2010 R&D 100 Winner
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory’s (Lexington, Mass.) Runway status lights (RWSL) help prevent runway incursions and accidents by integrating airport surveillance to control in-pavement lights that directly alert pilots to runway collision hazards. The system relies on three different types of lights, all controlled by computer logic, that integrate seamlessly with existing air traffic control procedures.
The lights illuminate to communicate where a “stop” is required. These are generated by computer logic from an indication of conflict in the air traffic control system and are transmitted to the pilot(s) with a latency of less than one second. The information is immediately available to all aircraft involved.
According to its developers, RWSL, which is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, has documented “saves” in which it effectively warned pilots in several instances not to continue takeoff because another aircraft had moved into the first aircraft's path. The system is intended to help future airports safely handle ever-increasing levels of traffic.
Technology
Automated aircraft runway lighting system
Developers
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory
Development Team
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| l-r: James R. Eggert, Eric M. Shank |
Runway status lights (RWSL) Development Team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory
James R. Eggert
Erick Shank
Walter Brown
Jeffrey Gertz
Daniel Herring
Leo Javits
Daniel Komisar
Maria Kuffner
Jessica Olszta
Harald Wilhelmsen
Richard Bush
