Flight Performance, Prediction, and Optimizations

Research on aircraft performance, particularly using open models and open data, is integral to advancing the aviation sector. My research focuses on developing and improving OpenAP and associated open tools that support the study of trajectory optimization and predictions.

Highlights

OpenAP: Open Aircraft Performance Model

OpenAP is a fully open-source aircraft performance and emission model, covering kinematic properties, thrust, drag, and fuel flow rates, all built on open data. The repository provides the OpenAP databases together with a Python implementation for aircraft performance computations.

OpenAP.top: Open Flight Trajectory Optimizer

An open-source flight trajectory optimizer based on direct collocation. It accounts for meteorological conditions, handles individual or combined flight phases, and supports conventional fuel and cost-index objectives as well as climate-based objectives using global warming or temperature potentials.

Related publications

OpenAP. top: Open Flight Trajectory Optimization for Air Transport and Sustainability Research

Journal 2022
DOI: 10.3390/aerospace9070383

Sun, Junzi
Aerospace

Copy Sun, J. (2022). OpenAP. top: Open Flight Trajectory Optimization for Air Transport and Sustainability Research. Aerospace, 9(7), 383. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace9070383

Copy

@article{sun2022top,
  title = {OpenAP. top: Open Flight Trajectory Optimization for Air Transport and Sustainability Research},
  author = {Sun, Junzi},
  journal = {Aerospace},
  volume = {9},
  number = {7},
  pages = {383},
  year = {2022},
  month = jul,
  publisher = {Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute},
  link = {https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace9070383},
  doi = {10.3390/aerospace9070383},
  tag = {perf, sus}
}

Aircraft Trajectory Prediction using ADS-B Data
Conference 2022

YANG, X ; Sun, Junzi ; and Rajan, RT
In 42nd WIC Symposium on Information Theory and Signal Processing in the Benelux (SITB 2022)
Copy YANG, X., Sun, J., & Rajan, R. T. (2022, May). Aircraft Trajectory Prediction using ADS-B Data. 42nd WIC Symposium on Information Theory and Signal Processing in the Benelux (SITB 2022).
Copy
@inproceedings{yang2022aircraft, title = {Aircraft Trajectory Prediction using ADS-B Data}, author = {YANG, X and Sun, Junzi and Rajan, RT}, booktitle = {42nd WIC Symposium on Information Theory and Signal Processing in the Benelux (SITB 2022)}, year = {2022}, month = may, link = {https://research.tudelft.nl/en/publications/aircraft-trajectory-prediction-using-ads-b-data}, tag = {perf} }
OpenAP: An open-source aircraft performance model for air transportation studies and simulations
Journal 2020
DOI: 10.3390/aerospace7080104
Sun, Junzi ; Hoekstra, Jacco ; and Ellerbroek, Joost
Aerospace
Copy Sun, J., Hoekstra, J., & Ellerbroek, J. (2020). OpenAP: An open-source aircraft performance model for air transportation studies and simulations. Aerospace, 7(8), 104. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace7080104
Copy
@article{sun2020openap, title = {OpenAP: An open-source aircraft performance model for air transportation studies and simulations}, author = {Sun, Junzi and Hoekstra, Jacco and Ellerbroek, Joost}, journal = {Aerospace}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {104}, year = {2020}, month = jul, publisher = {Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute}, link = {https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace7080104}, doi = {10.3390/aerospace7080104}, tag = {perf} }
Estimating aircraft drag polar using open flight surveillance data and a stochastic total energy model
Journal 2020
DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2020.01.026
Sun, Junzi ; Hoekstra, Jacco ; and Ellerbroek, Joost
Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies
Copy Sun, J., Hoekstra, J., & Ellerbroek, J. (2020). Estimating aircraft drag polar using open flight surveillance data and a stochastic total energy model. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 114, 391–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2020.01.026
Copy
@article{sun2020estimating, title = {Estimating aircraft drag polar using open flight surveillance data and a stochastic total energy model}, author = {Sun, Junzi and Hoekstra, Jacco and Ellerbroek, Joost}, journal = {Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies}, volume = {114}, pages = {391--404}, year = {2020}, month = may, publisher = {Elsevier}, link = {https://research.tudelft.nl/files/71038050/published_OpenAP_drag_polar.pdf}, doi = {10.1016/j.trc.2020.01.026}, tag = {ai, perf} }
Reconstructing Aircraft Turn Manoeuvres for Trajectory Analyses Using ADS-B Data
Conference 2019

