Optimizing range of aircraft docking system

• US 10,384,805 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2017
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ADB Safegate Sweden AB (ADB Safegate BVBA)
• Original Assignee: ADB Safegate Sweden AB (ADB Safegate BVBA)
• Inventors: Hakansson, Ola
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US16/086,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20190106223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 340958, 702151, 702152, 702159, 356 314, 382216
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/002 Taxiing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aircraft docking system comprising: a light based verification and positioning system adapted to scan a volume (120) in connection to a stand, a receiving unit adapted to receive surveillance data from an airport surveillance system, wherein the light based verification and positioning system is further adapted to control the extension of the scanned volume based on the received surveillance data.

Claims

1. An aircraft docking system comprising:

a light based verification and positioning system adapted to monitor an aircraft expected to arrive at a stand, in a volume in connection to the stand, wherein the monitoring includes detecting and tracking of the aircraft, said monitored volume comprising at least a scanned volume being scanned by the light based verification and positioning system,

said aircraft docking system further comprising

a receiving unit adapted to receive surveillance data including position data related to the aircraft from an airport surveillance system,

wherein the light based verification and positioning system is further adapted to;

control the extension of the scanned volume based on the received position data,

reduce the size of the scanned volume based on the received surveillance data, and

shift at least a portion of the scanned volume sideways based on the received surveillance data.

2. Aircraft docking system according to claim 1, wherein the light based verification and positioning system comprises at least one laser transmitter adapted to emit light in different directions in the scanned volume, and a detector adapted to detect light reflected from objects in the scanned volume.

3. Aircraft docking system according to claim 1, wherein the light based verification and positioning system is adapted to scan a volume extending in a direction radially out from the light verification and positioning system, the light based verification and positioning system adapted to reduce the size of the scanned volume by restricting the extension of the volume in the radial direction.

4. Aircraft docking system according to claim 1, wherein the light based verification and positioning system is adapted to scan a volume extending in a direction radially out from the light based verification and positioning system and in a direction transverse to the radial direction, the light based verification and positioning system adapted to reduce the size of the scanned volume by restricting the extension of the volume in the transverse direction.

5. Aircraft docking system according to claim 1, wherein the received surveillance data comprises at least one of:

identification data, type and version of an aircraft.

6. Aircraft docking system according to claim 1, wherein the received surveillance data comprises information regarding current weather conditions at the airport.

7. Aircraft docking system according to claim 1, wherein the surveillance system is at least one of:

ground movement radar, ADS-B, Mode-S and GPS systems.

8. Aircraft docking system according to claim 1, wherein the light based verification and positioning system is adapted to verify the aircraft in the scanned volume.

9. Aircraft docking system according to claim 1, wherein the light based verification and positioning system is adapted to verify at least one of identification data, type, and version of the aircraft.

10. Aircraft docking system according to claim 1, wherein the light based verification and positioning system is adapted to retrieve type and/or version of the aircraft from a database based on said identification data.

11. Aircraft docking system according to claim 1, comprising an interface adapted to provide aircraft data to the surveillance system.

12. Aircraft docking system according to claim 11, wherein the interface is adapted to provide aircraft data to the surveillance system via a database.

13. Aircraft docking system (100,200,300,400) according to claim 11, wherein the aircraft data comprise at least one of:

verified identification data, type, version and position of the aircraft.