Concept of an adaptive augmented vision based assistance system for air traffic control towers

This paper introduces a novel concept towards future tower air traffic control operations in order to tackle the known “head-down vs. head-up problem”. A possible solution to the mentioned problem could be an augmented-vision based assistance system projecting air traffic data into the real outside view of the tower controller. However, there are also technical limitations and unsolved ergonomic issues regarding untailored information presentation, over-cluttering, ambiguous display symbology, latency, non-collimated view etc. This paper will present the conceptual framework for an envisioned assistance system for air traffic control towers that fuses adaptive information management with augmented vision. The concept constitutes the fundament of the future prototype development. Based on a multidimensional adaptive automation model which is described in this paper, the assistance system monitors both the operational environment and the ATCO behaviour. The assistance system then adapts its information content and mode of interaction accordingly following the premise to display the right (amount of) information at the right time. The paper will also illustrate the first conceptual designs that were presented to several active ATCOs and their feedback to it. The proposed system architecture for a wearable head-up display for the tower environment and the potential benefits and challenges of the envisioned assistance system will be described as well. The paper concludes with on-going activities and necessary steps for future work.