METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS ON THE GROUND FOR AIRCRAFT

• US 20090164122A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Colin, Michel, Morbey, Joao, Landman, Mathieu
• Granted Patent: US 8,121,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

The invention has as its object to determine a risk of collision on the ground between an aircraft and another object. The aircraft comprises at least one proximity detector and a communication system suitable for setting up a communication among several points, at least one of the points being able to be external to the aircraft. After having received at least one indication from the proximity detector relating to the presence of an object, a signal representing an acoustic alarm linked to the detection of the object is generated then transmitted to the warning system. A comparison advantageously is made between the indication received from the proximity detector and certain parameters of the aircraft, the signal representing an acoustic alarm linked to the detection of the object being generated in response to the result of this comparison.

Claims

1. Method for determining a risk of collision on the ground in an aircraft, the said aircraft comprising at least one proximity detector, at least one warning device and a communication system comprising a plurality of access points, the said communication system being suitable for setting up a communication between the access points of each pair of access points of the said plurality of access points, this method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps,

receipt of at least one indication from the said proximity detector relating to the presence of an object;

generation of at least one signal representing an alarm linked to the detection of the said object; and

,

transmission of the said alarm to the said at least one warning device via the said communication system, the said at least one warning device being connected up to an access point of the said plurality of access points.

2. Method according to the preceding claim, according to which the said communication system is suitable for setting up a bidirectional communication between the access points of each pair of access points of the said plurality of access points.

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a step of transmission of at least one audio-type signal between two access points of the said plurality of access points.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step of comparison of the said at least one indication received from the said proximity detector with at least one parameter of the said aircraft, the said signal representing an alarm linked to the detection of the said object being generated in response to the result of the said comparison.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, according to which the said alarm comprises a visual alarm comprising a symbolic representation of the said aircraft and a symbolic representation of the said detected object, the position of the said symbolic representation of the said detected object in relation to the symbolic representation of the said aircraft being representative of the position of the said detected object in relation to the said aircraft.

6. Device for determining a risk of collision on the ground in an aircraft comprising at least one warning system and a communication system comprising a plurality of access points, the said communication system being suitable for setting up a communication between the access points of each pair of access points of the said plurality of access points, this device being characterized in that it comprises the following means,

means for detecting the proximity of at least one object and transmitting an indication relating to the said detection of the said object;

means for generating at least one signal representing an alarm in response to the said indication relating to the said detection of the said object; and

means for transmitting the said signal to the said at least one warning system via the said communication system, the said at least one warning system being connected up to an access point of the said plurality of access points.

7. Device according to the preceding claim, according to which the said communication system is suitable for setting up a bidirectional communication between the access points of each pair of access points of the said plurality of access points.

8. Device according to claim 6 or claim 7, according to which at least one access point of the said plurality of access points is external to the said aircraft.

9. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising means for comparing the said received indication relating to the said detection of the said object with at least one parameter of the said aircraft, the said means for generating at least one signal representing an alarm being activated in response to the result of the said comparison.

10. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, according to which the said means for detecting the proximity of at least one object are suitable for determining a piece of information about distance and/or position of the said at least one object relative to the said aircraft, the said alarm comprising an indication of the said information.