Airplane ground maneuvering camera system

• US 6,405,975 B1
• Filed: 08/18/1998
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Sankrithi, Mithra M. K. V., Cashman, John, Reysa, Gary D., McKenna, David W., Cabrera, Ronaldo O., Wallace, Mannon L. Jr., Seidel, Gerhard E., Yeeles, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAKEL, KEVIN W
• Application Number:
  US09/135,992
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 244/1.R, 244/50, 244/115, 244/75.R, 348/143, 348/144, 348/140, 340/975, 340/973
• US Class Current: 244/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/002 Taxiing aids

Abstract

A system for aiding ground maneuvering of an airplane. The system includes at least one camera mounted on the airplane for generating video images of at last one gear with tires, preferably a main or nose landing gear and the surrounding ground. The cockpit of the airplane includes a video display device that displays the generated video images and a user interface that allows selection of the format for displaying the generated video images. A camera mounted within a moveable component of the airplane is mounted on a movable device that compensates for component movement. The system also includes a display generator for generating in real-time superimposed oversteer targets on the displayed video images. The video images with oversteer targets assist the pilot in determining the airplane'"'"'s actual position relative to runways, taxiways, obstacles and other ground features and to maneuver a plane with a wide wheel track long wheelbase, or both accordingly.

Claims

1. A system for aiding ground maneuvering of an airplane fitted with at least two main landing gear located beneath the right and left airplane wings, respectively, and a nose landing gear located forward of said main standing gear, said at least two main landing gear and said nose landing gear each including tires, said system comprising:

a first camera for generating video images of the tires of said nose landing gear and a predefined area of ground around said nose landing gear;

a second camera for generating video images of the tires of at least one of said at least two main landing gear and a predefined area of ground around said at least one of said at least two main landing gear; and

video display means in the cockpit of said airplane for displaying said generated video images generated by said first and second cameras;

wherein said second camera is mounted on a movable component of said airplane;

wherein said movable component is a trimmable stabilizer, and further comprising electronic compensation means, responsive to a signal corresponding with stabilizer trim position, for generating a video field of view for display which is substantially unaffected by trimming movements of said stabilizer.

2. A system for aiding ground maneuvering of an airplane fitted with at least two main landing gear located beneath the right and left airplane wings, respectively, and a nose landing gear located forward of said main landing gear, said at least two main landing gear and said nose landing gear each including tires, said system comprising:

a first forward view camera for generating video images of the tires of said nose landing rear and a predefined area of ground around said nose landing gear;

a second forward view camera for generating video images of the tires of at least one of said at least two main landing gear and a predefined area of the ground around said at least one of said at least two main landing gear;

a video display means adapted for mounting in the cockpit of said airplane wherein said video display means displays said generated video images generated by said first and second cameras;

wherein said second camera is adapted for mounting on a moveable component of said airplane; and

wherein said second camera is mounted on a movable device for compensating for movement of the moveable component, such that the video images generated by the second camera are substantially unaffected on the video display means when the moveable component moves.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said second camera is adapted for mounting on the horizontal stabilizer of the airplane.

4. A system for aiding ground maneuvering of an airplane fitted with at least two main landing gear located beneath the right and left airplane wings, respectively, and a nose landing gear located forward of said main landing gear, said at least two main landing gear and said nose landing gear each including tires, said system comprising:

a first camera for generating video images of the tires of said nose landing gear and a predefined area of ground around said nose landing gear;

a second camera for generating video images of the tires of at least one of said at least two main landing gear and a pre defined area of ground around said at least one of said at least two main landing gear; and

video display means in the cockpit of said airplane for displaying said generated video images generated by said first and second cameras;

wherein at least one of said first and second cameras is movable between a stowed and a deployed position, and comprises;

a transparent lens; and

a cleaning mechanism for cleaning said transparent lens as the camera is moved between the stowed and deployed positions.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said cleaning mechanism is a squeegee.

6. An oversteering system for assisting a pilot in maneuvering a large airplane based on a nosewheel guideline on a paved airport surface, wherein said large airplane is fitted with landing gear, said landing gear including main landing gear and a nose landing gear located forward of said main landing gear, said main landing gear and said nose landing gear including tires, said system comprising:

at least one camera for generating video images of at least one tire of said nose landing gear and a predefined area of ground around said nose landing gear;

a video display adapted for mounting in the cockpit of said airplanes for displaying said generated video images; and

a visual means for visually identifying an oversteer target on said video display.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

an image motion compensation processor for analyzing the generated video images.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a display generator for generating and superimposing an image on the displayed video images at the location of said oversteer target, based on the analysis of the generated video images, for assisting the pilot in maneuvering the airplane.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said generated and superimposed image is the oversteer target that is superimposed on the displayed video images, and wherein the airplane is properly oversteered when the oversteer target tracks along a displayed guideline.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said generated and superimposed image is a prediction track of the nose landing gear.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said generated and superimposed image is a prediction track of the oversteer target.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said generated and superimposed image is a landing gear identifier for identifying the location of the landing gear of the airplane.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said generated and superimposed image is a guideline identifier for identifying any portion of the guideline that is visually blocked by the airplane.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said generated and superimposed image is a lateral guideline identifier for identifying a lateral guideline on the displayed video images for showing lateral clearance of the main landing from airport surface markings and equipment.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein said generated and superimposed image is a minimum criterion area identifier for identifying a minimum criterion area around the displayed image of the tires of at least one of the landing gear, said minimum criterion area defining a predetermined safety area for alerting the pilot of the airplane about impending obstacles.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein said generated and superimposed image is a stop line, said stop line indicating where the tires of the landing gear contact the paved airport surface.

17. The system of claim 6, wherein said oversteer target is situated at a particular location relative to said nose landing gear.

18. The system of claim 6, wherein said visual means comprises a field of view on said visual display, wherein said oversteer target is displayed substantially on a corner of said field of view.

19. The system of claim 6, wherein said visual means comprises a field of view on said visual display, wherein said oversteer target is displayed substantially on an edge of said field of view.

20. The system of claim 6, wherein the oversteer target indicates airplane direction.