Showing papers on "Concept of operations published in 2001"

Concept of Operations for Commercial and Business Aircraft Synthetic Vision Systems

Abstract: A concept of operations (CONOPS) for the Commercial and Business (CaB) aircraft synthetic vision systems (SVS) is described. The CaB SVS is expected to provide increased safety and operational benefits in normal and low visibility conditions. Providing operational benefits will promote SVS implementation in the Net, improve aviation safety, and assist in meeting the national aviation safety goal. SVS will enhance safety and enable consistent gate-to-gate aircraft operations in normal and low visibility conditions. The goal for developing SVS is to support operational minima as low as Category 3b in a variety of environments. For departure and ground operations, the SVS goal is to enable operations with a runway visual range of 300 feet. The system is an integrated display concept that provides a virtual visual environment. The SVS virtual visual environment is composed of three components: an enhanced intuitive view of the flight environment, hazard and obstacle defection and display, and precision navigation guidance. The virtual visual environment will support enhanced operations procedures during all phases of flight - ground operations, departure, en route, and arrival. The applications selected for emphasis in this document include low visibility departures and arrivals including parallel runway operations, and low visibility airport surface operations. These particular applications were selected because of significant potential benefits afforded by SVS.

Concept of Operations

Abstract: This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Objectives ConOps Purposes, Roles, Content, and Format Developing the ConOps Maintaining the ConOps Summary Applicable Standards Additional References

Global Strike Task Force: A Transforming Concept, Forged by Experience

Abstract: : Reviewing recent history and anticipating future needs, General Jumper calls for action to capitalize on technology with new operational concepts and a new organizational tool to fight more effectively in the future. Specifically, with the F-22, B-2, and a constellation of access-granting platforms, the Global Strike Task Force (GSTF) promises to complement the Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) to create dominant, immediate, and sustained aerospace power. Our experience in conflicts over the past decade has revealed the changing nature of warfare. The reliance on coalitions and allies, stringent ROE, concern about casualties, need for sustained air operations, and access issues are a few of the factors that now shape the application of American military power. Sophisticated new weapons available to our potential enemies further complicate our task. The GSTF operationalizes many of the lessons learned in combat in the 1990s. Decades ago the Luftwaffe demonstrated to the world the cost of failing to honor change. The GSTF provides the nation a new capability -- one that maximizes current systems and technologies and leverages their potential through innovative CONOPS. In sum, GSTF is a rapid-reaction, leading-edge, power projection concept that will deliver massive around-the-clock firepower. It will mass effects early, from longer ranges, and with more precision than our current capabilities and methods of employment; it will give adversaries pause to quit and virtually guarantee air dominance for our CINCs. In sum, GSTF is an elegant and effective near-term solution to meet the challenges facing America.

Validating a future operational concept for en route air traffic control

Abstract: In an effort to accommodate the predicted growth in air traffic, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the aviation community have developed a concept of operations for the National Airspace System (NAS) called Free Flight. This operational concept has been developed for the midterm time frame (nominally a period of time that centers around 2005). The Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD) at The MITRE Corporation developed the concept and has conducted laboratory exercises to validate the portion of the concept that applies to the en route domain. The paper describes CAASD's laboratory efforts to begin validating the en route portion of the concept by examining the operational issues associated with the concept and the functional issues related to its evolution to the midterm. The laboratory validation exercises described examine the functionality of possible capability enhancements, but do not address associated detailed human factors issues. Favorable results from CAASD's initial qualitative validation efforts support the need for further quantitative validation activities that include more detailed analyses, further development of operational procedures and computer-human interfaces, and more rigorous exercises involving FAA field controllers.

