Communications: electrical – Aircraft alarm or indicating systems – Docking guidance
Patent
1996-08-30
1999-03-30
Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
Communications: electrical
Aircraft alarm or indicating systems
Docking guidance
359172, G08B 2100
Patent
active
058894799
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for guiding the pilot of an aircraft to a predetermined parking location using a distance measuring device and means for determining the difference between the actual location of the aircraft and its designated parking location.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A landed aircraft is in most cases guided firstly into the runway region, in which its parking position is situated, by a vehicle driving in front of it. Painted onto the runway region are so-called center-lines which the aircraft must follow. The center-lines terminate in straight stand-center lines which lead to the parking location.
In appropriately equipped airports, the aircraft dock in the parking position with at least one of their exits at e.g. a gangway bridge. Since such gangway bridges are only movable to a limited extent, it is necessary that the parking position, which is differently determined for each type of aircraft, is adopted exactly. For this purpose, the pilot must stop the aircraft, which is guided on the stand line, at a defined point.
The problem associated with this is that the pilot is located at least 4-6 m above the earth, at least with current aircraft types, and has no direct view downwards.
A range of current accessory equipment (e.g. Moiree indicators) exists which makes it possible for the pilot to guide his aircraft on the stand line without direct visual contact.
The situation is different in connection with systems which are able to give the pilot information relating to the remaining taxiing distance to the parking position. No optimal device has been known up to now in this connection.
It is known e.g. to install induction loops in the ground of the runway which, e.g. as soon as the front wheel of the aircraft rolls over them, produce a signal which can be converted into a corresponding indication of distance. It is disadvantageous that the induction loops can easily suffer damage as a consequence of the large loading by the aircraft which taxi over them or caused by storms, e.g. by lightning strikes, and must be frequently replaced and furthermore also do not function precisely.
A system is also known from WO 90/13104 in which an aircraft approaching its parking position is surveyed by means of radar. This generally occurs with a radar beam based on microwaves which is directed towards the nose of the aircraft. The pilot can find out his actual position or the distance remaining to the parking position by means of an indicator board. It is disadvantageous that the radar beam must be guided to follow the aircraft as it approaches which requires either an optical or some other form of control.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Against this background, it is the object of the invention to provide an apparatus with which nearly all types of aircraft may be guided reliably and with low data processing effort into the desired parking position and with which no health risk to the cockpit crew can occur, when it is used.
This object is achieved with an having at least one two dimensional (2D) laser sensor directed onto the approaching aircraft from the front. The sensor used in accordance with the invention emits laser pulses with a predetermined frequency and over a viewing angle which is also predetermined, which pulses are reflected back e.g. from the surface of the aircraft into a receiver disposed e.g. in the region of the sensor. The distance of the measuring point from the sensor are calculated from the pulse travel time. If the angle of the emitted laser pulse is also taken into account, the polar coordinates of the measurement point in question can be calculated.
The approaching aircraft front is now surveyed continuously in one plane by means of such a sensor in successive measuring sweeps. The laser sensor should be so directed that the measuring plane extends through the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The measuring plane can otherwise extend at nearly any desired angle. Having regard to the processing of the measurement results, which will be describ
REFERENCES:
patent: 3729262 (1973-04-01), Snead et al.
patent: 4015235 (1977-03-01), Demaine et al.
patent: 4158885 (1979-06-01), Neuberger
patent: 4994681 (1991-02-01), Mann
patent: 5166746 (1992-11-01), Sato et al.
patent: 5646761 (1997-07-01), Medved et al.
Patent Abstracts of Japan No. JP2216393, Sato Tetsuo et al, Aircraft Docking Guidance Device, Pub-Aug. 29, 1990.
Patent Abstracts of Japan No. JP4089519, Onari Yasuke et al, Monitoring And Guiding Method For Parking Of Moving Plane, Pub.Mar. 23, 1992.
Farley Walter C.
Hipp Johann
Mullen Jr. Thomas J.
Tweel , Jr. John
LandOfFree
Apparatus for guiding the pilot of an aircraft approaching its p does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for guiding the pilot of an aircraft approaching its p, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for guiding the pilot of an aircraft approaching its p will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1218448