Stochastic reachability for discrete time systems: an application to aircraft collision avoidance

Methods of approximating reachability probabilities and their possible application to the problem of conflict detection in air traffic control are presented. A general description of stochastic reachability for discrete time systems and an analytical formulation for their solution is given. We then outline the problem of separation assurance in air traffic control and the role of conflict detection within this. A randomized conflict detection algorithm is described in detail and its performance is compared with another conflict detection algorithm.