An investigation of facilitator‐assisted and CONOPS‐based requirements elicitation methods using a 2 × 2 factorial experimental design

Abstract: System developments are frequently unsuccessful as measured in performance, cost, and schedule dimensions. Previous research has traced many development problems to poor system requirements. A method called Facilitator-Assisted Requirements Elicitation (FARE), which employs a technical facilitator for discussion of requirements based on a Concept of Operations (CONOPS) Matrix, is developed and tested. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used to examine the effects of two independent variables on the FARE method: (1) facilitator presence or absence and (2) CONOPS Matrix or free-form development. Twenty-four subjects were randomly divided into four groups. Each group was given the task of developing a set of requirements and recording both a priority and rationale for the inclusion of each requirement. The three dependent variables are Communications, measured by responses to a post-experiment survey; Requirements Scope, measured by subjective evaluation of requirements sets by an independent panel; and Requirements Quality, also measured by the independent panel. Results indicate a significant improvement in Communications when a facilitator was present. Requirements Scope showed a significant improvement when either a facilitator or the CONOPS Matrix was used, but was degraded when both elicitation techniques were used in combination. A significant improvement in Requirements Quality was observed when the groups were facilitated versus when they were not facilitated. Overall, both the presence of the facilitator and the use of the CONOPS Matrix showed benefits. Degradation in Requirements Scope, observed when both techniques were used in combination, is believed to be the result of the time constraints imposed on the subjects. The results of the experimentation support the use of FARE as an effective approach for capturing requirements early in the development lifecycle, thereby avoiding costly requirements changes. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Syst Eng 4: 272–286, 2001

Validation of Ground Control Technology for International Space Station Robot Systems

Abstract: The maintenance of the International Space Station, whether conducted by astronauts or robots, will require a lot of crewtime. To remove some of this burden from the astronauts, it is proposed to conduct a portion of the robotic operations using the Mobile Servicing System from a ground station. This paper describes an architecture to allowcontrol of ISS robots from the ground. A concept of operation is proposed taking into account the current capabilities and limitations of the Mobile Servicing System (MSS). The system architecture is briefly described as well as the main sub-systems that make up the ground station. A strategy is presented to validate the proposed architecture using a set of representative mission scenarios and a high-fidelity simulator of the MSS.

Air-ground Integration Dynamics in Exchange of Information for Control

Abstract: The world community of aviation operations is engaged in a vast, system-wide evolution of procedures, technologies and services that significantly affect human/system integration. The nature of this evolution is relaxation of restrictions in air transport operations wherever feasible. The relaxation includes schedule control, route control, and, potentially, separation authority in some phases of flight, for example aircraft self-separation in enroute. The dynamic concept of operations provides new challenge to the human operators of that system. The human operators (pilots, air traffic controllers, and airline operations personnel) must monitor system performance as they do now, but also predict the impact of the distribution of authority and control that might result as a function of the airspace configuration, aircraft state or equipage, and other operational constraints [9, 10]. In order to safely and effectively define the new process and procedures for this evolving concept, the human operator’s performance must be clearly and consistently included in the design of the new operation and of any automation aiding that is proposed to help the operators in their distributed activities. The experiment reported here was undertaken to characterize the impact of a shift in separation authority on controller performance in a complex center operation. Controllers managed simulated air traffic in the OCALA sector of the Jacksonville Center. Controllers managed the traffic under conditions of full positive ground control under two operating conditions and two levels of separation authority being ceded to aircraft. Measurements were made across a range of operational and operator variables. Significant differences in both operational and subjective measures were found in response to the primary manipulation of control authority.

Battle Command and Network-Centric Warfare: Putting First Things First

Abstract: : At the dawn of the information Age, the commander's concept of operation, for arranging potential combat power into victorious campaigns, major operations, and battles, is still the essence of military operations. It is the commander who translates higher concepts and guidance, from the strategic to tactical levels of war, through his visualization of the operation to accomplish the mission Consequently, his concept of operation directs all battlefield activities to achieve the desired military end-state. Network-Centric Warfare is a technologically based process designed to harness the power of the Information Age by exploiting technological advances to achieve dominance in the information domain. Through a network of new systems (sensors, information, and weapons), warfighters translate this information into dominant warfare-centered Network-Centric Operations (NCO). NCO shifts the operational paradigm from platform-centric to effects-based operations, by linking geographically dispersed warfighters (through a common operational picture) to overwhelm potential adversaries.

