Periodic Reporting for period 2 - iSNAP (iTEC SkyNex ATC platform)
Période du rapport: 2024-01-01 au 2024-12-31
With a focus on advancing the current iTEC SkyNex platform, iSNAP is contributing to define a new era based on an enhanced architecture framework and technology, and aligned with the Targeted European Airspace Architecture. It serves while serving as a vital enabler for achieving the objectives outlined in the European ATM Master Plan.
Today, Digitalisation technologies provide a unique opportunity to achieve the seamless integration of the European ATM system by leveraging virtualisation and service orientation to foster scalability, cost-efficiency and resilience and in turn improve operational performance.
In this context, the main goals of the project are twofold.
Firstly, to evolve the existing iTEC SkyNex platform as a clear lever for the Digital European Sky, allowing the decoupling ATM service provision from the infrastructure, addressing different areas of the platform:
a. Middleware and communications
b. Integration in PaaS (Platform as a Service)
c. Supervision evolution
d. Human Machine Interface evolution
e. Recording evolution
Secondly, to go one further step in the validation of the implementation of airspace delegation concept consolidating the virtual centre D-architecture. This focuses on technical developments that enable the delegation of ATM services between two Air Traffic Service Units (ATSUs), each one with its own ATM Data Service Provider (ADSP).
Basically, iSNAP will redefine the boundaries of air traffic management, enhance operational efficiency, and pave the way for a safer and more resilient airspace ecosystem. Moreover, the iSNAP project will directly benefit over half of the European territory, which is part of the iTEC Alliance, and allowing the rest of the countries to progress faster based on the developed standards and architectural results.
Today, Digitalisation technologies provide a unique opportunity to achieve the seamless integration of the European ATM system by leveraging virtualisation and service orientation to foster scalability, cost-efficiency and resilience and in turn improve operational performance.
In this context, the main goals of the project are twofold.
Firstly, to evolve the existing iTEC SkyNex platform as a clear lever for the Digital European Sky, allowing the decoupling ATM service provision from the infrastructure, addressing different areas of the platform:
a. Middleware and communications
b. Integration in PaaS (Platform as a Service)
c. Supervision evolution
d. Human Machine Interface evolution
e. Recording evolution
Secondly, to go one further step in the validation of the implementation of airspace delegation concept consolidating the virtual centre D-architecture. This focuses on technical developments that enable the delegation of ATM services between two Air Traffic Service Units (ATSUs), each one with its own ATM Data Service Provider (ADSP).
Basically, iSNAP will redefine the boundaries of air traffic management, enhance operational efficiency, and pave the way for a safer and more resilient airspace ecosystem. Moreover, the iSNAP project will directly benefit over half of the European territory, which is part of the iTEC Alliance, and allowing the rest of the countries to progress faster based on the developed standards and architectural results.
The second period of the project, covering from M10 to M21, has mainly focused on:
* finishing the activities in the 'Middleware and Communications' area and addressing the 'Supervision Evolution' area of the first project objective
* defining not only the validation exercise expected to address the second project objective but also the technical requirements of the related prototype. Based on it, the development of the prototype and some preparatory activities were initiated.
In the case of the 'Middleware and Communications' area, the final preparatory activities of the validation exercise were carried out, including those related to the development and testing of the prototype. The validation exercise was successfully performed and the analysis of results and the drawing of conclusions and recommendations were performed and properly documented.
In the context of the 'Supervision Evolution' area, both the architectural and technical changes in the platform related to this area and the associated technical requirements were refined and consolidated. Based on these requirements, the development of the prototype and the related updates of the ATC platform were performed. Then, the validation activity expected to address this area was designed and successfully executed. Later, the analysis of results as well as the drawing of conclusions and recommendations were initiated.
Finally, it is important to note that the identification of existing standards and regulations that could be impacted by the work performed in both project objectives and/or new ones that could be created were refined.
* finishing the activities in the 'Middleware and Communications' area and addressing the 'Supervision Evolution' area of the first project objective
* defining not only the validation exercise expected to address the second project objective but also the technical requirements of the related prototype. Based on it, the development of the prototype and some preparatory activities were initiated.
In the case of the 'Middleware and Communications' area, the final preparatory activities of the validation exercise were carried out, including those related to the development and testing of the prototype. The validation exercise was successfully performed and the analysis of results and the drawing of conclusions and recommendations were performed and properly documented.
In the context of the 'Supervision Evolution' area, both the architectural and technical changes in the platform related to this area and the associated technical requirements were refined and consolidated. Based on these requirements, the development of the prototype and the related updates of the ATC platform were performed. Then, the validation activity expected to address this area was designed and successfully executed. Later, the analysis of results as well as the drawing of conclusions and recommendations were initiated.
Finally, it is important to note that the identification of existing standards and regulations that could be impacted by the work performed in both project objectives and/or new ones that could be created were refined.
The individual results obtained in each of the validation activities performed within the first project objective are stated below. The main conclusions at solution level will be developed once all exercises have been performed.
During the first validation activity, Middleware and Communications, the architectural and technological updates related to this area were validated as technically feasible. On the other hand, cost efficiency achieved by Middleware and Communications update comes from two different aspects: ANS provision costs and Scalability.
Evolution of Middleware and Communications area allows the system to be a full-service oriented architecture compatible with Virtual Centre concept. This new architecture reduces the ANS provision costs and improves scalability of the platform, leading to the desired Cost Efficiency enhancement.
Middleware and Communications upgrade is achieved with mainstream Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies. Moving from old technologies to more modern ones allows to pay the technological debt, contributing to increase the scalability of the system and focusing on interoperability. As for the full-service oriented architecture, scalability should reduce costs.
During the second validation activity, Supervision Evolution, the technological feasibility of moving the existing Supervision model to a new one based on the Local and Global Supervision for controlling and monitoring the different components of the system was successfully assessed.
In addition, it should be noted that the new Local and Global Supervision for the new ATC platform is a self-contained product, which means that it is defined to be integrated with third party’s platform. Its modular design allows to have one single software that can be customizable according to different ATM products. This reduces the costs because there is no need to design and implement new Supervision software every time.
During the first validation activity, Middleware and Communications, the architectural and technological updates related to this area were validated as technically feasible. On the other hand, cost efficiency achieved by Middleware and Communications update comes from two different aspects: ANS provision costs and Scalability.
Evolution of Middleware and Communications area allows the system to be a full-service oriented architecture compatible with Virtual Centre concept. This new architecture reduces the ANS provision costs and improves scalability of the platform, leading to the desired Cost Efficiency enhancement.
Middleware and Communications upgrade is achieved with mainstream Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies. Moving from old technologies to more modern ones allows to pay the technological debt, contributing to increase the scalability of the system and focusing on interoperability. As for the full-service oriented architecture, scalability should reduce costs.
During the second validation activity, Supervision Evolution, the technological feasibility of moving the existing Supervision model to a new one based on the Local and Global Supervision for controlling and monitoring the different components of the system was successfully assessed.
In addition, it should be noted that the new Local and Global Supervision for the new ATC platform is a self-contained product, which means that it is defined to be integrated with third party’s platform. Its modular design allows to have one single software that can be customizable according to different ATM products. This reduces the costs because there is no need to design and implement new Supervision software every time.