Method for Monitoring Autonomous Accelerated Aircraft Pushback

• US 20150175271A2
• Filed: 08/14/2014
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Borealis Technical Limited (Borealis Exploration Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Borealis Technical Limited (Borealis Exploration Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cox, Isaiah W., Vana, Jan, Cox, Joseph J., Kracht, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 9,394,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/405 Powered wheels, e.g. for taxing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0083 to help an aircraft pilot in the rolling phase
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/04 Anti-collision systems
• 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 5/06 for control when on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/80 Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management

Abstract

A method for monitoring an autonomous accelerated pushback process in an aircraft equipped with an engines-off taxi system is provided to maximize safety and facilitate the accelerated pushback process. The aircraft is equipped with a monitoring system including a number of different kinds of sensors and monitoring devices positioned to maximally monitor the aircraft'"'"'s exterior ground environment and communicate the presence or absence of obstructions in the aircraft'"'"'s path while the pilot is controlling the engines-off taxi system to drive the aircraft in reverse away from a terminal gate and then turn in place at a selected location before driving forward to a taxiway. The sensors and monitoring devices may be a combination of cameras, ultrasound, global positioning, radar, and LiDAR or LADAR devices, and proximity sensors located at varying heights adapted to continuously or intermittently scan or sweep the aircraft exterior and ground environment during aircraft ground movement.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring an autonomous accelerated pushback process in an aircraft equipped with an engines-off taxi system, comprising:

(a) equipping an aircraft with an engines-off taxi system controllable by a pilot of said aircraft to turn and move an aircraft in reverse and forward directions without reliance on operation of the aircraft main engines or an external tow vehicle;

(b) further equipping said aircraft with a monitoring system comprising a plurality of different kinds of sensors or sensor devices adapted to be positioned on an exterior of said aircraft at multiple locations and heights above a ground surface selected to monitor a maximum portion of said aircraft'"'"'s ground environment and space surrounding said aircraft'"'"'s exterior;

(c) activating said monitoring system so that said plurality of sensors or sensor devices is operable to monitor said aircraft exterior environment and to communicate information relating to a presence or absence of obstructions in a defined pushback travel path to the pilot; and

(d) in response to the communicated information, controlling said engines-off taxi system to drive the aircraft in a reverse direction along the defined pushback travel path away from an airport terminal to a safe turning location while said plurality of sensors or sensor devices continues to monitor the aircraft environment and communicate the presence or absence of obstructions in the aircraft environment and along the defined pushback travel path to the pilot, wherein the pilot further controls the engines-off taxi system to continue to drive the aircraft in reverse or to stop the aircraft as required in response to communications from said sensors or sensor devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensors and sensor devices comprises a range of different sensors or sensor devices designed to provide maximal information about an aircraft'"'"'s ground environment selected from the list comprising cameras, GPS devices, ultrasound devices, radar devices, LiDAR or LADAR devices, and proximity sensors.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said plurality or sensors or sensor devices are operable to scan exterior areas of said aircraft not visible to the pilot continuously or intermittently.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein when said plurality of sensors or sensor devices communicates the presence of an obstruction in or near the defined pushback travel path to the pilot, the pilot controls the engines-off taxi system to stop the aircraft from moving in reverse along said travel path.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a presence or absence of an obstruction in said pushback travel path is communicated to a cockpit of said aircraft by one or more indicators comprising a video display, flashing or steady lights, and an audio signal to alert the pilot so that the pilot may control the engines-off taxi system to stop said aircraft or to continue to drive said aircraft in response to the presence or absence if an obstruction as communicated by said one or more indicators.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising when the pilot drives the aircraft in reverse along the defined pushback travel path to the safe turning location, turning said aircraft through an angle selected to permit the aircraft to depart safely and quickly from an airport gate area, and then driving said aircraft forward to a taxiway or takeoff runway.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said angle is 180°

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8. The method of claim 6, wherein said angle is 135°

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9. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating said sensors or sensor devices at multiple locations and heights from a ground surface on said aircraft exterior, and continuously or intermittently scanning or sweeping the aircraft exterior environment to communicate a real time map of said aircraft exterior environment as the pilot is driving the aircraft in reverse along said defined pushback travel path to the safe turning location.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising operating said plurality or sensors or sensor devices to scan exterior areas of said aircraft not visible to the pilot.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising locating said plurality of sensors or sensor devices at said multiple locations and heights in positions on said aircraft exterior to produce and communicate a real time video display of said aircraft exterior environment to said pilot.

12. The method of claim 5, further comprising, when said plurality of sensors or sensor devices communicates the presence of an obstruction to the pilot through said one or more indicators, controlling the engines-off taxi system to stop the aircraft from moving in reverse along said travel path.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the presence of an obstruction the defined pushback travel path to Air Navigation Services and Ground Operations Control at an airport.

14. The method of claim 5, further comprising, when said plurality of sensors or sensor devices communicates the presence of an obstruction to the pilot through said one or more indicators and the pilot fails to control the engines-off taxi system to stop the aircraft from moving, inactivating said monitoring system to stop said aircraft.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing one or more visual or non-visual ground surface indicators defining the defined pushback travel path and providing cooperating visual or non-visual sensors or sensor devices on said aircraft to assist the pilot in guiding reverse travel of the aircraft along the defined pushback travel path.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising adapting the monitoring system to bypass pilot control of the engines-off taxi system and stop movement of the aircraft if the pilot has not responded to an obstruction indication communicated to the cockpit when the monitoring system senses that collision is imminent, and automatically controlling the engines-off taxi system to stop movement of the aircraft.