Our second newsletter is HERE! Dive deeper into CODA and discover even more insights.
What is CODA?
CODA is a SESAR 3 Exploratory Research project, started in September 2023 and ending in August 2026. CODA involves developing a system in which hybrid human-machine teams collaboratively perform air traffic control tasks. This newsletter summarizes the results from the last issue, delivered in April 2024. For more detailed reference on CODA objectives, refer to this initial issue or to our webpage, linked bellow.
Available results.
From the last newsletter, we completed the work regarding current ATCO’s work modelling and future role analysis, as well as the definition of use cases and scenarios. The results of this effort may be found in the results section of the CODA webpage. Additionally, we have worked on the development of a sound experimental strategy, summarized in the Exploratory Research Plan (ERP).
Some advances in ATCO mental states prediction.
Within the task “Cognitive prediction model”, CODA is developing psychological models for air traffic controllers (ATCOs) able to predict the future mental workload, fatigue, stress and sustained attention.
The models are based on the theory of resources. Workload is defined as the ratio of demanded resources to the operator’s available resources. The calculation of the demanded resources is based on the working mental model defined by Histon and Hassman. They identified four operating modes ranging from low to very high demand for mental resources: OM1 (Opportunistic Mode), OM2 (Route Structure Mode), OM3 (Congestion Mode), and OM4 (System Shock). ATCOs make mental abstractions about the current demand and switch from one mode to another to compensate for the increase in demand. The calculation of available resources is supported by the Compensatory Control model proposed by Hockey. In this context, fatigue will decrease available mental resources, while stress will provide a temporary boost to them.
By analysing and combining the different theories, Universidad de Granada (UGR) and Centro de Referencia de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación ATM (CRIDA) have derived requirements that allowed the identification of the main impacting variables and the functions that indicated how these states vary with time. To perform this work, they are enlarging and improving a mental cognitive model previously developed that has been used in R&D investigation by ENAIRE (Spanish Air Traffic Management provider) and other European projects (e.g. COTTON – Capacity optimisation in trajectory-based operations). They have analysed the traffic from 2023 in Enroute sectors of Spanish airspace to derive the algorithms and are in the process of fine tuning their parameters. To support this analysis a dry-run with controllers from International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (iFACTA) and the support of the whole consortium will take place at Madrid in October.
The final validation results and validation on these models will be published after this validation exercises.
Presence in SESAR Innovation Days 2024.
Some representatives of the CODA Team will be present at the SID-2024 conference in Rome (12 – 15 November). To exemplify some of the preliminary results obtained, we have submitted a joint demo with the TRUSTY project. If finally accepted by the SIDs Program Committee, there would be two demonstrators available, where the attendees will enroll themselves in interactive games and experiences related to ATC where their mental states will be measured in real time, and real time adaptation of the game/experiences will make clear the potential advantages of the CODA approach.
Apart from this, several of our partners will be present at the conference, which could be a great place to contact us and to discuss on our progress. If interested, please write to us so that we can arrange an appointment during the event.
Web page, social media and contact information.
If you want more up-to-date news about CODA, please follow us on Linkedin. Also, if you want to join the CODA Advisory Board for future meetings where we will further discuss the project progress and results, you are more than welcome to propose yourself, by contacting us.
Project progress and results may be followed using our communication channels, currently including:
Web page: http://coda-sesar.eu
Linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coda-atc
This newsletter
Direct contact, with Project Leader Stefano Bonelli (stefano.bonelli@dblue.it) or Dissemination Leader (juanalberto.besada@upm.es).