LFV Annual Report 2019 1
L F V 2019 DIRE C T OR S ’ REPOR T LFV CREATES SM
ART SOLUTIONS FOR TOMORROW'S AVIATION LFV has worked for many years with research and innovation in order to create new solutions for tomorrow's aviation, both nationally and internationally. New collaborations create new possibilities and strengthen Sweden's position within digitalisation and innovation. In 2019, LFV and Örnsköldsvik Airport have worked together in a unique collaboration to develop the airports of the future. Work on the development of an international testing and demonstration center for remotely controlled and autonomous airports has been carried out at Örnsköldsvik Airport throughout the year. The arena will be a forum for players in the airline industry and interested parties from industry, academics, public authorities and the region. The purpose of the arena is primarily to support research within air traffic control and airport operation with a live testing, development and demonstration environment. Within the wide-ranging collaborative project, the arena should also contribute to establish conditions for development of industrial and social functions both within the region and nationally, with a focus on aviation. Our focus on automation, digitalisation and sustainability enables a maintained and expanded transport infrastructure in northern Sweden. Development of electric air travel will also help future solutions become climate neutral. The capability of conducting research, tests and demonstrations in live environment provides the added benefit of being able to address the right challenges in real conditions. The core of “Testsite OER” is the old tower that is no longer in operation, because air traffic control takes place remotely from RTC, the center in Sundsvall. Örnsköldsvik Airport is the world's first airport with remote air traffic control. The air traffic control there has been provided from LFV's control center in Sundsvall since April 2015. LFV and Örnsköldsvik Airport are now taking the collaboration to the next level to develop automation and digitalisation with a focus on safety, efficiency and sustainability. LFV and the airport are already at the leading edge in remote control and innovation, and with an arena for testing of new forms of automated services with numerous collaborative partners, it is also a testament to the potential of digitalisation. 36 Since the spring of 2018, a research project, Automated Vehicles for Airports, AVAP, has focussed on developing autonomous vehicles that plough, sweep and cut grass at airports. In the autumn of 2019, the project, which is financed by the Swedish Transport Agency, demonstrated the potential of implementing airport surveillance with the assistance of drones, as well as autonomous snow ploughing, cutting grass and friction measurement. LFV has worked for many years with research and innovation in order to create new solutions for tomorrow's aviation, both nationally and internationally. New collaborations create new possibilities and strengthen Sweden's position within digitalisation and innovation. FOI AUTOMATION PROGRAMME The automation programme that was been in progress since 2015 was concluded with Automation Day in Kista, where more than 100 visitors were presented the results and given the opportunity to meet researchers within aviation. LFV presented the results at 15 conferences, collaborated with institutions and research institutions outside of Sweden, including NASA in the USA, Southamption & NATS in the UK, KAIST in Korea, NTU in Singapore and Sharia University in the United Arab Emirates. The transfer of knowledge from the programme to the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Swedish Transport Agency. The 2015/2019 automation programme has delivered the following in 2019: • Concept development and demonstration for UTM (airspace, urban and rural drone traffic) • Concept development for UAM (drone traffic and services in an urban environment). • Analysis and development of the assessment process in case of incidents within LFV. • Human Performance Case for establishing RTS. • Developed models for risk assessment by applying machine learning on arrivals and departures at Arlanda. Continuation of the automation programme has begun with the start of an industrial doctoral position within AI-assisted air traffic control.