SATS Technologies
SATS' goal is to introduce new technology into
general aviation. The Southeast SATS Lab is working
with several different companies from the aviation industry
to implement new technology into the SATS system.
Smart Airport Technologies
SATS works with companies like the Harris Corporation
to explore new airport technologies. To increase the
amount of traffic at non-towered and non-radar airports, computerized
groud stations broadcast information up to SATS aircraft such
as landing information, live traffic and weather. This
allows landing minima to be lowered and smaller airports to
be used more often. These ground stations may also be
able to do automatic sequencing and seperation of aircraft
to manage airport airspace.
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The simulation above shows the ground station managing
air traffic. The boundary around the aircraft
is the aircraft's safety zone and the boundary around
the airport marks the airport's airspace.
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Avionics
Several Avionics corporations, such as Avidyne
and L3 are developing new avionics for general aviation aircraft.
These avionics incorporate the Highway in the Sky (HITS) as
well as full color displays, weather, traffic and systems
information. These new technologies will bring general
aviation into the 21st century as well as improving single
pilot performance and safety.
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L3 Smartdeck is showing the Highway in the Sky.
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Weather is shown in relation to the filed flight
plan.
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Two more examples of the Highway in the Sky imagery.
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Harris Trailers
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The Harris Corporation Trailers take the Smart Technology
mobile. These trailers can broadcast information
up to 40 miles away. The Southeast SATS lab
currently has seven of these trailers at airports
around Florida for its testbed.
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Aircraft
The Southeast SATS Lab is currently testing
using a Cessna 310. The NASA SATS program has installed
test equipment in a Beech X-1. Both aircraft are used
to test the SATS system operational capabilities. L3
SmartDeck avionics are installed in the Cessna 310 and Avidyne
avionics are installed in the Beech X-1.
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NASA Beech X-1
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Southeast SATS Lab Cessna 310
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Beech X-1 cockpit with Avidyne Displays
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Cessna 310 with L3 Displays
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Beech X-1 cockpit with Avidyne Displays
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Cessna 310 with L3 Displays
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Operations Centers
The SATS Lab also has several Operations Centers
established in its testbed. The same Smart Airport technologies
are installed at or near the airport to broadcast information
to the test aircraft.
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The Operations Center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University next to the Daytona Beach International
Airport.
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A mini Operations Center.
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