An Index Based Threat Modeling Method for Path Planning

Path planning is an effective means to improve the operational effectiveness of aircrafts. A reasonable estimation and description of threats existing in operation space are significant before generating a specific path for an aircraft. To avoid depending on experts´ experience excessively when we evaluate the threat situations, an index based threat modeling method named IBTMM is proposed. IBTMM uses effectiveness indexes of defense systems to measure the threat of the aircraft faces and gives the dynamic threat degree which is changing according to the aircraft´s flying time and location. IBTMM does not give an absolute threat degree but a relative estimation of threats. When an aircraft is flying over a certain area, IBTMM can tell whether it is more dangerous or less than flying over other areas. IBTMM is helpful with the absence of simulation data in the earlier stage of path planning, as it reduces the planning space and meanwhile provides a good way to establish the path planning cost function. An example is presented to show the threat situation generated by IBTMM and demonstrate its effectiveness.