studied by the
team at MIT with the use of test subjects in a simulated
cockpit, then later in cooperation with Avidyne under realworld conditions using prototypes installed in the flight test
aircraft," Ryan said.
Ryan also noted that once the initial data was analyzed
and the algorithm was fine-tuned, Avidyne began an extensive flight test program to further validate the performance
of the prototype system. In total, Avidyne flew 60 flights
covering 152 hours and some 340 actual encounters during
its "live" TSAA testing.
"I did four or five flights where I went along, and one
of the things I noticed was the rock solid steadiness of the
target displays," Schwinn said. "With TAS/TCAS, they're
steady if you're not banking and pretty close. But with
TSAA, they're rock solid 15 miles out.
"Of course, that's what the algorithms are supposed to
do. We were able to show in the flight tests that you are able
to get quite close to another aircraft in an encounter where
your tracks are not going to merge (collision danger), and
the system will not give you a threat alarm. A TAS or TCAS
would go berserk in that situation.
"With TSAA, there is much better target tracking and
much less pilot distraction. In my mind, those are two of the
biggest benefits this system will bring to pilots."
50

avionics news

*

november

2013

IF YOU BUILD IT, WILL THEY COME?
No doubt, both are excellent safety enhancements.
But will they be enough to get pilots to take the ADSB equipage plunge? Maybe not, but there's one more
benefit to TSAA that Schwinn feels may well seal the
deal with most owners.
"We are trying to go down the line of a hybrid
system, which has TAS that works on transponderequipped aircraft in close proximity, which will give
you what I consider more nuisance alerts," Schwinn
explained. "In the case where you have ADS-B or ADSR (rebroadcast), or TIS-B, it will select the best data
source to prevent these nuisance alerts. That's what our
ADS-B In and traffic strategy is going to be.
"I may be in left field here, but I'm very hopeful that
when TSAA comes out next year, not only will pilots
want to buy it to have better information to see the
other guys out there, but they also will encourage them
to get it so the other guys can see them better. If you
have TSAA (ASD-B Out), the other guys will be able
to see your aircraft's position, range, altitude and speed
better so they know more precisely where you are."
Four eyes are better than two, as they say.
"It also puts you in the ADS-R system, and your radar position display is better," he added. "I think people
also are going to discover that the performance of the
ADS-B system is much better than the current radar
system. It's supposed to be equal. But after seeing it in
action, I think the controllers are going to be able to see
these equipped aircraft better."
TSAA IS (ALMOST) HERE.
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE
Now that all the testing and evaluations are done,
the Avidyne/MIT team has handed over all the data to
the FAA and RTCA working group. So as you read this
story, the minimum operational performance standards
are scheduled for completion.
"Once the FAA and RTCA process it all and it gets approved, the FAA will then create a TSO (technical standard order) and the manufacturers can introduce products
with that TSO on it," Schwinn said. "Once this is done,
we expect to have certificated products later in 2014."
Of course, with all of Avidyne's experience in traffic
alerting and collision avoidance systems, it is not waiting around for approvals. Why be part of the development team if you don't use the knowledge to get the
proverbial jump on your competition?
Continued on page 52



Avionics News November 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News November 2013

Point of Communication
AEA Now
The View From Washington
International News and Regulatory Updates
Mid-Continent's New True Blue Power
Member Profile
Counting Beans
Avionics News Through the Years
Aviation Aces
AEAviators
A Conversation With...
Member Profile
The Team Effort Behind TSSA
Audio Panels in the 21st Century
Business Basics
Jeppesen Makes Headlines at AirVenture
What's New
Marketplace Classifieds
Avionics News November 2013 - Intro
Avionics News November 2013 - Cover1
Avionics News November 2013 - Cover2
Avionics News November 2013 - 1
Avionics News November 2013 - 2
Avionics News November 2013 - 3
Avionics News November 2013 - Point of Communication
Avionics News November 2013 - 5
Avionics News November 2013 - AEA Now
Avionics News November 2013 - 7
Avionics News November 2013 - 8
Avionics News November 2013 - 9
Avionics News November 2013 - 10
Avionics News November 2013 - 11
Avionics News November 2013 - 12
Avionics News November 2013 - 13
Avionics News November 2013 - The View From Washington
Avionics News November 2013 - 15
Avionics News November 2013 - International News and Regulatory Updates
Avionics News November 2013 - 17
Avionics News November 2013 - 18
Avionics News November 2013 - 19
Avionics News November 2013 - Mid-Continent's New True Blue Power
Avionics News November 2013 - 21
Avionics News November 2013 - 22
Avionics News November 2013 - 23
Avionics News November 2013 - Member Profile
Avionics News November 2013 - 25
Avionics News November 2013 - 26
Avionics News November 2013 - 27
Avionics News November 2013 - Counting Beans
Avionics News November 2013 - 29
Avionics News November 2013 - 30
Avionics News November 2013 - 31
Avionics News November 2013 - 32
Avionics News November 2013 - 33
Avionics News November 2013 - Avionics News Through the Years
Avionics News November 2013 - 35
Avionics News November 2013 - Aviation Aces
Avionics News November 2013 - 37
Avionics News November 2013 - 38
Avionics News November 2013 - 39
Avionics News November 2013 - AEAviators
Avionics News November 2013 - 41
Avionics News November 2013 - A Conversation With...
Avionics News November 2013 - 43
Avionics News November 2013 - Member Profile
Avionics News November 2013 - 45
Avionics News November 2013 - 46
Avionics News November 2013 - 47
Avionics News November 2013 - The Team Effort Behind TSSA
Avionics News November 2013 - 49
Avionics News November 2013 - 50
Avionics News November 2013 - 51
Avionics News November 2013 - 52
Avionics News November 2013 - 53
Avionics News November 2013 - Audio Panels in the 21st Century
Avionics News November 2013 - 55
Avionics News November 2013 - 56
Avionics News November 2013 - 57
Avionics News November 2013 - Business Basics
Avionics News November 2013 - 59
Avionics News November 2013 - 60
Avionics News November 2013 - 61
Avionics News November 2013 - Jeppesen Makes Headlines at AirVenture
Avionics News November 2013 - 63
Avionics News November 2013 - 64
Avionics News November 2013 - 65
Avionics News November 2013 - What's New
Avionics News November 2013 - 67
Avionics News November 2013 - 68
Avionics News November 2013 - 69
Avionics News November 2013 - Marketplace Classifieds
Avionics News November 2013 - 71
Avionics News November 2013 - 72
Avionics News November 2013 - Cover3
Avionics News November 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-02
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-01
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/48-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/48-11
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com