Distributed simulation for noctarn

Abstract: The National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) is researching a new aircraft operations concept based on adaptable three-dimensional flight trajectories shared between aircraft and air traffic control (ATC). A flexible, re-usable distributed simulation system incorporating the High Level Architecture (HLA) being constructed as the first step of this research will be used to investigate the concept and to make preliminary examinations of its aircraft operation and ATC procedures. As well as a flight dynamics model, components of the simulation system include a flight crew behavioral model, a pilot interfaces model, and an air traffic control console. This paper describes the construction of the distributed simulation system, and presents the results of numerical simulations using the flight crew behavioral model to demonstrate the proposed concept of operations.

Habitats-infrastructure for knowledge-centric operations (KO)

Abstract: The concept of operations is shifting-from large static units with fixed missions to small groups operating independently, with shifting goals. These groups need to coordinate with respect to information, goals and resources. They need to predictably interact with each other and with autonomous, distributed sensors and operational equipment. Unpredictability regarding where, when, how, and with whom we need to interact creates the need for developing open (unbounded) systems that are both flexible and predictable. The habitats concept moves the locus of control and context sensitivity from the component (or agent) level to the habitat level-for features where the components in a habitat do have common elements of control, function, and accountability. It provides the ability to easily define and evolve habitats by expressing rules and constraints in system architecture and combining enforcement with adaptability by providing authorized services through controlled extensibility-enabling capabilities.

Case Study - Creating the WCRM Concept of Operations

Abstract: This paper describes our experience in defining a suitable style, structure, content and set of features for the West Coast Route Modernisation (WCRM) Concept of Operations. The ability to capture the operational context of the future West Coast Main Line (WCML) railway is a critical integration activity, and key to the successful delivery of the WCRM, in particular as operational improvements contribute to a large part of the performance improvements on a railway. In the absence of guidance or standards for the production of operational concepts documents for a subject as vast and complex, we have applied rich traceability and requirements engineering best practice, with the aim to produce fit for purpose, clear and useable documentation. This paper also presents the relation between the Concept of Operations and the rest of the WCRM Systems Engineering activities, in particular its influence on the Systems Design Specification. It summarises the lessons learned and planned future developments.

The Functional Relationship Between Information Operations and Military Intelligence

Abstract: : Information operations are a new approach to managing and manipulating information. Through the ages, the possession of information has won wars, and the lack of it often led to defeat. This paper attempts to define the relationship between information and intelligence, and concludes that military intelligence professionals have the core competencies needed to be effective information operations officers. Focusing on a joint perspective, information operations is defined, using illustrations to clarify the multi-faceted information operations' missions. The impact of new technologies is examined, as it relates to the use of information as a tool for military leaders. The personnel requirements for IO are examined and compared to the core competencies of military intelligence. The findings indicate the redundancy and overlay of the primary personnel capabilities of information operations and military intelligence. The arguments lead to the conclusion that intelligence officers are best suited and qualified to perform the responsibilities of an information operations officer and to manage information operations.

Developing a concept of operations: enabling improvement

Abstract: INTELSAT, an international telecommunications satellite business, is in the midst of developing and maintaining a Concept of Operations as a link between the work it does and the vision, mission and strategy of the company. The process itself has provided benefits beyond the original goals established at the onset of the effort. INTELSAT's historical role has been, as a non-profit international consortium, to provide satellite telecommunications services on a non-discriminatory basis to all nations. Now it is moving rapidly toward its new role as a corporate telecommunications business competing for customers in a deregulated industry. Although its Concept of Operations was initially created with a goal of helping INTELSAT to understand the interrelationships of its processes, it has proved to be invaluable in the transformation to INTELSAT's new role. As a private corporation, it is expected that INTELSAT's Concept of Operations will continue to add value far into the future. This paper will provide a short historical summary of the beginning of INTELSAT'S Concept of Operations and how it has evolved. It will show how work processes and the deliverables they produce relate to policy, mission, strategy, and objectives. The focus of the discussion will be how the creation and maintenance of a Concept of Operations creates value throughout the organization.