Object proximity warning system
First Claim
1. A method of detecting potential collisions between a vehicle which is an aircraft on the surface of the earth, a watercraft or a load-handling vehicle, and objects on the surface of the earth in the vehicle'"'"'s surroundings, comprising:
- equipping said vehicle with a plurality of transducers capable of detecting objects near the transducers; and
equipping said vehicle with an alerting system which will generate one or more alarm signals if an object is detected closer to said aircraft than a predetermined distance of safe proximity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided to detect an impending contact or collision between a subject vehicle, which may be an aircraft, a watercraft or a load-handling vehicle, and stationary objects or other vehicles in the vicinity of the subject vehicle, comprising distance or motion-detecting sensors mounted at positions on the subject vehicle at risk of such collision or contact, and alerting means, responsive to said sensors, to notify the operator of the subject vehicle and/or the operators of such other vehicles in the vicinity of the subject vehicle of the risk of a collision. Preferred embodiments comprise alerting means which indicate to the operator of the subject vehicle which, if any, sensors detect an object closer too the subject vehicle than a predetermined distance of safe approach.
69 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of detecting potential collisions between a vehicle which is an aircraft on the surface of the earth, a watercraft or a load-handling vehicle, and objects on the surface of the earth in the vehicle'"'"'s surroundings, comprising:
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equipping said vehicle with a plurality of transducers capable of detecting objects near the transducers; and
equipping said vehicle with an alerting system which will generate one or more alarm signals if an object is detected closer to said aircraft than a predetermined distance of safe proximity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for detecting potential collisions between a first vehicle which is an aircraft on the surface of the earth, a watercraft or a load-handling vehicle, and objects, including other vehicles, on the surface of the earth in the vehicle'"'"'s surroundings, comprising:
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a plurality of transducers attached to said first vehicle capable of detecting objects near the transducers; and
alerting means responsive to said transducers which will generate one or more alarm signals if an object is detected closer to said first vehicle than a predetermined distance of safe proximity. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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- 12. An aircraft on the surface of the earth comprising a plurality of transducers capable of detecting objects on the surface of the earth near the transducers, and alerting means responsive to said transducers which will generate one or more alarm signals if an object is detected closer to said aircraft than a predetermined distance of safe proximity.
Specification