Low-cost VR Remote Tower for AFIS

DLR, RWTH Aachen und HS Osnabrück tested a very low cost remote tower solution for AFIS (Aerodrome Flight Information Service) applications. The concept particularly addresses very small airport with max. AFIS service. Airports, which would benefit from remote services but cannot afford state-of-the-art remote tower technology. For that purpose DLR, RWTH Aachen und HS Osnabrück developed a virtual reality environment with integrated human-machine interaction fed with live data from Braunschweig Airport. The VR environment was realized via a VR glasses, showing a basic 180° panorama and a PTZ which could be controlled via a head tracking function, which is already part of the VR glasses. This concept has the advantage of very small implementation and maintenance costs and would substitute costly remote tower working positions with several HD screens. The glasses are easily to be plugged and play everywhere where network is available, even on conventional Towers, independent on ambient light conditions. The trials were performed at DLR Braunschweig with 9 German ATCOs & AFISOs who liked the idea and admitted that this concept has its potentials, particularly for AFIS use cases, for instance to extent opening hours of AFIS airports. On 25 February an Open Day is planned at DLR's premises to present the results and have a hands-on demonstration.

For pictures showing the VR interaction look here: https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6604011873983582209/

#remotetower #industrialdesign #hsosnabrueck #designprocess #DLR #interfacedesign #ATC #hmi #leapmotion #VR #virtualreality