Several conflict resolution algorithms for airborne self-separation rely on principles derived from the repulsive forces that exist between similarly charged particles. This research investigates whether the performance of the Modified Voltage Potential algorithm, which is based on this algorithm, can be improved using bio-inspired swarming behavior. To this end, the collision avoidance function of the algorithm is augmented with the velocity alignment and flock centering swarming traits displayed by animals such as birds and fish. The basic and swarm augmented versions of the algorithm were compared using large-scale fast time simulations, for multiple traffic demand scenarios. For ideal conditions, the results show that the process of aligning with neighboring traffic triggered a large number of conflicts. However, when noise was added to scenarios, swarming led to a lower increase in the number of intrusions, which could indicate that it can be used to improve the robustness of the Modified Voltage Potential algorithm. Furthermore, the stability results suggest that both versions of the algorithm could reduce the number of conflict chain reactions with respect to simulations without resolution. Future research will further explore the effect of conflict resolution on airspace stability, as well as whether varying the relative weights of swarming elements can improve the safety of swarm augmentations.@en

The work that is presented in this paper is part of an ongoing study on the relationship between structure and capacity of decentralized airspace concepts. In this paper, the effect of traffic stability, which considers the occurrence of conflict chain reactions as a result of conflict resolution maneuvers, on capacity is examined closely. Using the domino effect parameter as a measure of traffic stability, a model relating stability and capacity is derived. Although the derivation of this model is not complete, its current form shows that traffic stability, and therefore capacity, is also affected by the safety and efficiency characteristics of decentralized concepts. This suggests that the capacity measurement of decentralized concepts must consider the variation of intrinsic system-wide properties with density, using a minimum of safety, efficiency and stability metrics. Future work will continue the development of the model, and its validation using large-scale simulation experiments.@en