Microwave Landing System

The National Microwave Landing Systems (MLS) program is a joint DOT/DOD/NASA effort to implement a common civil/military precision landing system to replace the current Instrument Landing System (ILS). The MLS will be capable of providing precision landing guidance down to Category III minimum while allowing for complex approach paths in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The system is based on the Time Reference Scanning Beam (TRSB) technique which was selected by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in April 1978 as the new international landing system standard. MLS is less susceptible to interference from the surrounding area and provides a greater signal coverage area than ILS.     

MLS: a total system approach

A typical approach and landing operation is described. The microwave landing system (MLS) is then examined, its design characteristics and how it works are shown, and how the MLS design fulfils the user's operational requirements by protecting the guidance signal from reflected signal interference is highlighted. MLS angle system accuracy is discussed in great detail, and its reliability, integrity, and coverage volume are briefly considered. MLS availability at any runway to all aircraft types and their landing scenarios, which is accomplished using narrow scanning beam antennas, is examined     

民用飞机着陆系统安全性评估的故障树分析

飞机着陆系统是保障飞机安全进近着陆的关键系统,如何评估着陆系统满足安全性设计要求是系统设计的重要环节之一。阐述民用飞机安全性评估的基本流程,以微波着陆系统为例,针对给定的微波着陆系统框图,通过故障树分析方法,对完全丧失两侧微波着陆信息的失效状态进行定量评估,重点详述建树过程和建树方法。结果表明:故障树分析对系统架构的设计具有重要的指导作用,二者紧密结合、相互反馈;特别是当失效状态所对应的概率要求无法满足时,借助故障树分析产生的割集报告,能找出系统架构存在的薄弱之处和关键部位,从而采取有效的应对措施,完成对系统架构的优化设计。     

MLS: keeping pace with the future

It is argued that the instrument landing system (ILS) is now at its operational limit in terms of radio frequency availability, approach flexibility, and technology. The operational requirements for a microwave landing system (MLS), which will overcome key limitations of the ILS and provide growth to meet future requirements of precision landing systems, are discussed, John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York City are discussed as examples to demonstrate the capabilities of MLS     

MLS system error model identification and synthesis

Signal-in-space modeling of approach and landing guidance systems such as the microwave landing system (MLS), which is necessary for aircraft certification, is addressed. A technique which can, in principle, identify the error sources in navigation systems and can also perform the inverse operation of synthesizing an error generator whose output is statistically equivalent to the original error data is described. The technique can also be used to validate equipment error budget assumptions. The identification and synthesis technique applies not only to MLS but to all navigation systems     

Microwave landing system: a pilots point of view

The author describes the MLS installation on runway 19L at Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas, which has been operational since mid-1987. He describes the MLS equipment installation in his aircraft, which is one of a number of aircraft in the Wichita area that have been equipped with MLS equipment and routinely utilize the system. He summarizes his operational experience with the system. He reports complete satisfaction and increased versatility as a result of the guidance information provided     

Flight safety performance of the microwave landing system

The microwave landing system (MLS), which is scheduled to be implemented progressively over the next 10 years, is intended to supply the instrument landing system (ILS) as the international standard landing aid. MLS has been demonstrated to be superior to ILS from both performance and reliability standpoints, yet considerable debate persists on its relative merits. Although tolerance criteria for flight safety are embedded in these comparisons, flight safety has not been a major component of these discussions. The reasons why flight safety has not been an issue are addressed, and observations on the flight safety of MLS are related from a systems point of view. The effect of MLS on airport capacity is identified as a central issue. Observations are derived from a review of available documentation and operational results to date as well as discussions with the participants     

最小生理噪声进场航迹飞行管理方法

 微波着陆系统MLS的最优航迹计算以减小居民最敏感的生理噪声为基本优化性能准则,用感觉噪声级Sone为单位。计算了考虑了噪声传播时温度、风梯度、沿进场航迹附近区域生活居民区分布位置及密度等影响。通过对杜塞尔道夫-罗奥申航空港计算结果证实,使航空港附近居民的平均有效感觉生理噪声级(Sone)较原有Jeppesen标准方式降低了20％以上。     

