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In this paper, a low-cost means to improve fuel economy in conventional vehicles by employing ultracapacitor based Active Energy Recovery Buffer (AERB) scheme will be presented. The kinetic energy of the vehicle during the coast down events is utilized to charge the ultracapacitor either directly or through a dc-dc converter, allowing the voltage to increase up to the maximum permissible level. When the vehicle starts after a Stop event, the energy stored in the capacitor is discharged to power the accessory loads until the capacitor voltage falls below a minimum threshold. The use of stored capacitor energy to power the accessory loads relieves the generator torque load on the engine resulting in reduced fuel consumption. Two different topologies are considered for implementing the AERB system. The first topology, which is a simple add-on to the conventional vehicle electrical system, comprises of the ultracapacitor bank and the dc-dc converter connected across the dc bus.

NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) database was searched to identify problems in flight deck alerting design methodologies that should be considered during the design of data link alerting systems. Detailed analysis identified six major crew alerting problem areas: Distraction of Alert, Missed Alerts, Lack of Alerts, Alert Inhibit Logic, Non-Distinct Alerts, and Multiple Alerts. The problem areas resulted in a variety of flight technical errors (e.g., altitude and heading deviations, aborted takeoffs). These results are presented, and any pertinence to the design of a data link crew alerting scheme is cited.

The Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) was searched to determine errors associated with the use of the party line (PL). Pilots occasionally misinterpret and/or receive inaccurate PL information; based on this information, they make incorrect and potentially dangerous decisions. Detailed analysis revealed two types of errors: those attributed to inaccurate PL information and those resulting from incorrect flightcrew actions based on the PL. Almost half the errors involving incorrect flightcrew actions were a result of executing unauthorized clearances because of confusion caused by similar call signs. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the loss of the PL in a data link environment.

Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) reports were analyzed to identify flight deck operational problems related to aircraft automation systems, particularly those problems that may be exacerbated by the addition of data link systems. Four major automation problem groups were discovered (Automation Failure, Programming Errors, Distraction- Programming, and Mismanagement-Confusion). Also, several automation-induced errors were identified (e.g., runway incursions and altitude deviations). The reports are classified by attributes such as automation system and flight error. Each automation group is discussed, and based on a limited sample of reports, conclusions are drawn; with respect to data link, potential positive and negative impacts are described.