Automatic method of tracking and organizing vehicle movement on the ground and of identifying foreign bodies on runways in an airport zone

• US 20020109625A1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Philippe Gouvary
• Original Assignee: Philippe Gouvary
• Inventors: Gouvary, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US09/794,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20020109625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/29
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91

Abstract

The automatic method of tracking and organizing the movements of vehicles on the ground in a zone of an airport comprises the steps consisting in:

acquiring data relating to the possible presence of at least one body in the zone;

analyzing the acquired data; and

where necessary as a result of the analysis, defining an action as a function of the result.

The method also makes it possible to detect the presence of a foreign body in zones over which airplanes can travel, and in particular on runways.

Claims

1. / An automatic method of tracking and organizing the movements of vehicles on the ground in an airport zone, the method comprising the steps consisting in:

acquiring data relating to the possible presence of at least one body in the zone;

analyzing the acquired data; and

where necessary as a result of the analysis, defining an action as a function of the result.

2. / A method according to claim 1, wherein the zone comprises at least one takeoff and/or landing runway and/or at least one taxiway.

3. / A method according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition step relates to the possible presence of at least one vehicle, in particular an airplane or a ground-only vehicle.

4. / A method according to claim 1, wherein the body is a body other than a vehicle.

5. / A method according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the data to be acquired relates to the actual presence of the body at the time of acquisition.

6. / A method according to claim 1, wherein some of the data to be acquired relates to the presence of the body at a time subsequent to acquisition.

7. / A method according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition step comprises stages consisting in:

observing the zone by means of a camera; and

analyzing the recorded images.

8. / A method according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition step includes acquiring data concerning the dynamic behavior of the body.

9. / A method according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition step includes identifying the body.

10. / A method according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition step includes locating the body, and in the event of the body being a vehicle, it preferably includes an operation of triangulation on the basis of a radio signal transmitted by the vehicle.

11. / A method according to claim 1, including a step of acquiring data relating to:

present or forecast unavailability of the zone or of some other zone of the airport;

landings or takeoffs forecast in the airport;

future occupancy of at least one terminal of the airport; and

identifying vehicles, flights, codes, or correspondences therebetween.

12. / A method according to claim 1, including a step of proposing an action to an operator.

13. / A method according to claim 1, including a step of executing an action.

14. / A method according to claim 1, wherein the action comprises sending a message.

15. / A method according to claim 14, wherein the message is sent by radio.

16. / A method according to claim 14, wherein the message is sent by means of a display, in particular on a screen (40) and/or on a panel on the ground.

17. / A method according to claim 14, wherein the message is sent to a vehicle situated in the zone and/or to an operator monitoring the zone.

18. / A method according to claim 1, including a step of representing the present or future location(s) of the body(ies) in the zone on a screen.

20. / A system according to claim 19, wherein the acquisition means comprise a camera arranged to observe the zone.

21. / A system according to claim 19, wherein the acquisition means comprise a radar.

22. / A system according to claim 19, wherein the acquisition means comprise a radio signal receiver.

23. / A system according to claim 19, wherein the acquisition means are in communication with one or more airport databases, in particular relating to the following at least:

takeoffs and landings in the airport;

the occupancy of at least one terminal of the airport;

the availability or unavailability of the zone or of some other zone of the airport; and

the identities of vehicles, flights, codes, and/or correspondences therebetween.

24. / A system according to claim 19, wherein the analysis means are suitable for locating a vehicle constituting the body by performing triangulation on the basis of a radio signal transmitted by the vehicle.

25. / A system according to claim 19, including means for sending a message, in particular a display panel situated in the zone or in the vicinity of the zone, and suitable for example for displaying a variety of messages, or a screen that can be consulted by an operator.

26. / A computer-readable data medium, carrying a program suitable for implementing the method according to claim 1.

19. / An automatic system for tracking and organizing the movements of vehicles on the ground in a zone of an airport, the system comprising:

means for acquiring data relative to the possible presence in the zone of at least one body;

means for analyzing the acquired data; and

means for defining an action as a function of an analysis result.

27. / Apparatus for detecting the presence of a body in a zone of an airport, the apparatus comprising:

at least one camera;

means for acquiring video data coming from the camera(s); and

means for analyzing the data.

28. / An automatic method of detecting the presence of a body in a zone of an airport, the method comprising the steps consisting in:

picking up one or more video images of the zone; and

analyzing the picked-up image(s).