Comparison of centralized and decentralized conflict resolution strategies for multiple-aircraft problems

Under the concept of Free Flight, future air traffic operations may permit the transfer of responsibility for various tasks, including conflict detection and resolution, from ground-based air traffic controllers to the flight crew. While aircraft-based conflict resolution is attractive from a user-preferences standpoint, the degree to which it can efficiently resolve complex conflicts among several interacting aircraft remains a significant issue. The objective of this study is to compare the performance of a decentralized conflict resolution strategy against that of a benchmark centralized conflict resolution strategy. A generalized methodology for such a comparison does not exist; therefore two qualitatively different conflict scenarios, characterized by complex interactions among multiple aircraft, were constructed to conduct simulation studies using an idealized model. Preliminary investigations indicate that a decentralized resolution strategy can successfully solve complex multiple-aircraft problems in real time, albeit with some performance degradation relative to a centralized strategy. © 2000 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.