Volume 9, Number 4 • July/August 2001 • Technology Transfer

NASA Traffic Scheduler Seeks Commercial Partners

NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, recently hosted a commercialization briefing at Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport for companies interested in licensing an “airport traffic scheduler.”

The automated traffic management system, originally developed by NASA to alleviate congestion at the nation’s busiest airports, is now available for business application and commercial licensing.

Scientists developed the system, called TRAJECT, at Ames to improve the scheduling and directing of airplanes. Engineers tested TRAJECT at Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport for the 1996 Olympics, and the system has been in operation there since. During a technology licensing briefing at the airport on May 30, 2001, NASA researchers discussed potential commercial applications of the system, explaining how it can benefit airports. Attendees also got a glimpse of this informational “tool” at work from the air traffic control tower in Atlanta, the busiest airport in the nation.

“Ames originally developed TRAJECT as a real-time airport surface movement advisor to electronically interconnect data from the air traffic control tower, ramp control, airline data and airline operations. This facilitates information sharing and improves taxi queuing,” said Jon Hagstrom, of Ames’ Computational Sciences Division. “By reducing airport departure taxi times, TRAJECT may save airlines tens of millions of dollars annually,” he added.

According to its developers, the TRAJECT software tool has application in a wide range of situations, not just airports. The system can receive, process and manage real-time information from a variety of data sources. This capability allows the software to automate the scheduling of the movement of multiple items—boats, trucks, railroad cars, containers and others—in ports, shipping yards, docks and a host of similar environments.

“The TRAJECT system combines databasing, data fusing and artificial intelligence to make inferences based on numerous information streams from ground operations,” explained Brian Glass, Ames’ Technology Team Lead.

“This system is the only operational tool of its kind,” added Systems Engineer Chris Leidich. “Just as important, it has already proven its amazing robustness and reliability at the Atlanta airport,” he said.

More than 35 companies expressed an interest in attending the briefing, with representatives from 15 companies observing the demonstration of the software. To date, five companies have applied for licensing. Q

For more information, contact Cathy Pochel, Technology Commercialization Manager, NASA Ames Research Center, Commercial Technology Office, & 650/604-4595, ) cpochel@mail.arc.nasa.gov http://ctoserver.arc.nasa.gov/ Please mention you read about it in Innovation.

NASA Official: Jonathan Root • Web Design: Printing & Design Office, NASA Headquarters • Credits