Communication Protocols for GPS-based
Surveillance and TCAS

Ran Gazit and J. David Powell

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Stanford University

ABSTRACT

A new approach to Air Traffic Control (ATC) calls for every aircraft to periodically broadcast its GPS derived position. The position reports are to be received by ground based controllers and by other aircraft in the vicinity of the transmitter. This technique can increase the quality and extent of ATC surveillance coverage, and provide a highly accurate Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) for all aviation.

The key to the successful application of this concept is a proper design of the communication channel. This research identifies the basic parameters that govern the channel capacity, and sets bounds on the performance of several Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocols. The maximum improvement that can be obtained by using a self organized protocol is studied by using a Monte Carlo simulation of random air traffic.

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