Cooperative Low-Carbon Trajectory Planning of Multi-Arrival Aircraft for Continuous Descent Operation

To address the technical challenges of implementing Continuous Descent Operations (CDO) in high-traffic-density terminal control areas, we propose a cooperative low-carbon trajectory planning method for multiple arriving aircraft. Firstly, this study analyzes the CDO phases of aircraft in the termin...

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Main Authors: Cun Feng, Chao Wang, Hanlu Chen, Chenyang Xu, Jinpeng Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Aerospace
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/11/12/1024
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author Cun Feng
Chao Wang
Hanlu Chen
Chenyang Xu
Jinpeng Wang
author_facet Cun Feng
Chao Wang
Hanlu Chen
Chenyang Xu
Jinpeng Wang
author_sort Cun Feng
collection DOAJ
description To address the technical challenges of implementing Continuous Descent Operations (CDO) in high-traffic-density terminal control areas, we propose a cooperative low-carbon trajectory planning method for multiple arriving aircraft. Firstly, this study analyzes the CDO phases of aircraft in the terminal area, establishes a multi-phase optimal control model for the vertical profile, and introduces a novel vertical profile optimization method for CDO based on a genetic algorithm. Secondly, to tackle the challenges of CDO in busy terminal areas, a T-shaped arrival route structure is designed to provide alternative paths and to generate a set of four-dimensional (4D) alternative trajectories. A Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) model is constructed for the 4D trajectory planning of multiple aircraft, aiming to maximize the efficiency of arrival traffic flow while considering conflict constraints. The complex constrained MIP problem is transformed into an unconstrained problem using a penalty function method. Finally, experiments were conducted to evaluate the implementation of CDO in busy terminal areas. The results show that, compared to actual operations, the proposed optimization model significantly reduces the total aircraft operating time, fuel consumption, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, SO<sub>2</sub> emissions, and NO<i><sub>x</sub></i> emissions. Specifically, with the optimization objective of minimizing total cost, the proposed method reduces the total operation time by 22.4%; fuel consumption, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, SO<sub>2</sub> emissions by 22.9%, and NO<i><sub>x</sub></i> emissions by 23.7%. The method proposed in this paper not only produces efficient aircraft sequencing results, but also provides a feasible low-carbon trajectory for achieving optimal sequencing.
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spelling doaj-art-a7f3b75092e64d209a468e2437449ad72025-08-20T02:01:01ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102024-12-011112102410.3390/aerospace11121024Cooperative Low-Carbon Trajectory Planning of Multi-Arrival Aircraft for Continuous Descent OperationCun Feng0Chao Wang1Hanlu Chen2Chenyang Xu3Jinpeng Wang4College of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, No. 2898 Jinbei Road, Tianjin 300300, ChinaCollege of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, No. 2898 Jinbei Road, Tianjin 300300, ChinaHuanghua International Airport, Changsha 410137, ChinaCollege of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, No. 2898 Jinbei Road, Tianjin 300300, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaTo address the technical challenges of implementing Continuous Descent Operations (CDO) in high-traffic-density terminal control areas, we propose a cooperative low-carbon trajectory planning method for multiple arriving aircraft. Firstly, this study analyzes the CDO phases of aircraft in the terminal area, establishes a multi-phase optimal control model for the vertical profile, and introduces a novel vertical profile optimization method for CDO based on a genetic algorithm. Secondly, to tackle the challenges of CDO in busy terminal areas, a T-shaped arrival route structure is designed to provide alternative paths and to generate a set of four-dimensional (4D) alternative trajectories. A Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) model is constructed for the 4D trajectory planning of multiple aircraft, aiming to maximize the efficiency of arrival traffic flow while considering conflict constraints. The complex constrained MIP problem is transformed into an unconstrained problem using a penalty function method. Finally, experiments were conducted to evaluate the implementation of CDO in busy terminal areas. The results show that, compared to actual operations, the proposed optimization model significantly reduces the total aircraft operating time, fuel consumption, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, SO<sub>2</sub> emissions, and NO<i><sub>x</sub></i> emissions. Specifically, with the optimization objective of minimizing total cost, the proposed method reduces the total operation time by 22.4%; fuel consumption, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, SO<sub>2</sub> emissions by 22.9%, and NO<i><sub>x</sub></i> emissions by 23.7%. The method proposed in this paper not only produces efficient aircraft sequencing results, but also provides a feasible low-carbon trajectory for achieving optimal sequencing.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/11/12/1024air traffic managementcontinuous descent operationsfour-dimensional trajectory optimizationoptimal control theorysequential scheduling
spellingShingle Cun Feng
Chao Wang
Hanlu Chen
Chenyang Xu
Jinpeng Wang
Cooperative Low-Carbon Trajectory Planning of Multi-Arrival Aircraft for Continuous Descent Operation
Aerospace
air traffic management
continuous descent operations
four-dimensional trajectory optimization
optimal control theory
sequential scheduling
title Cooperative Low-Carbon Trajectory Planning of Multi-Arrival Aircraft for Continuous Descent Operation
title_full Cooperative Low-Carbon Trajectory Planning of Multi-Arrival Aircraft for Continuous Descent Operation
title_fullStr Cooperative Low-Carbon Trajectory Planning of Multi-Arrival Aircraft for Continuous Descent Operation
title_full_unstemmed Cooperative Low-Carbon Trajectory Planning of Multi-Arrival Aircraft for Continuous Descent Operation
title_short Cooperative Low-Carbon Trajectory Planning of Multi-Arrival Aircraft for Continuous Descent Operation
title_sort cooperative low carbon trajectory planning of multi arrival aircraft for continuous descent operation
topic air traffic management
continuous descent operations
four-dimensional trajectory optimization
optimal control theory
sequential scheduling
url https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/11/12/1024
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AT chaowang cooperativelowcarbontrajectoryplanningofmultiarrivalaircraftforcontinuousdescentoperation
AT hanluchen cooperativelowcarbontrajectoryplanningofmultiarrivalaircraftforcontinuousdescentoperation
AT chenyangxu cooperativelowcarbontrajectoryplanningofmultiarrivalaircraftforcontinuousdescentoperation
AT jinpengwang cooperativelowcarbontrajectoryplanningofmultiarrivalaircraftforcontinuousdescentoperation