SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AND PREVENTING RUNWAY INCURSION, EXCURSION AND CONFUSION

• US 20100191450A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Verbeke, James P., Pschierer, Karl Christian, Ravenscroft, Donald L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/120
• 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

A method for predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event for a mobile platform operating within a designated area. The method may involve obtaining a plurality of parameters including a position of the mobile platform within the designated area for determining a kinematic motion of the mobile platform while the mobile platform is operating within the designated area. Information may also be obtained that relates to surface geometry of the designated area. The information related to surface geometry may be used to determine physical constraints within the designated area that limit operation of the mobile platform within the designated area. The plurality of parameters may be used to determine a kinematic motion of the mobile platform within the designated area. The kinematic motion of the mobile platform and the physical constraints may be used to predict if motion of the mobile platform will cause it to incur an undesired operating event.

Claims

1. A method for predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event for a mobile platform operating within a designated area, the method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of parameters including a position of said mobile platform within said designated area for determining a kinematic motion of said mobile platform while said mobile platform is operating within said designated area;

obtaining information related to surface geometry of said designated area;

using said information related to surface geometry to determine physical constraints within said designated area that limit operation of said mobile platform within said designated area;

using said plurality of parameters to determine a kinematic motion of said mobile platform within said designated area; and

using said kinematic motion of said mobile platform and said physical constraints to predict if motion of said mobile platform will cause said mobile platform to incur an undesired operating event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predicting if motion of said mobile platform will cause said mobile platform to incur an undesirable operating event comprises predicting if at least one of a path of travel and a speed of travel of said mobile platform will cause said mobile platform to deviate from an acceptable operating area within said designated area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said predicting if motion of said mobile platform will cause said mobile platform to incur an undesirable operating event comprises predicting if travel of said mobile platform will result in said mobile platform coming into unacceptably close proximity to another vehicle operating with said designated area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said deviating from an acceptable path of travel comprises creating an excursion event where said mobile platform uncontrollably leaves an authorized operating area of an airport.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining information concerning environmental conditions affecting said designated area and using said information concerning environmental conditions in said predicting if said kinematic motion of said mobile platform will cause said mobile platform to deviate from an acceptable path of travel within said designated area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said using kinematic motion and said physical constraints to predict if motion of said mobile platform will cause said mobile platform to deviate from an acceptable path of travel is performed repeatedly at a frequency relating to a speed of travel of said mobile platform.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining a plurality of parameters related to kinematic motion of said mobile platform while said mobile platform is operating within said designated area comprises obtaining a real time position of said mobile platform.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining information concerning at least one operating parameter of a vehicle remote from said mobile platform that is present within said designated area;

using said information concerning said at least one operating parameter to determine a kinematic motion of said vehicle; and

using said kinematic motion of said mobile platform and said kinematic motion of said vehicle to predict in advance a likelihood of interference between said mobile platform and said vehicle while both are operating within said designated area.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said mobile platform obtains said information concerning at least one operating parameter of said vehicle from an information source remote from said mobile platform.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said obtaining information concerning at least one operating parameter of a vehicle remote from said mobile platform comprises obtaining information relating to a position of said vehicle within said designated area and a speed of travel of said vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an alert to at least one of a crew member on said mobile platform and a remote facility when said undesired operating event is predicted.

12. A method for predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event for a mobile platform operating within a designated area, the method comprising:

obtaining and using a plurality of operating parameters of said mobile platform to determine a kinematic motion of said mobile platform while said mobile platform is operating within said designated area;

obtaining and using a plurality of operating parameters of a vehicle operating within said designated area, and remote from said mobile platform, to determine a kinematic motion of said vehicle;

obtaining information related to surface geometry of said designated area;

using said information related to surface geometry to determine physical constraints within said designated area that limit operation of at least one of said mobile platform and said vehicle within said designated area;

using said kinematic motions of said mobile platform and said vehicle, and said physical constraints, to predict the occurrence of an undesired operating event involving said mobile platform and said vehicle; and

generating an alert to one of an individual on-board said mobile platform and a facility remote from said mobile platform when said undesired operating event is predicted to occur.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said predicting an undesired operating event involving said mobile platform and said vehicle comprises predicting an incursion involving said mobile platform and said vehicle, said incursion representing movement of said mobile platform and said vehicle into an unacceptably close proximity to one another.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said predicting an undesired operating even involving said mobile platform and said vehicle comprises predicting an excursion involving one of said mobile platform and said vehicle, said excursion representing movement of one of said mobile platform and said vehicle to a location outside of an acceptable operating area within said designated area.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said method of predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event for a mobile platform comprises predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event for an aircraft operating at an airport.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising obtaining information relating to at least one of a take-off or a taxi plan for said aircraft

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said obtaining and using a plurality of operating parameters for each of said mobile platform and said vehicle comprises obtaining real time position information for said mobile platform and said vehicle.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said using said kinematic motions of said mobile platform and said vehicle, and said physical constraints, to predict an undesired operating event involving said mobile platform and said vehicle, comprises updating said kinematic motions of said mobile platform and said vehicle repeatedly at a desired frequency.

19. A system for monitoring operation of a mobile platform within a designated operating area and predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event, the system comprising:

a database on-board said mobile platform for containing information useful for determining kinematic motion of said mobile platform within said designated operating area;

a database remote from said mobile platform for containing information relating to physical characteristics of said designated operating area;

an information source remote from said mobile platform for supplying position information concerning said mobile platform; and

a processor carried on-board said mobile platform for obtaining information from said database on-board said mobile platform, said database remote from said mobile platform and said information source to predict the occurrence of said undesired operating event.