Centerline identification in a docking guidance system

• US 6,762,694 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ADB Safegate Sweden AB (ADB Safegate BVBA)
• Original Assignee: Safegate International AB (ADB Safegate BVBA)
• Inventors: Westlund, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/320,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 340/958, 244/114.R, 701/120, 702/104, 382/151, 356/3.14, 356/4.01
• US Class Current: 340/958
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/002 Taxiing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

The present invention achieves an accurate and quick centerline identification in a docking guidance system and further a verification of a centerline configuration. Heretofore, it is proposed to scan (S1) an apron in front of a docking stand (16) with a range finder (22) and to register a reflection intensity and position for each scanned point. Then, a centerline (14) is identified (S2) in front of the docking stand (16) by using differences in reflection intensity between the centerline (14) and the apron surface surrounding the centerline (14). Further, at least two centerline definition points (38, 40) are defined (S3) in compliance with the centerline layout.

Claims

1. Method of centreline identification in a docking guidance system, comprising the steps:

a) scanning (S1) an apron in front of a docking stand (16) with a range finder (22) and registering reflection intensity and position for each scanned point; and

b) identifying (S2) a centreline (14) in front of the docking stand (16) by using differences in reflection intensity.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises the step defining (S3) at least two centreline definition points (38, 40) in compliance with the centreline layout.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises the step comparing (S4) pre-defined centreline definition points (38, 40) with the identified centreline (14).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises the step of re-configuring (S5) the docking guidance system when a deviation between the identified centreline and existing centreline definition points exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification of a centreline (14) in front of the docking stand (16) is achieved using differences in reflection intensity between the centreline and the apron surface surrounding the centreline (14).

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification of the centreline (14) is achieved automatically.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises the step of placing at least one reflecting object (42, 44) with high reflectivity on the centreline (14) before scanning the apron.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the reflecting object (42, 44) is a high reflective plate of up to 0.5 m width and up to 0.5 m height.

9. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the step of re-configuring the docking guidance system comprises the step of re-defining at least two centreline definition points according to the identified centreline (14).

10. Centreline identification system for a docking guidance system, comprising:

a) a scanning unit (22) adapted to scan an apron in front of a docking stand (16);

b) a registration unit (64) adapted to register reflection intensity and position for each scanned point; and

c) a processing unit (62) adapted to identify a centreline (14) in front of the docking stand (16) by using differences in reflection intensity.

11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the processing unit (62) is further adapted to define at least two centreline definition points (38, 40) in compliance with the centreline layout.

12. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the processing unit (62) is further adapted to compare predefined centreline definition points (38, 40) with the identified centreline.

13. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the processing unit (62) is adapted to identify a centreline (14) in front of the docking stand using differences in reflection intensity between the centreline and the apron surface surrounding the centreline.

14. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the processing unit (62) is adapted to identify the centreline (14) in front of the docking stand automatically.

15. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the processing unit (62) is adapted to re-configure the docking guidance system when a deviation between the identified centreline and existing centreline definition points exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

16. System according to claim 15, characterized in that the processing unit (62) is adapted to re-configure the docking guidance system through re-definition of the at least two centreline definition points according to the identified centreline layout.