Controller-pilot data link communications display oriented to multiple remotely piloted aircraft pilots

Abstract

A Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) interface oriented to Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) pilots was implemented as part of a synthetic task environment aimed to test the NtoM concept of operations (ConOps). This ConOps was envisioned to support multi-RPAS piloting in non-segregated airspace. Considering a long-term implementation, it assumes a future widespread use of CPDLC, exploiting its full potential to try to reduce the delay in the communication flow associated with unmanned aircraft and any possible added delay that concurrent piloting could add. Designed to be quick and intuitive, the current prototype of this display, on its own, could be used by pilots - of manned or unmanned aircraft - and controllers to practise and get used to the CPDLC message set, composition rules and procedures. Developed using the Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, it allows the definition of different Quality of Service (QoS) scenarios for data communications, which can be used to train the procedures established for problems arising from faults in communications.