The development of software for air traffic controller workstations is a lengthy and cost-intensive process. During development, air traffic controllers are only involved to a very limited extent and often only come into contact with the finished software once they have been trained on it. At this point, it is already very time-consuming to integrate necessary changes into the software based on suggestions from air traffic controllers. The Envision project is developing a new software development workflow that will help to establish a bilateral development process between pilots and software developers through interactive functional human-machine prototypes. This will reduce both the time and technical effort involved in introducing software in this safety-critical environment.
Project description
Together with Frequentis Orthogon and the Institute for User Systems Engineering at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, the Controller Assistance department from the DLR Institute of Flight Guidance is working on the Envision project to improve the development processes for pilot workstation software. This involves designing a new workflow for their development and selecting and evaluating the necessary tools. The whole process is being tested by developing two prototypes for pilot workstation software. A software toolbox from Frequentis Orthogon that is already in operational use will be used as a basis and coupled with algorithms and tools from DLR.
The new workflow
The core of the new workflow is the reorganisation of the cooperation between various stakeholders in the development and introduction of new workplace components. In the case of air traffic controller workstation software, this primarily involves software developers, designers and, of course, air traffic controllers as future users of the systems. In the project, Frequentis Orthogon assumes the role of software developer, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences that of designer and DLR that of process developer and provider of the evaluation environment on the one hand, while also providing the perspective of air traffic controllers through its expertise in the air traffic control sector. The new workflow consists of many design and development iterations in which the various stakeholders meet regularly in workshops to develop, evaluate and improve new functionalities and operating units in a step-by-step process. As part of the project, regular workshops are also held with active air traffic controllers to gather feedback on the workflow, design and technical prototypes.
Objectives
Today's operational air traffic controller software lacks many modern features that have already been extensively investigated in research and could be made available to controllers. Envision's new development workflow and the early integration of controllers into the development process will make it possible to incorporate innovations into operational systems more quickly and in a more targeted manner and reduce costs through subsequent changes and bug fixes.
Key data
Project
Envision (Entwicklung und Prozessverbesserung für zukunftsgerichtete Lotsenarbeitsplätze mit Erprobungsplattform für nutzerzentrierte Visualisierungs- und Interaktions-Konzepte)
Participants
Frequentis Orthogon (Coordinator)
Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Institute for User Systems Engineering
