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AT06 - COMMUNICATIONS
VHF Data Link Mode 4 - Agenda
What is VDL Mode 4?
Technical Description
Standards
Operational Aspects
Programmes
Products
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What is VDL Mode 4? (1)
Multi-purpose Data Link
Operating in the VHF Radio Spectrum (108 - 136.975 MHz)
Based on 25 kHz channels
GFSK modulation
Bit rate = 19.2 kbit/s
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GFSK
GFSK : Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying
Shift between two carrier frequencies f1, f2
GFSK uses two RF frequencies, alternating between them when a zero
is transmitted - NRZI encoded
Shift of Frequency represents logical ZERO
The change between the tones is not abrupt, but instead is smoothed
using a Gaussian filter. This is aimed at reducing the bandwidth of the
transmitted signal.
Constant phase
Phase Locked Loop is used to maintain frequency stability
19.2 kbit/s Data rate
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GFSK (cont'd)
Gaussian
Filter
FM
Modulator
(f1, f2)
+ PLL
f1 Band
Pass Filter
f2 Band
Pass Filter
f1 Band
Pass Filter
Envelope
Detection
Envelope
Detection
Ratio
RF
Transmitter
RF
Receiver
NRZI data
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GFSK (cont'd)
Specified for VDL Mode 4
Good CCI (Co-Channel Interference) performance
determines rejection of signals in same channel
determines reuse of channel
Very suitable for highly loaded broadcast links
Widespread experience:
GMSK (Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying) employed in GSM
mobile phones, DECT, IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN,
Globalstar
GFSK now validated (first at 9.6 kbit/s then at 19.2 kbit/s)
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What is VDL Mode 4? (2)
Communication of Digital
Messages between:
Mobile Stations (such as Aircraft and
Airport Surface Vehicles)
Mobile Stations and Ground
Stations
Transmitted Messages on VDL Mode 4 could relate to:
Positioning Information transmitted by Aircraft and received
by other Aircraft and ATC
Text, such as messages exchanges between Air Traffic
Control (or ATC) and Aircraft
Graphics such as Weather maps up-linked to Aircraft
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What is VDL Mode 4? (3)
VDL Mode 4 supports:
Broadcast transmission:
to be received by all users
within radio range
TX
RX
RX
RX
RX
TX
RX
RX
RX
RX
Point-to-point transmission:
addressed to a specific user
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What is VDL Mode 4? (4)
Main Features:
Designed to exchange Short Repetitive Messages
(e.g. for ADS-B
(
*
)
)
Self Organising Capability: no Ground Station is
needed to control the Transmission on the Link
If Ground Stations are present: additional Ground-to-
Air Applications can be realised
* : ADS-B: Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast
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VDL-4 Frame Structure
VDL Mode 4 Superframe:
1 minute
4,500 slots
==> 75 slots/s
Each Time
Slot
accessible by
any station for
TX / RX
Slot 0001
Slot 4500
slot length:
13.33 ms
Position
Report :
one slot
Data Burst
Other types of
message may occupy
more than 1 slot
Data Burst
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Data Burst Format
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System Timing
Time Synchronisation required for Basic Station
Access without Mutual Interference
Time Standard : Universal Time Coordinated (UTC)
Time primarily based on GNSS, but other sources
may be used (as long as they can be related to UTC)
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System Timing
Timing Techniques:
GNSS: Primary time source for VDL-4
Ground Station Network
Other Onboard Timing Sources (including atomic
clocks)
Synchronisation from other Users
Floating Network
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VDL-4: Self-Organising Data Link
Principle: a mobile station can enter
the system, resolve communication
conflicts and dynamically share the
Data Link Resource with other users.
Each station maintains a reservation
table that contains all reservations
made by other stations
When the channel is not busy, slot
selection is straightforward (select
slots for a new transmission, place
reservations for future transmissions)
Slot # N
reserved for
Station # S
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Intentional Reuse (1)
When the channel becomes busier (unreserved
slots are harder to find), VDL-4 is capable to adapt
to this overload situation:
possibility to use a slot previously reserved by
another distant station ("intentional slot reuse")
Taken Taken Taken Taken Taken Taken Taken Taken Taken Taken Taken Taken
Reserved
N59.37.585
S17.42.320
Reserved
N57.31.765
S16.12.456
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Intentional Reuse (2)
Advantages:
coverage area of a station reduces gracefully (as the
channel becomes busy)
no sudden reduction of the ability to communicate
no reliance on a Ground Station to carry out channel
resource (time slots) management
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Slot Allocation (1)
Slots can be allocated in accordance with 2 operating modes:
autonomously (autonomous reporting), or
via master control (directed reporting).
Autonomous reporting mode:
Mobile station transmits in self-selected slots
It Primarily selects unused slots
If the Data Link is saturated, it will employ a slot re-use algorithm
Employs the Self-Organising capability of VDL Mode 4, which
allows a mobile station to enter the system, resolve
communication conflicts and dynamically share the Data Link
Resource with other users.