Terrain modeling for microwave landing system

A powerful analytical approach for evaluating the terrain effects on a microwave landing system (MLS) is presented. The approach combines a multiplate model with a powerful and exhaustive ray tracing technique and an accurate formulation for estimating the electromagnetic fields due to the antenna array in the presence of terrain. Both uniform theory of diffraction (UTD) and impedance UTD techniques have been employed to evaluate these fields. Innovative techniques are introduced at each stage to make the model versatile to handle most general terrain contours and also to reduce the computational requirement to a minimum. The model is applied to several terrain geometries, and the results are discussed     

System Considerations for the New DME/P International Standard

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has completed technical standards for the precision distance measuring equipment (DME/P). The DME/P is an integral element of the microwave landing system (MLS) and will provide the precision ranging function to complement the already standardized azimuth and elevation guidance functions of the system. In 1978 an ICAO meeting concluded that the DME/P should be integrated into the existing standards for the conventional DME (DME/N) as a compatible service. The motivation for this was economic. It was reasoned that a single L-band airborne unit could satisfy the need for both existing enroute and the new precision approach and landing services, thereby avoiding unnecessary duplication of on-board ranging equipment. Furthermore, this approach would permit existing conventional airborne equipment to obtain service from the new DME/P ground facilities at least during the initial stages of MLS implementation. These compatibility requirements were later incorporated into the DME/P statement of operational requirements which was accepted at an ICAO meeting in April 1981. Further, they have been a primary focus in the DME/P standardization effort which has been actively pursued since late 1980. The conceptual design of the DME/P that evolved from the ICAO process is discussed here. The comptability issues are highlighted, and it is shown how they are accommodated in the system synthesis which also treats the obvious need for a guidance function of high integrity and robust performance in the severe multipath environment encountered in approach and landing operations.     

Analysis of the Integrity of the Microwave Landing System (MLS) Data Eu nctions

The microwave landing system (MLS) transmits angle, data, andrange information for use by airborne receivers. In this paper, theintegrity of the data functions is analyzed in terms of the probabilityof undetected errors remaining in the data. The data format andintegrity requirements were derived from the MLS standards andguidance material defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Results show that the performancerequirements can be met by: 1) averaging the received data bits ofseveral samples of the same word using a majority voting;2) reducing the bit error rate at the output of the receiver'sdecoder; and 3) a combination of the above techniques.     

飞行管理计算机的ML SRNAV算法及运行结果

为了配合即将使用的微波着陆系统 MLS,飞行管理计算机必须扩增其区域导航 RNAV 的功能。本文采用平面汇交法和角锥汇交法及其组合,针对方位台,仰角台、测距台非共点发射的一般情况,编制了适应多种情况的MLS RNAV 通用软件,并进行了试算。为今后编制飞机上使用的实时运行软件做好准备。     

Microwave Landing System Area Navigation

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) states that the Time Reference Scanning Beam (TRSB) Microwave Landing System will supplant the existing Instrument Landing System (ILS) as the recognized international standard as early as 1995. The MLS provides the ability to determine the aircraft's position in three dimensional space over a large coverage volume in the airport terminal area. This affords the capability to navigate and execute approaches throughout this volume of coverage. This technique is known as Microwave Landing System Area Navigation (MLS RNAV). In order to assess and further develop the potential capabilities of MLS RNAV, the FAA Technical Center has undertaken the tasks of performing analytical studies, as well as the development of a prototype MLS RNAV system.     

Tracking with distributed sets of proximity sensors using geometric invariants

We propose a new approach to forming an estimate of a target track in a distributed sensor system using very limited sensor information. This approach uses a central fusion system that collects only the peak energy information from each sensor and assumes that the energy attenuates as a power law in range from the source. A geometrical invariance property of the proximity of the distributed sensors relative to a target track is used to generate potential target track paths. Numerical simulation examples are presented to illustrate the practicality of the technique.     

