Air Traffic Control Simulator to Aid in Research Initiatives

Air Traffic Control Simulator to Aid in Research Initiatives

The College of Aeronautics and Engineering at Kent State University is procuring a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) simulator from UFA Inc., a world-leading provider of cloud-based, advanced ATC simulation.


The controller training and research tools are used by air navigation service providers, military organizations and airports. The new simulator will significantly advance simulation capabilities for maintaining a preeminent air traffic control program at Kent State and advance capabilities in conducting meaningful research.


“We will be using our state-of-the-art ATC simulator to test Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) capabilities and interaction of Unmanned Aerial Systems airspace (UAS) Traffic Management with the current ATC infrastructure,” said Jenna Merriman, an ATC lecturer. “We are most excited to be a part of a projects that could help in the architecture of UAS and the creation of unmanned traffic management procedures.”


The new simulator will be a centerpiece of Kent State’s research contributing to the Interoperability, Resiliency and Contingency Management for Ohio UAS Operations project funded by the Ohio Federal Research Network (OFRN). This is a multi-organization effort in defining Ohio unmanned traffic management, led by CAL Analytics in Dayton and including CAE investigators MD Amiruzzaman, Ph.D., Jenna Merriman and Blake Stringer, Ph.D. A portion of the simulator is funded by the OFRN effort.


Furthermore, the college anticipates the ability to increase participation in state or federal research initiatives, increase university relationships with state and federal UAS test centers, participation in Small Business Innovative Research with innovative companies, and the FAA Centers of Excellence.

POSTED: Thursday, June 4, 2020 04:15 PM
UPDATED: Friday, March 29, 2024 05:52 AM