Publications

This report describes the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Transportable Measurements Facility (TMF), a special purpose beacon interrogator patterned after the Discrete Address Beacon Sensor. This van-mounted experimental beacon system includes all ATCRBS/DABS reply processing and monopulse processing, but not other DABS processing. It was developed to collect data at various locations...

This document provides a functional description of the Discrete Address Beacon System (DABS), a combined secondary surveillance radar (beacon) and ground-air-ground data link system capable of providing the aircraft surveillance and communications necessary to support ATC automation in future traffic environments. DABS is capable of common-channel interoperation with the current...

This paper provides information on site-associated phenomena that affect the proper operation of a DABS sensor and therefore warrant serious consideration when siting a radar. The DABS-related discussion is intended to be a supplement to the ATCRBS siting criteria presented in the FAA Primary/Secondary Terminal Radar Siting Handbook. The paper...

A Transportable Measurement Facility (TMF) incorporating antenna, r-f, and reply processing elements of a Discrete Address Beacon System (DABS) sensor has been sited at, and in the vicinity of, several FAA terminal ASR's throughout the United States. Data collected at these sites have been thoroughly analyzed to verify the design...

This document presents, on a functional level, the interactions that occur between a DABS sensor and an ATC facility (terminal or enroute) in order to make full use of the capabilities provided by the addition of DABS sensors to the ATC system. There are three functions of the interactions: (1)...

This document presents the results of a major design validation effort of the Network Management function described in the DABS Engineering Requirements document. The design validation is based on simulation of a DABS network of three sensors interacting with airborne traffic of approximately 800 aircraft

Obstacle shadows, within view of a sensor using monopulse azimuth estimate, cause an error in the azimuth estimate. This report discusses the azimuth error as a function of obstacle dimension and position, and the sensor antenna illumination.

Intermittent Positive Control is an automated aircraft collision avoidance system requiring the participation of the aircraft pilots involved. The operational interface between pilots and the IPC system is being evaluated in a series of live flight tests. The Lincoln Laboratory DABS Experimental Facility, augmented to include the IPC function, is...

This report provides a discussion of the design of the DABS network management function. Network management is responsible for the interaction between the local sensor and the adjacent connected sensors. Based on a dynamic interpretation of the coverage map and the status of the network, network management determines (a) the...

The DABS link performance is computed using the present values for the system operating parameters and the available models that describe environment and aircraft antenna effects. The various fade mechanisms are described, and a statistical determination of performance is proposed. The performance is computed for various sets of conditions including...