The system is enabled to operate without the presence of a
Ground infrastructure
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Slot Allocation (2)
Example of Autonomous
Reporting mode
No VDL-4 infrastructure is
present
Communication can take
place between any users
with overlapping cells using
the self-organising protocol
Autonomous mode is the
preferred mode for airborne
en-route use
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Slot Allocation (3)
Directed reporting (or Ground-Controlled) mode:
Mobile station is instructed by a Ground Station to transmit
at a certain Rate, on a certain Channel, and/or in certain
Slots.
a Ground Station controls the overall access to a slot or
group of slots.
This may be the preferred option for Surface Surveillance or
terminal areas in which only one ground station is involved,
the coverage area limited, and the risk for saturation of the
data link is low.
Each mode utilises various slot access mechanisms
called Reservation Protocols
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Reservation Protocols
Periodic broadcast protocol
most important autonomous access scheme for the overall
operation of VDL Mode 4
Other reservation protocols:
(used for a number of broadcast and end-to-end data link
communications)
Incremental broadcast
General request message
Unicasted Request Protocol
Directed request/Plea response reservation
Directed request/Auto-tune reservation
Information transfer request
Random access
Fixed Access
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Periodic Broadcast Protocol
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Incremental Broadcast Protocol
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Unicast Request Protocol
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End-to-End Communication Mechanisms
VDL Mode 4 supports end-to end communication between
two applications
Compatible with the ATN Communications Requirements.
Benefits of the VDL Mode 4 DLS Protocol
Slot reservation protocols can be used to provide
communication on pre-reserved slots,
Reduces the probability of simultaneous transmissions by
two stations, which might lead to the loss of both
transmissions.
==> More efficient use of the data link
==> Higher capacity for data transfer
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International Standards (1)
ICAO - AMCP (WP 81)
SARPS for VHF Data Link Mode 4
EUROCAE
WG 47 VHF Data Link (VDL): MOPS for Airborne VDL
Mode 2 Transceiver/Physical Layer
WG-51: Standardisation of ADS-B related applications
(Air/Air and Air/Ground (Automatic Dependent
Surveillance Broadcast). Finalisation of VDL-4 MOPS
(ED-108)
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International Standards (2)
RTCA
SC-186: Operational Requirements and MOPS for ADS-B
ETSI
VDL Mode 4 European Standard for VDL Mode 4 Ground
Station (approved in mid-2001)
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Potential Operational Applications
VDL Mode 4 Data Link is considered for supporting:
ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast)
Mobile Stations broadcast their position information at very
short intervals
Position Information could provide new situational
awareness to aircrews and a new surveillance means to
ATC (in any type of airspace including oceanic and remote
continental areas here no Ground Station is present)
TIS-B (Traffic Information Service - Broadcast)
FIS-B (Flight Information Service - Broadcast)
GRAS (GNSS Regional-area Augmentation System)
Addressed Communication
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ADS-B Messages Types
Basic
High Dynamic
Full Position
Basic Ground
UTC time
TCP
Aircraft Data
High Resolution
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Example of
Programmes
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NEAN Update Programme (NUP)
Support various CNS/ATM trials
Datalink technology: VDL Mode 4
NUP Phase 1: NEAN Update Program
Establish an European ADS-B network based on
global standards, with certifiable applications and
equipment, to support new ATM concepts that can
be put into operation
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NUP-I Partners
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
Lufthansa (DLH)
Airbus Industries
Aerospatiale Matra
Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS)
Danish Civil Aviation Administration (SLV)
French Civil Aviation Administration
(DGAC/Sofreavia)
Swedish Civil Aviation Administration (LFV)
Sponsored by the European Commission,
DG VII, TEN-T
In close corporation with Eurocontrol
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NUP-I Ground Station Infrastructure
Toulouse
Bretigny
Frankfurt
Copenhagen
Stockholm
Kiruna
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MEDUP (1)
Objective: investigate the feasibility of new ADS-based ATM
procedures by extensive pre-operational trials, and simulations
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MEDUP (2)
Expected improvement in the overall Air Traffic Management in the
Mediterranean airspace (capacity, flexibility, cost effectiveness,
safety)
New concepts investigated (Free Flight, )
Functions:
GNSS
ADS-B
TIS-B
Airborne 4-D flight path handling
CPDLC
Infrastructure: Mediterranean area (complement FARAWAY)
Stakeholders: Eurocontrol + CAAs
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MFF - Mediterranean Free Flight (1)
Based on the latest CNS technologies (VDL Mode 4, )
Two phases:
Phase I:
Test free routing, ASAS and free flight scenarios
Operational procedures, separation assurance
management, ATM systems, avionics and related safety
issues
Real time simulations.
Completed in late 2002
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MFF - Mediterranean Free Flight (2)
Phase II:
To be completed in 2004.
