27.11.2024
SAINTS partnership with NATS
NATS, the UK’s leading provider of air traffic control services, is one of SAINTS partners. Research and Development Capability and Delivery Manager at NATS, Sarah Dow, shares why NATS are supporting the SAINTS CDT, explains the exciting future of AI and aviation, and why it’s integral that SAINTS postgraduate researchers maintain strong ties with industry partners.
Why was your organisation interested in supporting the SAINTS CDT?
Safety is fundamental to everything that NATS does. In a typical year, NATS handles 2.5M flights through UK airspace and the North Atlantic. Our future systems will increasingly look to leverage AI, so the ability to develop and assure AI-based elements of our safety critical systems will be essential.
The emphasis of the CDT on human-centred AI is crucial to NATS as we research ways of supporting Air Traffic Controllers with autonomous capabilities and continue to develop the human-AI teaming concept, an example of which we prototyped through the recent NATS-York collaborative WIZARD project.
Security is also a significant and increasing focus for air traffic management systems and the future platforms upon which these services are delivered will inevitably take advantage of distributed and cloud architectures that will need to be security assured. We are also very mindful of the need for responsible AI and this requires full engagement with our staff, especially our controllers.
Also, the emphasis of the CDT on safety assurance is vital as our systems need to be approved and are continually assessed to ensure and assure that we provide safe and effective services.
NATS is keen to ensure that the unique challenges of air traffic control are tackled through ongoing world-class research activities that have industrial applicability and real-world value. The SAINTS CDT clearly reflects our research interests, and we believe that the CDT will help to equip the next generation of professionals with the skills necessary to address the challenges of the safety of AI-enabled autonomous systems.
We also see SAINTS as offering an opportunity to continue our long-standing partnership between NATS and the University of York. Over the last 5 years, we have jointly undertaken projects that cover the design, development, validation and assurance of increased automation in complex safety-critical applications.
How do you see AI featuring in your organisation’s future?
NATS recognises the potential transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in air traffic management and there is ongoing research, innovation, and strategic partnerships to understand where we can safely integrate AI technology to enhance safety, efficiency and resilience.
AI-powered systems could optimise airspace utilisation, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Enhanced predictive capabilities could enable proactive management of traffic flows, mitigating delays and improving overall efficiency. AI technologies could also facilitate the integration of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) into existing airspace structures, ensuring safe and seamless integrated operations.
NATS already utilises machine learning and optimisation tools, as well as advanced route planning and airspace management technologies, to enable more precise aircraft trajectories. By analysing vast amounts of data in real-time, AI algorithms can further assist in predicting and mitigating potential conflicts, thereby enhancing safety standards. AI-powered decision support tools could also support controllers in making informed decisions by providing them with accurate and timely information.
Looking ahead, we expect further evolution in AI implementation. One key area of focus is to explore AI applications in collaborative decision-making to enhance situational awareness for controllers and human-machine collaboration.
We are actively investing in research and development, and collaborating with academic institutions and industry partners, in support of those future developments. Research efforts include investigating AI-driven automation techniques for routine tasks, enabling controllers to focus on higher-level decision-making and complex scenarios, and how AI could be validated, assured and implemented into an operational environment working in collaboration with human Air Traffic Controllers (human machine teaming).
Another key area of focus is on exploring trust, explainability and safety issues arising from the use of AI in air traffic management. Having recently established an AI Policy Group this is an issue we take extremely seriously. Safety is, and always will be, our number one priority, so any technology deployed into the operational environment must first and foremost be safety assured.
What do you enjoy most about your role in your organisation?
Working in Research and Development at NATS is highly enjoyable as it offers the opportunity to explore new ideas and push the boundaries of innovation. With such a complex, safety critical industry as airspace management, this provides additional challenge in ensuring that, whist pushing the boundaries, safety is at heart of everything we do.
I get much enjoyment through leading the team and collaborating with many other like-minded colleagues across many disciplines which helps to fuel creativity and provide fresh perspectives to ideas. The satisfaction of seeing a concept evolve from an initial idea to a tangible solution that can make a real-world impact adds a profound sense of accomplishment and purpose to the work I do.
What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?
One of the working achievements that I am most proud of is an example of seeing an idea through from initial concept into implementation. I managed a large European project within the SESAR Programme which looked at making arrivals and departures at airports more efficient and resilient by optimising the separation needed between aircraft. I led the work from initial concept design through to validation and acceptance as a NATS investment project.
It now forms part of the Intelligent Approach suite of adaptive controller tools that safely optimise arrival spacing for all conditions to maximise runway capacity, maintain operational resilience and provide better on-time performance. It was implemented at Heathrow in 2018 and since then at a number of other airports across the world.
What one piece of advice might you have for SAINTS postgraduate researchers?
My advice would be to stay in regular touch with industry partners, which I know is a core part of the SAINTS CDT. This is crucial, not just for bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world application but also helps to ensure that the research remains relevant and addresses tangible problems, whilst simultaneously opening doors to collaborative opportunities, resources, and potential career pathways. NATS R&D is really looking forward to continuing to work with the University of York through the SAINTS CDT to see what can be unlocked in advances of the lifelong safety in increasingly autonomous systems within our highly complex, safety critical industry.
