Communications: electrical – Aircraft alarm or indicating systems – Docking guidance
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-06
2002-03-26
Tweel, John A. (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Aircraft alarm or indicating systems
Docking guidance
C348S117000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06362750
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to new and useful improvements in methods and systems for guiding an aircraft to a parking position.
German Patent DE 40 09 668 A1, for example, discloses a process and a device for the positionally precise parking of airplanes. The current position of an airplane is continuously determined by evaluating at least one signal field which is at least one-dimensional. This signal field is produced by the airplane and measured through the air by a detector. After evaluation of the signals, instructions are issued to correct the position of an aircraft. The sensor arrangement of this device is proposed to include a video camera, the signals of which are compared with reference fields to determine the position corrections. Signal display panels that can be optically recognized by the aircraft pilot serve as output. This prior art process eliminates the use of pressure detectors, induction loops, and the like.
At modern airports, aircraft that have landed are to be guided to an exact stop position as quickly as possible and largely automatically. Typically, the stop position is determined with reference to an airport terminal, known as a gate.
The prior art process and the prior art device, using a video camera and a signal display panel, basically solve this problem by means of a closed system. The signal field provided by the video camera is compared with reference signal fields, and the corrections are determined and displayed. The prior art system has disadvantages with respect to safety since checking and monitoring are complex. In accordance with current practice, the control personnel have assignment and planning data as well as basic parameters available on control monitors. The prior art positioning process using the described device is executed independently thereof. Any checking required is, at the most, possible via additional technical units and any intervention can, at the most, be carried out via conventional communications paths. Beyond that, central management of a plurality of assignment events integrating the prior art positioning process is not possible since no information coupling is provided. Finally, the prior art processes and devices permit subsequent analysis of the execution of parking events, e.g., for statistical purposes or to determine error sources, causes of accidents, etc.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Against this background, one object of the present invention is to provide a process and a device for automatically supported guidance of aircraft to a parking position that permit a required increase in safety. Another object of the invention is to provide such a process and device that allow for organized and largely centralized monitoring and control. Yet another object is to provide such a process and device that support subsequent analysis of completed parking events.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one formulation, the invention is directed to a process for automatically supported guidance of aircraft to a parking position wherein the process automatically transmits correction instructions for direction and speed to a control of an aircraft. At least one video camera detects an aircraft located within a parking zone that is situated within a detection area of the at least one video camera. The signals supplied by the video camera are processed in the evaluation unit both to determine the current position of the aircraft and the correction instructions to reach a predefined position. The video signals are also, in the evaluation unit, processed into video sequences. The correction instructions for transmission to the aircraft control and the video sequences are made available for integrated display together with additional monitoring data on a control monitor, whereby the video sequences are stored on a storage medium so as to be recallable.
The possibility of recalling video sequences to visually monitor a parking event from a control station is integrated into the sequence of determining and transmitting correction instructions. This process according to the invention thus permits control personnel from a central control station at which the typical assignment and planning data, monitoring parameters, etc. are displayed, to inspect video sequences on the same control monitor in order to be able to verify the correct and orderly sequence of a planned parking event. Typically, the control personnel belongs to a ground control or ground service group and is entrusted with the organization and assignment management of an air terminal. Important, in particular, is the capability of storing video sequences on a storage medium so that they are recallable. Storage is carried out in such a way that the video sequences correspond to a concretely executed parking event. That is, during storage, the video sequences are archived such that they can be called up and redisplayed on a monitor with respect to, for example, date, aircraft identification number, parking event, etc.
The process according to the invention, on the one hand, substantially increases safety and thus meets the current requirement for processing reliability due to increased air traffic. On the other hand, the process according to the invention permits completely centralized management. The archived storage of video sequences permits their display, i.e., analysis, on a monitor at any time after completion of the respective parking events. Video sequences can thus be automatically analyzed, e.g., by programs that determine control parameters based on a comparison of a plurality of video analyses. However, video sequences of completed parking events may also be simply visualized to determine, for example, the causes of an accident.
According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, the video sequences that are to be stored are compressed. This process according to the invention greatly reduces the amount of data to be stored.
Advantageously, the video sequences may be stored on mobile storage media so that the stored units can be kept in a safe place or visualized at different workstations. The invention makes it possible to store, process, keep, and recall the video sequences completely independent from the actual system used for video monitoring and control of aircraft. The video sequences are preferably available in digital form. Thus, the video monitoring includes the processing area to determine the current position of the aircraft with the aid of at least one video camera starting from a certain position in which the aircraft reaches the parking zone. The parking zone is detected by the video camera.
The current aircraft position is processed with respect to position and alignment and compared with set point values in order to calculate and display instructions with respect to changes in direction and speed. The invention proposes that the aircraft type also be determined automatically, in addition to the positional data. The aircraft type affects the calculation of correction values since different aircraft types behave differently with respect to speed and directional changes. Accordingly, the correction values can be influenced by different type references. The invention furthermore proposes that the video detection includes total object detection within the parking zone area. All static or dynamic objects in the parking zone area are detected and identified. The system can thus identify service vehicles, equipment, etc. by means of predefined and stored reference signals and take these into account for aircraft guidance.
The invention furthermore proposes that the signals of two video cameras that are arranged in parallel with respect to the optical recording area be evaluated. On the one hand, redundancy of the sensor mechanisms substantially increases safety. On the other hand, redundancy of the sensor mechanisms permits possibilities like functional self-checking by the system, selection of the suitably positioned sensor as a function of the size of the aircraft, etc. The at least two video cameras ar
Siemens AG
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
Tweel John A.
LandOfFree
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