Aerotech
A team of researchers at Langley Research Center developed two special technologies that can automatically alert pilots of potentially hazardous turbulence conditions, in real time. The first technology, called the Enhanced Turbulence (E-Turb) Mode Radar, is software in an aircraft's radar that can provide flight crews advance warning of turbulence, so that they can avoid it altogether and keep themselves and their passengers out of harm's way, or, at a minimum, prepare the aircraft for it by stowing loose equipment and having passengers and crew seated with seatbelts fastened. The second technology, known as the Turbulence Auto-PIREP System, or TAPS, is software that improves situational awareness of the location and severity of actual turbulence encounters, for pilots, dispatchers, and controllers. If a TAPS-equipped aircraft encounters turbulence that exceeds the designated turbulence threshold, the onboard TAPS software will generate a turbulence report that is then broadcast over a data link. The report is received by ground stations, where it is automatically shown on a display, accessible via the Internet by dispatchers, controllers, airline operations personnel, and maintenance crews. Various functions allow the ground station display users to process and tailor the information for specific users. If there are any other aircraft on course to approach the region where the turbulence was reported, then the ground station can directly uplink the TAPS report packet to them. AeroTech Research was funded by NASA to develop the E-Turb Mode Radar algorithms and the TAPS software. The two airborne turbulence technologies are being implemented into commercial systems. SpinOff Story: Steering Aircraft Clear of Choppy Air

 Rocketry Club: Tripoli Wisconsin

Author NASA Video
Duration 238 seconds

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