New reference trajectory optimization algorithm for a flight management system inspired in beam search

With the objective of reducing the flight cost and the amount of polluting emissions released in the atmosphere, a new optimization algorithm considering the climb, cruise and descent phases is presented for the reference vertical flight trajectory. The selection of the reference vertical navigation speeds and altitudes was solved as a discrete combinatory problem by means of a graphtree passing through nodes using the beam search optimization technique. To achieve a compromise between the execution time and the algorithm＇s ability to find the global optimal solution, a heuristic methodology introducing a parameter called ‘‘optimism coefficient was used in order to estimate the trajectory＇s flight cost at every node. The optimal trajectory cost obtained with the developed algorithm was compared with the cost of the optimal trajectory provided by a commercial flight management system（FMS）. The global optimal solution was validated against an exhaustive search algorithm（ESA）, other than the proposed algorithm. The developed algorithm takes into account weather effects, step climbs during cruise and air traffic management constraints such as constant altitude segments, constant cruise Mach, and a pre-defined reference lateral navigation route. The aircraft fuel burn was computed using a numerical performance model which was created and validated using flight test experimental data.

A multi-objective multi-memetic algorithm for network-wide conflict-free 4D flight trajectories planning

Under the demand of strategic air traffic flow management and the concept of trajectory based operations（TBO）,the network-wide 4D flight trajectories planning（N4DFTP） problem has been investigated with the purpose of safely and efficiently allocating 4D trajectories（4DTs）（3D position and time） for all the flights in the whole airway network.Considering that the introduction of large-scale 4DTs inevitably increases the problem complexity,an efficient model for strategiclevel conflict management is developed in this paper.Specifically,a bi-objective N4 DFTP problem that aims to minimize both potential conflicts and the trajectory cost is formulated.In consideration of the large-scale,high-complexity,and multi-objective characteristics of the N4DFTP problem,a multi-objective multi-memetic algorithm（MOMMA） that incorporates an evolutionary global search framework together with three problem-specific local search operators is implemented.It is capable of rapidly and effectively allocating 4DTs via rerouting,target time controlling,and flight level changing.Additionally,to balance the ability of exploitation and exploration of the algorithm,a special hybridization scheme is adopted for the integration of local and global search.Empirical studies using real air traffic data in China with different network complexities show that the proposed MOMMA is effective to solve the N4 DFTP problem.The solutions achieved are competitive for elaborate decision support under a TBO environment.