Automated Ground Handling of Aircraft
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of navigating a plurality of vehicles consisting of one or more standalone tugs, or one or more tug propelled aircraft, or some combination thereof on the grounds of an airport, the method comprising:
- (a) electronically defining around each vehicle a virtual safety zone; and
(b) electronically controlling movement of each vehicle on the grounds of an airport based on the virtual safety zones defined around the plurality of vehicles.
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Abstract
In a system and method of navigating a plurality vehicles consisting of one or more standalone tugs, or one or more tug propelled aircraft, or some combination thereof on the grounds of an airport, a virtual safety zone is electronically defined around each vehicle. Movement of each vehicle on the grounds of an airport is controlled based on the virtual safety zones defined around the plurality of vehicles.
17 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of navigating a plurality of vehicles consisting of one or more standalone tugs, or one or more tug propelled aircraft, or some combination thereof on the grounds of an airport, the method comprising:
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(a) electronically defining around each vehicle a virtual safety zone; and (b) electronically controlling movement of each vehicle on the grounds of an airport based on the virtual safety zones defined around the plurality of vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of navigating a plurality of vehicles consisting of one or more standalone tugs, one or more tug propelled aircraft, or some combination thereof on the grounds of an airport, the method comprising:
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(a) electronically defining a virtual safety zone around each of a plurality of vehicles; (b) electronically monitoring position, movement, or both of each vehicle on the grounds of an airport; and (c) controlling movement of the plurality of vehicles on the grounds of the airport based on the electronically monitored position, movement, or both of each vehicle on the grounds of the airport in step (b) to avoid overlap of two or more virtual safety zones. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for navigating vehicles consisting of one or more standalone tugs, one or more tug propelled aircraft, or some combination thereof on the grounds of an airport comprising:
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a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle including a position receiver, a radio transceiver and a controller that is operative for causing position data output by the position receiver to be radio transmitted by the radio transceiver; and a central controller operative for receiving the position data that is radio transmitted by the radio transceiver of each vehicle, wherein movement of each of the plurality of vehicles is controlled by the central controller, the controller of said vehicle, or both based on the radio transmitted position data received by the central controller from said plurality of vehicles and based on a virtual safety zone electronically defined around each vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification