ATM THEME AT 3-2 CNS/ATM Overview Session (Focus on FANS 1/A)

7 10 June 2004 Hano Vietnam Overview of VDL Mode 4

Xavier JOURDAIN

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Community. The views expressed herein are Those of AECMA and can therefore in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Community

A project supported by the European Commission, the European Industry and the Ministries responsible for Civil Aviation in Asia

What is VDL Mode 4?

(1)

Multi-purpose Data Link Operating in the VHF Radio Spectrum (108 - 136.975 MHz) Based on 25 kHz channels GFSK modulation Bit rate = 19.2 kbit/s

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What is VDL Mode 4?

(2)

Communication of Digital Messages between:

Mobile Stations such as Aircraft and Airport Surface Vehicles, and Mobile Stations and Fixed Ground Stations;

Transmitted Messages on VDL Mode 4 could relate to:

Positioning Information transmitted by Aircraft and received by other Aircraft and ATC Text, such as messages exchanges between Air Traffic Control (or ATC) and Aircraft Graphics such as Weather maps up-linked to Aircraft
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What is VDL Mode 4? (3)

VDL Mode 4 supports: Broadcast transmission: to be received by all users within radio range Point-to-point transmission: addressed to a specific user

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What is VDL Mode 4? (4)

Main Features: Designed to exchange Short Repetitive Messages (e.g. for ADS-B) Self Organising Capability: no Ground Station is needed to control the Transmission on the Link If Ground Stations are present: additional Ground to Air Applications can be realised

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VDL-4 Frame Structure

VDL Mode 4 Superframe

- 1 minute

- 4,500 slots = 75 slots/s

13.33 ms Slot 0001

Current superframe

Slot 4500

Slot 4501

Current superframe + 1

Slot 9000

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Data Burst Format

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System Timing

Time Synchronisation required for Basic Station Access without Mutual Interference Time Standard : Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) Time primarily based on GNSS, but other sources may be used (as long as they can be related to UTC)

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Slot Allocation

VDL-4 allows to:

select slots for a new transmission place reservations for future transmissions.

Each station maintains a reservation that contains all reservations made by other stations When the channel is not busy => slot selection is straightforward

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Slot Allocation

When the channel becomes busier (unreserved slots are harder to find)
=> possibility to use a slot previously reserved by another distant station Advantages: coverage area of a station reduces gracefully (as the channel becomes busy) no sudden reduction of the ability to communicate no reliance on a ground station to carry out channel resource management
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Slot Allocation

Slots can be allocated in accordance with 2 operating modes: autonomously (autonomous reporting), or via master control (directed reporting). Autonomous reporting mode: Mobile station transmits in self-selected slots Primarily selects unused slots If the Data Link is saturated, it will employ a slot re-use algorithm Employs the Self-Organising capability of VDL Mode 4, which allows a mobile station to enter the system, resolve communication conflicts and dynamically share the Data Link Resource with other users. The system is enabled to operate without the presence of a Ground infrastructure
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Slot Allocation

Directed reporting (or Ground-Controlled) mode:

Mobile station is instructed by a Ground Station to transmit at a certain Rate, on a certain Channel, and/or in certain Slots. a Ground Station controls the overall access to a slot or group of slots. This may be the preferred option for Surface Surveillance or terminal areas in which only one ground station is involved, the coverage area limited, and the risk for saturation of the data link is low.

Each mode utilises various slot access mechanisms called Reservation Protocols
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Operational Applications
VDL Mode 4 Data Link is considered for supporting: ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast) Mobile Stations broadcast their position information at very short intervals Position Information could provide new situational awareness to aircrews and a new surveillance means to ATC (in any type of airspace including oceanic and remote continental areas here no Ground Station is present) TIS-B FIS-B GRAS Addressed Communication
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Example of Product: AS-660 VDL-4 CNS Ground Station (Thales ATM)

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AS 660 VDL Mode 4 CNS Ground Station

Manufactured by Thales ATM

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AS 660 VDL Mode 4 CNS GS Overview

Multi-purpose Integrated VDL Mode4 Ground Station VDL Mode 4 transceiver (1TX, 3RX) Differential GPS subsystem (generates GRAS messages) Network Interface Data conversion (Asterix <-> VDL Mode4) Uninterruptible Power Supply Supports ADS-B, TIS-B, FIS-B, GRAS

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Thank you

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