Air Traffic Control & Airport Command Centres
Black Box designs, sources and implements high-performance solutions for the most demanding Air Traffic Control Centres and Airport network applications. Our KVM (Keyboard-Video-Mouse) and Professional AV solutions help coordinating flight departures
and arrivals and control overflying traffic which requires high operational safety and reliability of all IT systems. All of it with the focus on increasing operational efficiency, providing centralised management, and reducing manpower demands.
Our tailored technology solutions are ideal for:
Centralised network monitoring, multi-networked device configuration, preventative monitoring, and event reporting in order to minimise downtime and enable a faster response to mission-critical events
Redundant and fall-back systems for predictive maintenance
Full and instant access to remote computers and video sources to be able to work without computers present at the air traffic and airport control centres
Controlling multiple computers to help improve workspace ergonomics, reducing desktop clutter, noise, and heat
Multi-user collaborative workflows, connecting multiple operators to multiple computers with real-time, pixel-perfect video performance
Black Box provides KVM, AV and Networking solutions for
Air Traffic & Ground Traffic Control Monitoring
Real-time ATC data distribution from take-off to landing is crucial for safe air operations. For this to happen, air traffic controllers usually follow regular patterns and develop routine scans, gathering information in a structured and consistent
manner from various screens. Due to large data volumes processed by multiple PCs and servers, employees face challenges in focusing on their work as they might get distracted by fan noise and heat emission.
KVM technology allows any air traffic
controller to access multiple computers through one single set of keyboard/video/mouse, committing to a safer environment with increased operational efficiency and enhanced situational awareness. In addition to increasing operator´s working ergonomics,
KVM end-to-end systems securely transmit uncompressed video (pixel by pixel, no dropped frames) and peripheral signals over distances up to 80 kilometres, which can help ATC organisations to securely locate critical computing assets away from user desktops.
KVM frees up space in the control room while keeping the environment undisturbed by computer emissions such as heat and noise, isolating all computing resources in a climate-controlled, secure server room. This allows controllers to focus on executing
their demanding tasks without any interruptions.
Air Traffic Control System Applications Include:
Remote Air Traffic Control / Remote Tower
Managing runway / ground traffic from a virtual / remote tower is a revolutionary approach that adds to the situational awareness of air traffic controllers and increases flight safety. Black Box's IP-based KVM solutions and wireless camera networks allow
air traffic controllers to:
- Gain immediate real-time remote access to aviation control systems:
Accessing computers remotely up to 80 kilometres away from the ATC tower.
- Display ATC video and runway footage
Camera footage can be forwarded digitally from the ATC control tower to an air traffic control centre to be displayed on video walls, in some cases trough a 360-degree view. Image monitoring
can also be combined with other systems which the air traffic controllers use to manage the traffic, such as radar display, navigation aids and information about flight plans and weather conditions.
ATC Video Streaming for Surveillance / Monitoring
As air traffic controllers and airport operators constantly monitor situations and processes, analysing data that needs instant response, fast processing of mission-critical data is crucial. It's important to help limit ATC operational risks, improve
workflows, facilitating a centralised, large-scale visualisation setup for multiple team members. Our visualisation solutions help air traffic controllers and airport operators benefit from:
- Event-driven visualisation with real-time situational awareness
Visualise runway footage such as departure queues on a single video wall
- Streamlining ATC footage in Air Traffic Control Centres
Video recording and streaming with lossless compression, providing accuracy and dependability for ATCs, training & simulation, and command & control environments
- Air traffic surveillance for automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast
Allowing air traffic surveillance information that enables an aircraft to be accurately tracked via satellite navigation by air traffic controllers
and pilots without the need for conventional radar. Surveillance information includes an aircraft's identification, altitude, velocity and heading.
Air Traffic Controller Workstation Ergonomics
Air traffic controllers have to keep track of critical flight traffic information, such as location, identity and altitude of the airplanes. Therefore, the air traffic controller's working position (CWP) has to be set to support optimal concentration
and workflow efficiency. These factors play a fundamental role for the control centre's infrastructure. Our KVM solutions enable operators to benefit from:
- Removing heat, noise, CPU, and cables from the operator workspace
KVM
systems ensure that controllers and supervisors are able to access different, remote and distributed computers while meeting precise requirements regarding safety, redundancy, efficiency, productivity and cooling.
