Computer vision system for air traffic control to be built by MIT

Submitted by Boaz Super

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has commissioned MIT to build a Staffed NextGen Tower (SNT) for airport ground control. Currently air traffic controllers perform out-the-window visual surveillance. With SNT, the controllers will instead use video from a network of cameras throughout the airport. A press release states that computer vision techniques will be used, but does not give details.

The system will be developed in a partnership between MIT's Lincoln Laboratories, which developed the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) currently in widespread use, and industry partner Searidge Technologies. The demonstration system will be installed at Dallas/Fort Worth airport.