微波着陆信息处理系统研究

微波着陆信息处理系统是MLS机载设备在研制、生产和维修过程中必不可少的一种专用测试设备,文中论述了研究微波着陆信息处理系统的必要性,并从硬件结构上说明了微波着陆信息处理系统的工作原理。     

飞机着陆系统的现状与发展

论述了仪表着陆系统(ILS)、微波着陆系统(MLS)的作用及应用前景和主要优缺点。提出在未来MLS系统逐步取代ILS系统的过程中,ILS／MLS组合着陆系统导航设备的应用与发展。     

High accuracy navigation and landing system using GPS/IMU systemintegration

In this paper, the accuracy, integrity and continuity of function requirements for automatic landing systems using satellite navigation systems are discussed. Such a landing system is the integrated navigation and landing system (INLS) developed by Deutsche Aerospace (DASA/Ulm, Germany). The system concepts of the INLS are presented. It is shown how an INLS, based on system integration of a satellite navigation system (e.g., GPS) in realtime differential mode with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) in the accuracy class of an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS), can meet the requirements: the results given are mainly devoted to the accuracy issues. Using Kalman filter techniques, an in-flight calibration of the IMU is performed. The advantage of system integration, especially in dynamic flight conditions and during phases of flight with satellite masking, is explained. The accuracy, integrity and continuity of function of the INLS were proven by means of flight tests in a commuter aircraft using a laser tracker as a reference. These flight tests have shown that the short-term accuracy (<60 seconds) of the AHRS used within the INLS has been improved from low cost sensor quality to the accuracy of a high quality laser inertial navigation system (LNIS). With the presented INLS, a landing at any airfield, not equipped with conventional Instrument Landing System (ILS) or Microwave Landing System (MLS), is possible by using a very cost effective system. The INLS is a high accuracy navigation and landing system designed to be used instead of conventional landing systems at small airfields and to fill operational gaps of conventional navigation and landing systems in cruise and approach on large airports     

基于应变路径非比例度的多轴疲劳寿命预测

在分析多轴疲劳几种常用非比例度定义的基础上,提出了一种非比例度定义方法,进而以American Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME) 规范案例中非比例加载多轴疲劳设计准则采用的应变参量作为基本损伤参量,发展了一种新的多轴疲劳寿命预测模型.结果表明:①所提出的非比例度定义可以描述任意已知轮廓的、非周期的、变幅的非比例加载路径;②与两种常用的多轴非比例加载疲劳寿命模型的预测结果对比可知,新的寿命预测模型对14种比例和非比例加载路径下304不锈钢材料的寿命预测与试验吻合更好,预测结果基本位于2倍分散带以内.      

基于成本效益分析的ILS/MLS过渡决策

本文在对民航几个具有代表性的机场和航空公司进行调研基础上，提出了ＩＬＳ／ＭＬＳ成本计算和未来机队预测方法，从我国目前应用ＩＬＳ现状出发，列举了由ＭＬＳ可能获得的效益。根据成本计算结果的比较和分析，提出了我国ＩＬＳ／ＭＬＳ过渡方案参考的结论和建议，供领导机关作决策选择。     

基于Kriging形函数的线性时变结构模态参数辨识

近年来,对航空航天飞行器随时间变化的动力学特性研究需求越来越迫切。仅输出参数化时域的时变时间序列模型以其结构简约、精度高且跟踪能力强而成为研究热点,尤其是泛函向量时变自回归(FS-VTAR)模型已经得到了广泛应用。然而传统的FS-VTAR模型在保证其辨识优势的同时却需要针对不同时变结构选择合适的基函数形式及较高的基函数阶数,该过程相当复杂且耗时。本文借鉴无网格法中移动最小二乘(MLS)法构造形函数的思想,提出一种基于Kriging形函数的线性时变结构模态参数辨识方法。该方法首先引入自适应于辨识信号的Kriging形函数;再把时变系数在形函数上线性展开,利用最小二乘(LS)法得到形函数的展开系数;最后把时变模型特征方程转换为广义特征值问题提取出模态参数。利用时变刚度系统非平稳振动信号验证该方法,结果表明:基于Kriging形函数的FS-VTAR模型相比于传统的FS-VTAR模型能有效地避免基函数形式的选择和较高的基函数阶数,且精度相当;相比于移动最小二乘法能有效地解决其数值条件问题且具有更高的模态参数辨识精度。