System and method for transferring airplanes

• US 20080099600A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Israel Aerospace Industries Limited (Government of Israel)
• Original Assignee: Israel Aerospace Industries Limited (Government of Israel)
• Inventors: Braier, Ran, Perry, Arie
• Granted Patent: US 7,975,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/70
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/00 Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/228 remotely controlled; operating autonomously
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/10 Wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/50 with landing legs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/60 Take-off or landing of UAVs from a runway using their own power
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/80 Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management

Abstract

A method for transferring airplanes and an unmanned airplane transfer system. The airplane transferring system includes: receiving a transfer signal responsive of a movement of an airplane control component; and transferring an airplane, by an unmanned airplane transfer system, in response to the transfer signal.

Claims

1. An unmanned airplane transfer system, comprising:

a transfer module adapted to transfer an airplane; and

a controller, coupled to the transfer module, adapted to receive a transfer signal responsive of a movement of an airplane control component and in response control the transfer module.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the unmanned airplane transfer system comprises a sensor adapted to sense a steering control induced movement of the landing gear and in response provide a transfer signal to the controller.

3. The system according to claim 1 whereas the system is adapted to sense a movement of the airplane control component.

4. The system according to claim 1 whereas the system is adapted to control a velocity of the airplane in response to a velocity signal.

5. The system according to claim 1 whereas the controller is further adapted to be remotely controlled.

6. The system according to claim 1 whereas the transfer module comprises multiple independently controlled wheels.

7. The system according to claim 1 whereas the unmanned airplane transfer system comprises an audio interface adapted to receive modulated signals representative of steering commands from the airplane and to send these modulated signals to the controller that is adapted to control the transfer module in response to the audio commands.

8. The system according to claim 1 further comprising location sensors coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is adapted to control the transfer module in response to a location of the system.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the controller is adapted to sense a system failure and in response to detach the system from the airplane.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the controller is coupled to a manual control module and wherein the controller is adapted to control the transfer module in response to commands provided by the manual control module.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system is adapted to be aligned with the landing gear during rotational movements of the airplane.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system comprises a skid steering transfer module.

13. A method for transferring an airplane, the method comprises:

receiving a transfer signal responsive of a movement of an airplane control component; and

transferring an airplane, by an unmanned airplane transfer system, in response to the transfer signal.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the receiving comprises sensing a movement of the airplane control components and generating a transfer signal.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein the receiving comprises sensing, by an unmanned airplane transfer system, steering control induced movements of a landing gear of the airplane.

16. The method according to claim 13 whereas the transferring is further responsive to remotely transmitted commands.

17. The method according to claim 13 whereas transferring comprises independently controlling at least two independently controlled wheels.

18. The method according to claim 13 further comprising receiving audio commands and wherein the transferring is responsive to the received audio commands.

19. The method according to claim 13 further comprising determining a location of the airplane and wherein the transferring is responsive to the sensed location.

20. The method according to claim 13 further comprising detecting an obstacle and provide an obstacle indication.

21. The method according to claim 13 further comprising receiving commands from an operator and wherein the transferring is responsive to the received commands.

22. The method according to claim 13 wherein the transferring comprises applying skid steering.

23. The method according to claim 13 wherein the transferring comprises maintaining an alignment between the unmanned airplane transfer system and the landing gear of the airplane during rotational movements of the airplane.

24. A central control system comprising:

at least one transmitter adapted to transmit steering commands to multiple unmanned airplane transfer vehicles;

at least one receiver adapted to receive location information from the multiple unmanned airplane transfer vehicles;

at least one display for displaying locations of multiple airplanes and the multiple unmanned airplane transfer vehicles; and

at least one interface adapted to receive from an operator operational mode commands adapted to determine a control mode of at least one unmanned air plane transfer system.

25. The central control system according to claim 24 wherein the central control system is adapted to receive an obstacle indication from an unmanned airplane transfer system and to control a change of path of the unmanned airplane transfer system.

