LFV Annual report 2018 1
L F V 2018 DIRE C T OR ’ S REPOR T RESEARCH AND I
NNOVATION CREATES POSSIBILITIES FOR THE FUTURE LFV conducts research and innovation in a number of strategic development areas that are based on the future challenges of society, LFV and its customers. The objective is to develop new concepts and intelligent solutions that improve safety, efficiency, capacity, accessibility and sustainability. Examples of current research areas are aviation safety, optimised use of the airspace and the human role and performance. It could also involve new forms of interaction between humans and automated systems, and the integration of unmanned aircraft in the airspce. LFV also works continuously to develop and implement new solutions, technology and products. Collaboration within the transport sector is increasing, especially as regards research. LFV works closely with e.g. the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Swedish Transport Agency. In recent years, multimodal transport activities have increased, which is an effective way of addressing common challenges and sharing valuable knowledge. LFV also collaborates with the INNOVAIR industry programme. Internationally, focus is on the European Single European Sky programme, SESAR together with COOPANS. DIGITALISATION CLEARS THE WAY FOR AUTOMATION Research continues in remote-control technology, and in 2018, LFV has focused on further developing solutions for a single air traffic controller to be able to handle more than one airport (Multiple RTWR), as well as an efficient and flexible remote air traffic management. As for an effective and flexible Remote Tower Centre (RTC), research has focused on the development of planning tools for efficient staffing and the flexible connection of airports to RTC. Work is also being done to develop a model for more fact-based documentation for aviation safety validation when implementing Multiple RTWR. Enhancing the training of operators is also an important issue that is managed in the RESKILL project for both air traffic management as well as maritime navigation. Work is also being done to increase understanding of the possibilities and limitations of automation. Some of the other interesting areas in which work is being done are; Artificial Intelligence (AI) and developing algorithms. These are important components for analysing the large amounts of data produced by digitalised air navigation services. Another is Augmented Reality. A feasibility study is under way to investigate the benefits of the technology and its value in air traffic management, training and monitoring. LFV also participates in Safeclouds, an EU project for better understanding the situation for air traffic controllers and for analysing the enormous amounts of logged data to find patterns and to be able to identify situations in advance that could lead to critical incidents. RESEARCH RELATING TO AIRPORTS During the year, LFV began to establish a research arena at Örnsköldsvik Airport. The airport's existing patterns of traffic enable testing and research activities for much of the day. All forms of airport-related research can be conducted here in order to increase safety and cost-effectiveness, and to make sustainable airport operation possible. COLLABORATION WITH RESEARCHERS AND PARTNERS About 25 projects and a small number of feasibility studies were conducted in 2018 together with senior researchers and doctoral students at Linköping Univer sity, Chalmers University of Technology, Mid Sweden University, Lund University, KTH and other places. LFV also works with SMHI, IVL Vinnova, SAAB, Combitech, Swedavia, Örnsköldsvik Airport, Storuman Kommunföretag, Novair, the Netherlands Aerospace Centre, Eurocontrol and Innaxis. A large part of LFV’s research is conducted within the framework of the European research program for air traffic management, SESAR. The Swedish Transport Administration, Vinnova and Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, are the major funders of LFV’s research. 38