Collision Avoidance Warning And Taxi Guidance Device

• US 20080062011A1
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Norah Brennan, William Butler
• Original Assignee: Norah Brennan, William Butler
• Inventors: Butler, William, Brennan, Norah
• Application Number:
  US11/661,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20080062011A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/961
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/783 using amplitude comparison of signals derived from static detectors or detector systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a collision avoidance warning system for an aircraft (1). The system comprises a light source (8, 9), sensors (10, 11, 12) mounted on the aircraft (1) and processing means for determining the dimensions and location of an object (15) relative to the aircraft (1) so as to determine whether a collision alert is to be given. The present invention is particularly suited to providing collision alert warnings on the ground, such as when the aircraft (1) is taxiing and manoeuvring on runways and in aircraft hangars.

Claims

1. An aircraft on the ground collision avoidance warning system for an aircraft having at least one anti-collision light source emitting a pulsed light, the system comprising:

a light source for delivering light onto an external object and a sensor for measuring the intensity of the back scattered light from the object, characterised in that the light source comprises the or one of the aircraft anti-collision light sources (8, 9);

at least a pair of sensors (10, 11, 12) are mounted on the aircraft (1) spaced-apart from the light source (8, 9) and forward of a beam transmitted from the light source (8, 9) to record the intensity, azimuth and elevation of the back scattered light; and

processing means to determine the dimensions and location relative to the aircraft (1) of an object (15) impinged on by the light source and to determine, having regard to the position and movement of the aircraft (1), whether a collision alert is to be given.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which the processing means measures the speed at which the aircraft (1) and object (15) are approaching each other.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which the sensors (10, 11, 12) are placed on one or more of:

the aircraft fairings (30);

the nose cone (4); and

the landing gear (6, 7); and

skids for a helicopter (40) or other locations.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which each sensor (10, 11, 12) has a preset zone within which backscattered light is received and the sensors are so arranged that at least two zones (35, 36, 37, 38) overlap.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which the processing means communicates by a wireless communications system.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which the processing means comprises means to store and update relevant details of a predetermined space relative to a portion of the aircraft to define a protection zone for that portion of the aircraft (1).

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, in which the protection zones (20, 21, 22) are divided into different sectors for which different collision warnings are given.

8. A system as claimed in claim 6, in which the protection zones (20, 21, 22) are determined having regard to one or more specified operations of the aircraft including:

location of the aircraft (1);

movement of the aircraft (1);

speed of movement of the aircraft (1);

possibility of the presence of other moving aircraft (1(a), 1(b));

probable maximum speed of other moving aircraft (1(a), 1(b));

possibility of the presence of other moving vehicles; and

probable maximum speed of other moving vehicles.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, in which some of the specified operations comprise:

stand manoeuvring;

aircraft pushback;

taxi mode;

movement in the presence of other aircraft;

tow mode;

pavement departure;

movement in the presence of snow;

runway entry; and

runway departure.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which the processing means comprises means, with the aircraft stationary, to carry out the steps of:

determining the dimensions and location relative to the aircraft of all objects likely to cause a collision on the aircraft moving towards them;

mapping and storing the location of the objects; and

determining, having regard to the objects and the likely future movement of the aircraft, the proximity to the object required to provide a subsequent collision alert.

11. A system as claimed in claim 2, in which the sensors (10, 11, 12) are placed on one or more of:

the aircraft fairings (30);

the nose cone (4); and

the landing gear (6, 7); and

skids for a helicopter (40) or other locations.

12. A system as claimed in claim 2, in which each sensor (10, 11, 12) has a preset zone within which backscattered light is received and the sensors are so arranged that at least two zones (35, 36, 37, 38) overlap.

13. A system as claimed in claim 3, in which each sensor (10, 11, 12) has a preset zone within which backscattered light is received and the sensors are so arranged that at least two zones (35, 36, 37, 38) overlap.

14. A system as claimed in claim 2, in which the processing means communicates by a wireless communications system.

15. A system as claimed in claim 3, in which the processing means communicates by a wireless communications system.

16. A system as claimed in claim 4, in which the processing means communicates by a wireless communications system.

17. A system as claimed in claim 2, in which the processing means comprises means to store and update relevant details of a predetermined space relative to a portion of the aircraft to define a protection zone for that portion of the aircraft (1).

18. A system as claimed in claim 3, in which the processing means comprises means to store and update relevant details of a predetermined space relative to a portion of the aircraft to define a protection zone for that portion of the aircraft (1).

19. A system as claimed is claim 4, in which the processing means comprises means to store and update relevant details of a predetermined space relative to a portion of the aircraft to define a protection zone for that portion of the aircraft (1).

20. A system as claimed is claim 5, in which the processing means comprises means to store and update relevant details of a predetermined space relative to a portion of the aircraft to define a protection zone for that portion of the aircraft (1).