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Air Traffic Management technological challenges contest

The best solution will be awarded with 60.000 €.

The contest returns this 2024

What is the Air Traffic Management technological challenges contest?

ENAIRE launches this year the 2nd edition of the Air Traffic Management technological challenges contest. The contest is open to university research groups or any other type of group.

We accept technological solutions applicable to any sector of activity, as long as they are focused on the provision of air traffic/air transport services.

Challenges

We are looking for total or partial solutions to any of the following 4 challenges.

Challenge #1

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER DIGITAL ID

This challenge seeks to research on digital assistants that help the controller to perform his task, taking into account traffic situations or his state (fatigue, or stress). Unlike other digital assistants, this challenge seeks an individualized solution for each controller to help him in his activity.

This challenge seeks to investigate the advantages of an individual assistant that accompanies the driver from the beginning of his training versus generic assistants that do not take into account the individual.

Challenge #2

FORMULATION OF NP HARD PROBLEMS USING QUANTUM COMPUTING

The assignment of air traffic controllers to their jobs is a difficult challenge to solve both because of the complexity and number of its variables and because of the large amount of data being processed.

This challenge aims to investigate the feasibility of using quantum computing to solve this problem or another problem of similar nature in the ATM environment, which allows obtaining the optimal solution in a short period of time.

Challenge #3

UNCERTAINTY MANAGEMENT IN THE ATM ENVIRONMENT

To mitigate the uncertainty in the behavior of certain factors that impact the use of airspace, the ATM system is protected by including numerous margins (buffers) that reduce the capacity of the system. This is why safety thresholds are defined that must not be exceeded in order to protect both the physical resources and the human resources that support the daily operation of the system from overloads that are difficult to predict.

This challenge seeks solutions applied in other complex environments from which we can learn how they handle uncertainties and extrapolate them to the ATM system.

Challenge #4

AUTOMATION TO ENSURE INFORMATION INTEGRITY

Currently, various ATM systems use information from many different sources. These sources are not always complete and send information with incorrect, corrupt or empty fields, generating inconsistencies in the results obtained from these sources.
These sources monitor around 100 indicators and metrics that help managers to make decisions. Sometimes the indicators provide inconsistent results due to a failure in the quality of the data from the sources.

This challenge is to find solutions that automate the identification of failures in source information or in source format changes that are not based on “case by case” solutions, but provide a global automation strategy.

Phases of the contest

April 30, 2023
April 30, 2023

1. Submission of proposed solutions

Deadline to submit applications through the form available on this web.
May 22, 2023

May 22, 2023

2. Evaluation of proposed solutions

The Selection Committee will select at least 3 finalists.

May 29, 2023
May 29, 2023

3. Presentation of the finalist proposals

Finalists will present their proposed solutions before the Jury.

June 12, 2023
June 12, 2023

4. Selection, notification and acceptance of the challenge

The Jury will notify the winning research group.

June 2023 – April 2024
June 2023 – April 2024

5. Investigation phase of the winning solution and follow up

From the date of acceptance of the challenge, the winning research group will sign a research agreement to begin the work, which will last 18 months.

Award

The winning research group will sign a research agreement for a period of 18 months and will have at its disposal an amount of 60.000 €, of which 40.000 € will be delivered in 2023 as an early installment and 20.000 € in 2024 after the end of the activities.

The objective is to develop the proposed solution to demonstrate its suitability and technical and economic feasibility.

18 months

Research agreement

60.000 €

In 2 phases

18 months

Research agreement

60.000 €

In 2 phases

¿What is ENAIRE?

In Spain, all aircraft that take off, land or transit through its airspace receive communications, navigation and surveillance services through a modern and complete network of facilities operated by ENAIRE.

In the following infographic they show how air traffic control services are provided, according to the phases of a flight.

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info-05-EN
info-04-EN
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Some of Enaire's areas of interest
Safe and smooth air traffic
Environmentally sustainable air traffic

Drone traffic integration

Airspace design and organization

Traffic demand and capacity balancing

Automation

Artificial intelligence

Intermodal transportation

Closed call

The contest returns in 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply?

The contest is open to university research groups or any other type of group.

What does ENAIRE do?

ENAIRE is the main provider of air navigation and aeronautical information services in Spain. It provides communications, navigation and surveillance services throughout the Spanish airspace and in the airports of the Aena network with implications in the following areas:

  • Air traffic services.
  • Operational safety.
  • Dynamic airspace.
  • High altitude airspace operations.
  • Free route and cross border air traffic coordination.
  • Improved flight paths, minimizing environmental footprint.
  • Automated support and virtualization.
  • Scalable capacity.
  • Network operations.
  • Data and application services.
  • U-Space operations.
  • Mixed air traffic integration in Joint airspace.
  • Integrated, streamlined and interoperable ATM infrastructure.
  • Facilitation of advanced passenger travel services.
  • Other sectors related to air traffic.

What is the purpose of the contest?

The goal of this contest consists of finding solutions to technological challenges in the field of air transport in the medium and long term.

Will I lose my solution's intellectual property?

Contestants will be responsible for their solution and will maintain the intellectual or industrial property of their submitted solutions at all times.

What is the application deadline?

The application deadline is April 30st, 2023 at 11:59 pm CET (UTC+1) although the organization reserves the right to extend the deadline.

What parameters will be taken into account in the evaluation?

The solutions submitted will be evaluated according to the quality of the information provided in the application form based on the following evaluation criteria:

  • Adaptability to the challenge
  • Applicability
  • Feasability
  • Degree of innovation
  • Operational impact

Am I obliged to participate in the contest activities?

Yes, the winning research group will sign a research agreement.

How long does the research agreement last?

18 months.

When will the winner be announced?

On June 12, 2023, the winning research group will be informed of the above-mentioned condition.

How will I receive my award?

The award will be liquidated in the bank account indicated by the winner and will be subject to the legally established withholding (if applicable).

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