An Embedded Decision Support System for Runway Safety and Excursion Avoidance

TL;DR

The paper addresses the risk of runway overruns during takeoff and landing by presenting RUN.S.A.F.E., an embedded system that combines static input-based calculations with dynamic real-time acceleration-based reasoning to predict remaining runway distance. It introduces ASDR and LDR as core metrics, implemented through a static Newtonian-force model and a dynamic acceleration model updated via Recursive Least Squares, with integration yielding velocity and distance trajectories. The solution is demonstrated on a Raspberry Pi 3B prototype, interfacing with flight-simulation data, and evaluated for convergence speed, accuracy, and runtime performance, showing promising feasibility for cockpit deployment. The work contributes a practical framework for real-time overrun warnings aligned with regulatory concepts like ROAAS and CS-25, aiming to enhance operational safety while paving the way for further certification-compliant development and real-world testing.

Abstract

Runway Safety Assistant Foreseeing Excursions (RUN.S.A.F.E.) is a complete embedded system solution that predicts a potential runway overrun during the takeoff and landing of a civil aviation aircraft. The system executes both static and dynamic calculations, the former being completely dependent, while the latter completely independent to the user's inputs. The solution is adapted to a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with CFM56-7B engines. However, the calculations also apply for similar aicrafts, equipped with a tricycle landing gear and turbofan engines. The system is aligned with current regulations and certification specifications, where applicable.

Figures (10)

• Figure 1: Forces acting on the aircraft while on the runway.
• Figure 2: While loop for calculating distances.
• Figure 3: Acceleration during a take off of the Boeing 737-800 in the X-Plane simulator.
• Figure 4: Phases of landing.
• Figure 5: Photographs of the embedded system.