Test and verify the overall operational procedures
for both pilots and controllers through flight trials.
Large scale validation activities.
Methodology for operational safety assessment of
Free Flight.
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Example of Product:
AS-660 VDL-4 CNS Ground Station
(Thales ATM)
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AS 660 VDL Mode 4 CNS Ground Station
Manufactured by Thales ATM
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AS 660 used for NUP-I Ground Infrastructure
Toulouse
Bretigny
Frankfurt
Copenhagen
Stockholm
Kiruna
6 Ground Stations delivered
Successful Flight Tests
conducted in October 2001 in
Stockholm/Arlanda
Live demonstration performed
during Maastricht 2002
exhibition
In regular use for trials and
demonstrations
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AS 660 VDL Mode 4 CNS GS Overview
Multi-purpose Integrated VDL Mode4 Ground Station
VDL Mode 4 Transceiver (1TX, 3RX)
Differential GPS subsystem (generates GRAS
messages)
Network Interface
Data conversion (Asterix <-> VDL Mode4)
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Supports
ADS-B, TIS-B, FIS-B, GRAS
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ADS-B server
ROLE OF CNS GROUND STATION ROLE OF CNS GROUND STATION
Receive ADS-B reports from
VDL Mode4 equipped mobiles
Convert to Asterix Cat 21 and
transmit to ADS-B server
CNS
Ground Station
Air to
ground
Air to air
AS 660 Capabilities: ADS-B
Automatic Dependent Surveillance -
Broadcast
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AS 660 Capabilities: TIS-B
Traffic Information Service
- Broadcast
ROLE OF CNS GROUND STATION ROLE OF CNS GROUND STATION
Convert Asterix Cat 22/245 to
VDL Mode4
Broadcast TIS-B Management
and Target messages to
mobiles
ADS-B server
CNS
Ground Station
TIS-B server
Radar Tracks
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AS 660 Capabilities: FIS-B
Flight Information Service - Broadcast
ROLE OF CNS GROUND STATION ROLE OF CNS GROUND STATION
Broadcast RVR, ATIS and
METAR messages received
from the FIS-B server
FIS-B server
Meteorology
Flight Information
Airport information
...
CNS
Ground Station
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ROLE OF CNS GROUND STATION ROLE OF CNS GROUND STATION
Receive GPS Signal in Space (dual receivers)
Elaborate and broadcast GRAS Differential Correction
Messages Type 1, Type 2 and Type 4
Note: CNS GS includes provisions for broadcast of a remotely generated GRAS service
CNS
Ground Station
AS 660 Capabilities: GRAS
GNSS Regional-area Augmentation System
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AS 660 Architecture
DGPS
Subsystem
VDL Mode4
Radio Subsystem
Time Reference
Subsystem
Data Management
Subsystem
Data Management
Subsystem
Power Supply UPS/Battery
Monitoring and
Control
Subsystem
AS 660 CNS GROUND STATION
RX antenna TX antenna
GPS antennae GPS antenna
Ethernet
230 VAC
ADS-B
TIS-B, FIS-B
ROUTER
NUP Network
X.25/ISDN/LAN
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Thales ATM AS 660 Front Side
VDL Mode4 Radio Subsystem
Monitoring and Control Subsystem
DGPS Subsystem
GPS Receivers
Time Reference Subsystem
Keyboard / Trackpad
Data Management Subsystem
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Battery Pack
AC/DC Power Supply
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Product Status (1)
Installed and commissioned on 6 sites by Thales ATM:
Stockholm Arlanda Airport (shelter)
Kiruna Airport (shelter)
DFS facilities Frankfurt/Langen (building/rooftop)
Copenhagen Airport (building/rooftop)
Eurocontrol Experimental Centre - Brtigny sur Orge, near
Paris (building/rooftop)
STNA (French DGAC) Toulouse (shelter)
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Product Status (2)
All functions have been tested and approved by NUP-1
customer and end-users
Stockholm/Arlanda station in regular use for ADS-B and GRAS
services
Frankfurt/Langen Ground Station in regular use for TIS-B and
ADS-B Air applications
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Designed for operational applications (1/2)
Compliant with SARPS
Asterix-compliant network interfaces
Implements industry-standard TCP/IP and UDP/IP protocols
CE-marked
Modular and maintainable design
Fully documented
Built-in logging feature (15 Gbyte RAID storage)
Built-in BITE function
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Designed for operational applications (2/2)
DGNSS/GRAS function
based on proven GBAS DGNSS Ground Station
compatible with performance requirements of APV-1.
Growth path towards APV-2/Cat1
Partitioning: independent processors for Navigation and Surveillance
functions
Operational functions run on Real-Time Operating System for a
deterministic behaviour
Software developed to RTCA DO-178B and CMM - Level3
Un-interrupted Power Supply (standard capacity : 4 hours)
Independent High Accuracy Time Reference subsystem
maintains system and VDL Mode 4 timing during loss of GPS SiS
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Thank you