- Customised preset configurations for multi-purpose visualisation
Airport Collaborative Decision Making
KVM technology leverages content and equipment access where multiple computers can be accessed from one console. This provides air traffic controllers with a detailed overview of critical visual data and improves reaction times to critical events.
ATC Security & Predictive Maintenance
KVM offers secure redundancy and fall-back systems with comprehensive, preventative monitoring for the unlikely event of a component failure, providing for maximum uptime (24/7) and high availability of all critical systems.
ATC Centralised Control
Our solutions help to achieve more accurate take-off time predictions and enable Network Managers to make more precise calculations of network demand. This enhanced flow and capacity management will result in better ATFM slot allocation, improved compliance
and a reduced number of missed slots.
Black Box KVM and Video Solutions for Air Traffic Control
4K KVM over IP Matrix Switching
Emerald™ 4K KVM over IP is a Unified KVM converged system that delivers pixel-perfect HD or 4K video over an IP network, a proprietary direct connection or both. Access and manage an unlimited number of servers, PCs, and virtual machines from any
location across a dedicated KVM network, an existing IP network, or even the internet.
Network Command Centre
When connected within a KVM Matrix Switch, Boxilla™ allows centralised management of KVM and AV networks, establishing the perfect focal point for video and data distribution from remote servers to work places. Boxilla™ allows IT managers
to centrally control and monitor network performance, define access rights, deploy new end points and much more.
Modular KVM Matrix Switching
KVM matrix switching and extension of numerous video signal formats with digital resolutions of up to 4K at 60 fps.
Freedom II™ KM Switch
Extended Desktop Visualisation
With Freedom II KVM Switch, air traffic controllers can seamlessly switch between multiple computers with a single mouse, creating a multi-PC extended desktop experience.
Event-Driven Visualisation
Use the Radian Video Wall Processor to create multiple small to massive video walls to visualise mission-critical information and to improve situational awareness, decision making, and response times in control rooms.
Room Control and Multi-System Automation
ControlBridge™ enables operators to trigger control room systems and room automation via an intuitive touch panel GUI or even mobile devices. Control signals via Ethernet or a serial connection to a video wall through the use of dynamic API commands
or preset functions.
Airport Passenger Information / Airport Digital Signage
Airport terminal displays can be found throughout almost every airport worldwide and play a crucial role in displaying real-time flight departure and arrival information to passengers. Depending on the size of the airport or station, there may be several
sets of information display systems, sometimes for multiple terminals/platforms or for different operators.
Our solutions help distribute and display this video data on several digital signage displays through a centralised content management system. Like this, it's possible to simultaneously deliver real-time information to passengers through displays located
hundreds of metres away from any content player or source PC.
Our Digital Signage technology solutions deliver:
- Real-time Passenger Information System Visualisation
Location-based information, such as flight arrival times, changes to service, delays or service stoppage, and corporate information, improving passenger experience
- Airport Digital Signage Advertising
Display advertising messaging across various locations in an airport
Black Box Airport Passenger Information Systems & Airport Digital Signage AV Solutions
Airport Passenger Information Systems Visualisation
MediaCento™ allows 4K video signal extension / distribution to several displays from one or more sources from which the flight data information originates.
H.264 encoders and decoders
Redundant Video over IP Streaming
Encode video signals from any digital signage player and distribute them over IP networks to a large number of screens. The signals can even be transmitted to a display, a video wall and a digital signage system all at the same time.
One of the most routinal services of an airport consists of screening, unloading, sorting, storing, transporting and loading baggage. All of which is processed and monitored in the baggage handling control room which is expected to deliver a reliable
service. For baggage controllers this can become a hot and noisy operating environment with heat-emitting and very loud computers.
Our KVM solutions allow:
- Safer controlled operational environment: Computers to be removed from the baggage room to a secure server room
- Multi-computer access: Enable operators to access multiple computers from different user consoles
- Ideal ergonomic conditions for controllers: With only one set of mouse and keyboard, operators can access all computers from one console.
Sistemas de Información para Pasajeros en Aeropuertos y Soluciones AV de Señalización Digital de Black Box
Agility IP-based KVM extension
High-Performance KVM-over-IP Extension
Extend AV signals over CATx or fibre with Agility transmitters and receivers. Agility enables you to do more and go further with pixel-perfect digital video over nearly unlimited distances within your TCP/IP network.