Remote Digital Tower to support Air Traffic Control Systems
Authors: Yamazaki Kazuhiko , Inoue Satoru , Aoyama Hisae , Kimiaki Takeuhi 
Published: June 2024

Traditionally, air traffic control towers have relied on controllers and flight information officers to visually monitor the airspace through tower windows to ensure safe air traffic management. However, issues pertaining to tower maintenance and staffing have emerged. These challenges have prompted the exploration of a new air traffic control paradigm, the Remote Digital Tower (RDT). The RDT system facilitates air traffic management operations remotely using technological advancements such as cameras, sensors, information devices, and networks, thereby obviating the need for on-site control towers.This project aims to facilitate the safe and efficient operation of the RDT system. It focuses on proposing designs for both software and hardware that are secure, intuitive, and effective for the system's use.The design emphasis is on creating user interface software that allows controllers to conduct air traffic control operations remotely and on developing the hardware of the control console for these operations. A design team, including former air traffic controllers, has been assembled to incorporate user perspectives and expert insights into the design process.The initial phase of the design process involved analyzing the operational tasks of traditional control towers, system functionalities, and user interactions. Subsequently, a prototype system was developed, featuring a 360° panoramic display and a control console. The control console's interface was simplified by consolidating various displays and keyboards into a single touch-panel display. Interviews with former controllers informed task analysis, which guided the design of the prototype system.The software's operational panel was designed based on the task analysis. The user interface design was conceptualized from the task design, considering the basic layout and methods of operation, resulting in the creation of wireframe prototypes. These prototypes underwent multiple user evaluations, which informed the iterative design process to refine the interface based on continuous feedback.For the hardware design of the control console, the task design was fundamental. The prototype included considerations such as installing a large touch display and was developed with the average physique of Japanese operators in mind, optimizing the placement and angles of the panoramic and operational screens. The prototype's shape was repeatedly refined to ensure optimal form while accommodating the operational needs.The final software prototype proposed a cockpit-type interface, consolidating the operational interface into a single touch-panel display. This display integrated functions such as radar, scheduling, camera feeds, and system controls, which were hierarchically organized to simplify operations. In particular, the scheduling display was designed to be compact, incorporating existing scheduling elements and spatially categorizing aircraft movements without overwhelming other displays. Design considerations also extended to readability, with user-friendly choices for font sizes and color schemes.The final hardware design prototype for the control console aimed for a form factor that ensured visibility and ease of operation for both the touch panel and panoramic screens. The design took into account operator comfort and included necessary features such as telephones and note spaces. The shape was organically designed to be familiar and comfortable for operators.In summary, this project successfully proposed designs for both software and hardware to enable the safe and efficient operation of the RDT system. While the designs prioritize safety, usability, and efficacy, it is acknowledged that the user evaluations conducted were limited. Future work will involve continuing to refine the designs based on broader user evaluations to achieve a higher level of design maturity.