Sun, Junzi ; Ellerbroek, Joost ; and Hoekstra, Jacco
In Proceedings of the 9th SESAR Innovation Days, Athens, Greece
Copy Sun, J., Ellerbroek, J., & Hoekstra, J. (2019). Reconstructing Aircraft Turn Manoeuvres for Trajectory Analyses Using ADS-B Data. Proceedings of the 9th SESAR Innovation Days, Athens, Greece, 2–5.
Copy
@inproceedings{sun2019reconstructing, title = {Reconstructing Aircraft Turn Manoeuvres for Trajectory Analyses Using ADS-B Data}, author = {Sun, Junzi and Ellerbroek, Joost and Hoekstra, Jacco}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 9th SESAR Innovation Days, Athens, Greece}, pages = {2--5}, year = {2019}, month = dec, link = {https://www.sesarju.eu/sites/default/files/documents/sid/2019/papers/SIDs_2019_paper_57.pdf}, tag = {perf} }
Particle filter for aircraft mass estimation and uncertainty modeling
Journal 2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2019.05.030
Sun, Junzi ; Blom, Henk AP ; Ellerbroek, Joost ; and Hoekstra, Jacco
Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies
Copy Sun, J., Blom, H. A. P., Ellerbroek, J., & Hoekstra, J. (2019). Particle filter for aircraft mass estimation and uncertainty modeling. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 105, 145–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2019.05.030
Copy
@article{sun2019particle, title = {Particle filter for aircraft mass estimation and uncertainty modeling}, author = {Sun, Junzi and Blom, Henk AP and Ellerbroek, Joost and Hoekstra, Jacco}, journal = {Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies}, volume = {105}, pages = {145--162}, year = {2019}, month = aug, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.trc.2019.05.030}, link = {https://research.tudelft.nl/files/54440038/1_s2.0_S0968090X18313524_main.pdf}, tag = {perf} }
WRAP: An open-source kinematic aircraft performance model
Journal 2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2018.11.009
Sun, Junzi ; Ellerbroek, Joost ; and Hoekstra, Jacco
Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies
Copy Sun, J., Ellerbroek, J., & Hoekstra, J. (2019). WRAP: An open-source kinematic aircraft performance model. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 98, 118–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2018.11.009
Copy
@article{sun2019wrap, title = {WRAP: An open-source kinematic aircraft performance model}, author = {Sun, Junzi and Ellerbroek, Joost and Hoekstra, Jacco}, journal = {Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies}, volume = {98}, pages = {118--138}, year = {2019}, month = jan, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.trc.2018.11.009}, link = {https://research.tudelft.nl/files/52638054/1_s2.0_S0968090X18306089_main.pdf}, tag = {perf} }
Aircraft Drag Polar Estimation Based on a Stochastic Hierarchical Model
Conference 2018

Sun, Junzi ; Hoekstra, Jacco ; and Ellerbroek, Joost
In 8th International Conference on Research in Air Transportation
Copy Sun, J., Hoekstra, J., & Ellerbroek, J. (2018, June). Aircraft Drag Polar Estimation Based on a Stochastic Hierarchical Model. 8th International Conference on Research in Air Transportation.
Copy
@inproceedings{sun2018drag, title = {Aircraft Drag Polar Estimation Based on a Stochastic Hierarchical Model}, author = {Sun, Junzi and Hoekstra, Jacco and Ellerbroek, Joost}, booktitle = {8th International Conference on Research in Air Transportation}, year = {2018}, month = jun, link = {https://www.sesarju.eu/sites/default/files/documents/sid/2018/papers/SIDs_2018_paper_75.pdf}, tag = {perf} }
Aircraft Mass and Thrust Estimation Using Recursive Bayesian Method
Conference 2018

Sun, Junzi ; Blom, Henk A P ; Ellerbroek, Joost ; and Hoekstra, Jacco
In 8th International Conference on Research in Air Transportation
Copy Sun, J., Blom, H. A. P., Ellerbroek, J., & Hoekstra, J. (2018, June). Aircraft Mass and Thrust Estimation Using Recursive Bayesian Method. 8th International Conference on Research in Air Transportation.
Copy
@inproceedings{sun2018smc, title = {Aircraft Mass and Thrust Estimation Using Recursive Bayesian Method}, author = {Sun, Junzi and Blom, Henk A P and Ellerbroek, Joost and Hoekstra, Jacco}, booktitle = {8th International Conference on Research in Air Transportation}, year = {2018}, month = jun, link = {https://research.tudelft.nl/files/103003225/ICRAT_2018_paper_19_1_.pdf}, tag = {perf} }
Modeling Aircraft Performance Parameters with Open ADS-B Data
Conference 2017

Sun, Junzi ; Ellerbroek, Joost ; and Hoekstra, Jacco
In 12th USA/Europe Air Traffic Management Research and Development Seminar
Copy Sun, J., Ellerbroek, J., & Hoekstra, J. (2017, June). Modeling Aircraft Performance Parameters with Open ADS-B Data. 12th USA/Europe Air Traffic Management Research and Development Seminar.
Copy
@inproceedings{sun2017modeling, title = {Modeling Aircraft Performance Parameters with Open ADS-B Data}, author = {Sun, Junzi and Ellerbroek, Joost and Hoekstra, Jacco}, booktitle = {12th USA/Europe Air Traffic Management Research and Development Seminar}, year = {2017}, month = jun, link = {https://research.tudelft.nl/files/31444997/12th_ATM_RD_Seminar_paper_66.pdf}, tag = {perf} }