An EU-funded project evaluates how 5G-based positioning and sensing and mmWave radar can improve operations in secondary airports.

Safe and secure transport solutions are central objectives of EU policy, as outlined in European aviation Flightpath 2050. Novel technologies that are used outside of air traffic management (ATM), such as cellular networks and low-level radar, have been put under the spotlight for their ability to enhance safety and security, as well as improve overall performance at airports. “In this context, the NewSense project aimed to improve safety and efficiency of operations, primarily in secondary airports, with innovative low-cost surface surveillance solutions using 5G and millimetre waves (mmWave) signals, which are widely used outside ATM. This will allow for the implementation of affordable advanced-surface movement guidance and control systems,” explains Fathia Ben Slama, project coordinator. The project also aimed to develop gap-filler solutions that could be deployed at larger airports to cover up current system limitations such as coverage issues. NewSense was funded within the framework of the SESAR Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership set up to modernise Europe’s air traffic management system.

Offering two surveillance solutions for airports

NewSense proposes two surveillance solutions: a 5G surveillance solution – including a cooperative 5G signal based surveillance sensor and non-cooperative synthetic-aperture radar imaging with a 5G signal sensor – and a mmWave surveillance solution for non-cooperative targets. “We found that 5G positioning using both angle and time estimates from different 5G reference signals in both downlink and uplink directions is promising for secondary airport surveillance systems,” confirms Slama. The performance obtained with the 5G surveillance solution is promising, especially in a line-of-sight scenario that mainly concerns the manoeuvring area and taxiways. This is because there are less obstacles and, therefore, less multi-path distribution issues in these areas. “The performance decreases significantly for non-line-of-sight (apron and parking stands area),” adds Slama. As for using mmWave radar for positioning, NewSense found that it is a promising complementary tool in future airport surveillance. “It offers better performance when seamlessly measuring an object’s position and velocity, irrespective of visibility conditions, compared to optical sensors. The maximum range of the radar depends on radar configuration, radar cross section (RCS) of the target and transmission power,” outlines Slama. Measurements demonstrate that mmWave radar offers a high accuracy, which makes it possible to differentiate two objects in close proximity and to accurately detect certain events such as when aircraft cross runway thresholds and other reference points. It has another benefit, explains Slama: “Machine learning applied to radar data makes it possible to classify targets as an aircraft, person, vehicle, and so on.”

Improving safety and security at secondary airports

The NewSense project has demonstrated that 5G-based positioning and sensing, along with mmWave radar have promising potential for accuracy and coverage in small- and medium-sized airport areas. “Considering the performances obtained with the 5G positioning, the use of the 5G surveillance solution could be extended to the terminal manoeuvring area and complex airports,” highlights Slama. As for mmWave radar, Slama concludes: “Next steps would be to look for a solution to increase the maximum range of the radar. This will be either by searching existing products available in the short/medium term, or by prototyping a radar that combines a higher transmit power and a synchronised rotating pedestal in order to increase its field of view.”

(Source: CORDIS)

More about the project

This project has received funding from the SESAR Joint Undertaking under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 893917