On-line free-flight path optimization based on improved genetic algorithms

Free flight (FF) is the ideal strategy of current investigations on air traffic management systems, where an on-line flight path optimization algorithm is of top importance. This paper proposes an innovative algorithm with potential real-time properties for FF path optimization, by using an improved genetic algorithm (GA). Two kinds of mathematical models for the on-line flight path optimization problem are proposed to cover the near and far future applications. Several improvements are introduced to the GA to speed up its convergence as well as to improve performance. Simulation results show that the new algorithm is effective and has potential to solve the on-line FF path optimization problem in real time. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.