26. The central control system according to claim 24 wherein the central control system is adapted to receive a failure indication from an unmanned airplane transfer system and to selectively acknowledge a detachment of the unmanned airplane transfer system from the airplane.

27. The central control system according to claim 24 wherein the central control system is adapted to receive a failure indication from an unmanned airplane transfer system and to control a transfer of an airplane by the unmanned airplane transfer system.

28. The central control system according to claim 24 further adapted to optimize a distance between multiple airplanes being towed by multiple unmanned transfer systems.

29. The central control system according to claim 24 wherein in a first operational mode the central control system sends steering commands that override steering commands that are mechanically sensed by the unmanned airplane transfer system.

30. A method for controlling multiple unmanned airplane transfer systems, the method comprises:

receiving location information from multiple unmanned airplane transfer systems;

displaying locations of multiple airplanes and the multiple unmanned airplane transfer vehicles;

receiving from an operator an operational mode command that determines an operational mode of an unmanned airplane transfer system; and

transmitting the operational mode command to the unmanned airplane transfer system.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein the method comprises receiving, by a central control system, an obstacle indication from an unmanned airplane transfer system and selectively acknowledging a change in a path of the unmanned airplane transfer system.

32. The method according to claim 30 wherein the method comprises receiving, by a central control system, an obstacle indication from an unmanned airplane transfer system and controlling a change of path of the unmanned airplane transfer system.

33. The method according to claim 30 the method comprises receiving, by a central control system, a failure indication from an unmanned airplane transfer system and selectively acknowledging a detachment of the unmanned airplane transfer system from the airplane.

34. The method according to claim 30 wherein the method comprises receiving, by a central control system, a failure indication from an unmanned airplane transfer system and controlling a transfer of an airplane by the unmanned airplane transfer system.

35. The method according to claim 30 further comprising optimizing a distance between multiple airplanes being towed by multiple unmanned transfer systems.

36. The method according to claim 30 further comprising sending steering commands that override steering commands that are mechanically sensed by the unmanned airplane transfer system.

37. An unmanned airplane transfer system, comprising:

a transfer module adapted to transfer an airplane by applying skid steering; and

a controller, adapted to receive steering control signals and velocity control signals and in response control the transfer module;

wherein the unmanned airplane transfer system is adapted to be aligned with the landing gear during rotational movements of the airplane.

38. The system according to claim 37 further comprising a sensor adapted to sense steering control induced movements of the landing gear;

and to provide the controller steering control signals.

39. The system according to claim 37 whereas the system is adapted to control a velocity of the airplane in response to velocity commands from the pilot.

40. The system according to claim 37 whereas the controller is further adapted to be remotely controlled.

41. The system according to claim 37 whereas the unmanned airplane transfer system comprises an audio interface adapted to receive modulated signals representative of steering commands from the airplane and to send these modulated signals to the controller that is adapted to control the transfer module in response to the audio commands.

42. The system according to claim 37 further comprising location sensors coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is adapted to control the transfer module in response to a location of the system.

43. The system according to claim 37 wherein the controller is adapted to sense a system failure and in response to detach the system from the airplane.

44. The system according to claim 37 wherein the controller is coupled to a manual control module and wherein the controller is adapted to control the transfer module in response to commands provided by the manual control module.

45. A method for transferring an airplane, the method comprises:

receiving steering control signals and velocity control signals; and

in response transferring the airplane by an unmanned airplane transfer system by applying skid steering and maintaining an alignment between the unmanned airplane transfer system and the airplane during rotational movements of the airplane.

46. The method according to claim 45 whereas the receiving comprises receiving velocity commands from the pilot

47. The method according to claim 45 whereas the transferring is further responsive to remotely transmitted commands.

48. The method according to claim 45 further comprising receiving audio commands.

49. The method according to claim 45 further comprising determining a location of the airplane and wherein the transferring is responsive to the sensed location.

50. The method according to claim 45 further comprising detecting an obstacle and provide an obstacle indication.

51. The method according to claim 45 further comprising receiving commands from an operator and wherein the transferring is responsive to the received commands.