Using UAV as an extension of ILS ground

measurements:

Already a reality in Switzerland!

IFIS 2018
H. Demule, skyguide, swiss air navigation services
K. Theißen, Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
 Content

› ILS measurements: current situation

› Why NOT using an UAV multicopter?
› Why using an UAV multicopter?
› The development project
› Description of the solution
› Achievements
› Conclusion and outlook

2
ILS measurements: current situation

From ICAO Doc 8071 guidance material:

› ILS ground measurements are

recommended.

› Correlation between ground and flight

measurements is the main criterion for
reducing the flight check frequency

› "Equal responsibility on ground and

airborne personnel"

3
ILS ground measurements: the quest for correlation

› Localizer
 Measurement vehicle
 A 5 m integrated mast
 Already good correlation with flight check

› Glide Path
 A 22 m telescopic mast at the runway threshold
 Only 300 m away from GP in the nearfield region
 No satisfying correlation with flight check: too
close

4
 Content

› ILS measurements: current situation

› Why NOT using an UAV multicopter?
› Why using an UAV multicopter?
› The development project
› Description of the solution
› Achievements
› Conclusion and outlook

5
 Why NOT using an UAV multicopter?

› Big progress in the UAV technology

› Able to handle safely heavy (and expensive) payloads
› Stable, accurate and automatic flights
› Successful feasibility tests in Geneva in Oct 2015

6
 Why using an UAV multicopter?

› Correlation of nearfield GP measurements not satisfying

› In the farfield, in order to enable good correlation:
 At least 1.5 km from GP
 Thus at a height of approx. 80 m

› An extension of ground measurements

› Not a replacement, but a complement to flight check
› Demonstration of correlation will enable to reduce flight check frequency

7
 Content

› ILS measurements: current situation

› Why NOT using an UAV multicopter?
› Why using an UAV multicopter?
› The development project
› Description of the solution
› Achievements
› Conclusion and outlook

8
 The development project
› The development, test and
› Successful feasibility training phases: from March
tests in Oct 2015 2016 to Dec 2017

› Study and concept
phases from Oct 2015
to Feb 2016: a very
positive business case
 A customized development
of the UAV from Altigator
 The new ILS receiver from
Rohde&Schwarz
 Upgrade of the Preflight
Checker SW from
skyguide

9
 Content

› ILS measurements: current situation

› Why NOT using an UAV multicopter?
› Why using an UAV multicopter?
› The development project
› Description of the solution
› Achievements
› Conclusion and outlook

10
Description of the solution (1/3)
The UAV multicopter from Altigator

› AltiGator: a professional unmanned aircrafts manufacturer

since 2008.
› The OnyxStar ® ATLAS UAV muticopter: a customized
development to meet Skyguide's requirements.

11
Description of the solution (1/3)
The UAV multicopter from Altigator

GPS RTK Automatic

navigation operation

Compact for Manual control

transportation priority

Navigation
Powerful
repeatability

R&S receiver Robust structure

integration
12
R&S®EVSF1000 VHF/UHF Nav/Flight Analyzer
(2/3)
General
› Two-channel signal level and modulation
analysis for ILS, VOR, MB, COM
› Frequency range 70 - 410 MHz
› Installation on:
 Flight inspection aircraft
 Measurement vehicle
 UAV’s

13
R&S®EVSF1000 VHF/UHF Nav/Flight Analyzer
(2/3)
Mechanics
› Compact dimensions
(95 mm × 177 mm × 360 mm)
› Low weight (3.7 kg)
› RTCA DO-160G/Section 7.0 (shock)
› RTCA-DO160G 8.5.2 (random vibration)

Power supply
› 11 V to 32 V DC
› RTCA DO-160G, Section 16, Category A
(short-term power interruptions - 200 ms)

14
R&S®EVSF1000 VHF/UHF Nav/Flight Analyzer
(2/3)
Features
› Precise and fast measurement results due to
 High sensitivity
 Low noise figure
 Adaptive narrowband filters
 FPGA signal processing
 Simultaneous CRS/CLR analysis
› 100 data records per second for analysis of
scallops and bends
› Time- and location-stamp through external
(RTK) GPS
› Spectrum and signal analysis options available
15
 Description of the solution (3/3)
The Preflight Checker SW from skyguide
1) GP Vertical Profile:

› A vertical trajectory up to approx. 100 m

› Live measurements and computations:

 GP angle
 Sector widths

› In normal and alarm conditions

 Lower and upper angle alarms
 Narrow and wide alarms

16
 Description of the solution (3/3)
The Preflight Checker SW from skyguide
2) Mini Approach for
LOC and GP

› Along the ILS trajectory

› Simultaneous and live LOC
and GP measurements:
 Displacement error
 Course / Clearance ratio
 GP angle and TCH
› In normal and alarm conditions
 Left and right
 Lower and upper angle

17
 Description of the solution (3/3)
The Preflight Checker SW from skyguide
3) LOC Lateral Orbit:
› A circular or "orbit" trajectory in the LOC
farfield
› DDM versus azimuth angle (+/- 3°
approx.)
18
› Live meas. and computations:
 Displacement error
 Both ¼ sector widths
› In normal and alarm conditions
 Left and right alarms
 Narrow and wide alarms
 Content

› ILS measurements: current situation

› Why NOT using an UAV multicopter?
› Why using an UAV multicopter?
› The development project
› Description of the solution
› Achievements
› Conclusion and outlook

19
 Achievements: repeatability for vertical profiles

GP Vertical Profile: 3 curves from Jan. to March 2018

› 0.3 µA for the GP angle (+/- 0.0014°)
› 0.2 µA for the ¼ sector widths (+/- 0.001°)

20
Achievements: repeatability. Zoom. 6 curves.

21
 Achievements: repeatability for mini approaches

› Mini approach: 0.2 µA for LOC displacement error

› Mini approach: 0.1 µA for GP displacement error (0.0005°)

22
Achievements: repeatability. Zoom

Resolution: one measurement every 10 cm

Zoom GP : +/- 1 µA

23
Achievements:
The key is the flight repeatability

› Horizontal flight repeatability:

+/- 40 cm

› Vertical flight repeatability:

+/- 60 cm

24
 Achievements: Correlation with flight check

› GP angle = 2.99° and displacement error = 2.0 µA for both:

 flight check data in blue
 and UAV data in pink

Flight check
trajectory
less accurate
than
the UAV one

25
 Content

› ILS measurements: current situation

› Why NOT using an UAV multicopter?
› Why using an UAV multicopter?
› The development project
› Description of the solution
› Achievements
› Conclusion and outlook

26
 Conclusion and outlook

› Successful operation since January 2018

› A major step in the ILS maintenance domain:

 Preventive and corrective maintenance
 Preparation of ILS commissioning

› It opens new horizons in terms of CNS

measurement techniques:
 Resolution and repeatability
 For VOR, DF, PAPI, radars…

27
Thanks for your attention

28