Ground vehicle collision prevention systems and methods

• US 7,869,305 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2009
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Anderson, David M., Renton, William J., Avery, Robert L., Banks, David L., Akdeniz, Aydin
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US12/538,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20090295622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 367/112, 367/116, 367/99, 367/909, 340/961, 700/301, 700/300
• US Class Current: 367/99
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/48 for parking purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/525 automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/3055 with hinged head interface between aircraft and passenger bridge
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/934 on airport surfaces, e.g. while taxiing
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance

Abstract

The present invention comprises systems and methods for preventing collisions between aircraft and ground vehicles. In one embodiment, a system includes a proximity detection unit and a transducer proximate to a selected structural portion of an aircraft, the proximity detection unit being operable to emit ranging signals through the transducer and to receive reflected signals through the transducer to determine the position of an object within a ranging area adjacent to the structural portion. The system further includes an alarm device coupled to the proximity detection unit that is responsive to a signal generated by the proximity detection unit. In another embodiment, a method includes determining a distance between the ground service vehicle and a selected structural portion of the aircraft when the vehicle is positioned in a ranging area about the aircraft. The method further includes generating a proximity alarm based upon the distance.

Claims

1. A ground vehicle collision prevention system, comprising:

an aircraft-based proximity detection unit positioned at least proximate to a stationary aircraft and coupled to at least one aircraft-based transducer proximate to at least one selected structural portion of the stationary aircraft, the aircraft-based proximity detection unit being operable to emit ranging signals through the at least one aircraft-based transducer and to receive reflected signals through the at least one aircraft-based transducer, the aircraft-based proximity detection unit being operable to generate a first proximity alarm signal when a moving ground vehicle is detected within a ranging area, the first proximity alarm signal being communicated to at least one aircraft-based alarm device; and

a vehicle-based proximity detection unit positioned on the moving ground vehicle and coupled to at least one vehicle-based transducer positioned on the moving ground vehicle, the vehicle-based proximity detection unit being operable to emit ranging signals through the at least one vehicle-based transducer positioned on the moving ground vehicle and to receive reflected signals through the at least one vehicle-based transducer, the vehicle-based proximity detection unit being operable to generate a second proximity alarm signal when the moving ground vehicle is within the ranging area, the second proximity alarm signal being communicated to at least one vehicle-based alarm device, at least one of the aircraft-based proximity detection unit and the vehicle-based proximity detection unit comprising an ultrasonic detection and ranging apparatus.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one aircraft-based alarm device and the at least one vehicle-based alarm device comprises at least one of an audio alarm device and a visual alarm device.

3. A ground vehicle collision prevention system, comprising:

a proximity detection unit positioned at least proximate to a stationary aircraft and coupled to at least one transducer proximate to at least one selected structural portion of the stationary aircraft, the proximity detection unit being operable to emit ranging signals through the at least one transducer and to receive reflected signals through the at least one transducer, the proximity detection unit being operable to generate a proximity alarm signal when a moving ground vehicle is detected within a ranging area, the proximity alarm signal further including a critical proximity alarm signal that is generated when the moving ground vehicle is positioned at a predetermined critical distance from the at least one selected structural portion of the stationary aircraft;

a transmitter coupled to the proximity detection unit that is operable to transmit the critical proximity alarm signal to a corresponding receiver positioned in the moving ground vehicle; and

a control system coupled to the receiver that is operable to stop motion of the moving ground vehicle when the critical proximity alarm signal is received, the proximity detection unit comprising an ultrasonic detection and ranging apparatus, and the at least one transducer comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising at least one of an audio alarm device and a visual alarm device configured to receive the proximity alarm signals.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle includes an electrical energy source coupled to an electric motor, and the control system is operable to interrupt a current between the electrical energy source and the electric motor when the critical proximity alarm signal is received.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle includes a fuel source coupled to an internal combustion engine, and the control system is operable to interrupt a fuel flow between the fuel source and the engine when the critical proximity alarm signal is received.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle includes an ignition system that receives electrical energy from an electrical energy source, and provides ignition energy to an internal combustion engine, and the control system is operable to interrupt the electrical energy to the ignition system when the critical proximity alarm signal is received.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle braking system and the control system is operable to actuate the braking system when the critical proximity alarm signal is received.

9. A ground vehicle collision prevention system, comprising:

a proximity detection unit positioned at least proximate to an aircraft and coupled to at least one transducer proximate to at least one selected structural portion of the aircraft, the proximity detection unit being operable to emit ranging signals through the at least one transducer and to receive reflected signals through the at least one transducer, the proximity detection unit being operable to generate a proximity alarm signal when the vehicle is detected within a ranging area adjacent to the selected structural portion;

a first transceiver coupled to the proximity detection unit and operable to exchange information with a second transceiver positioned on the vehicle;

a first processor coupled to the proximity detection unit operable to store selected aircraft information; and

a second processor coupled to second transceiver operable to store selected vehicle information, the proximity detection unit comprising an ultrasonic detection and ranging apparatus, and the at least one transducer comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the selected aircraft information includes at least one of an aircraft model and selected aircraft dimensional information.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the selected vehicle information includes at least one of a vehicle model, selected vehicle dimensional information and an identity of a vehicle operator.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising at least one of an audio alarm device and a visual alarm device configured to receive the proximity alarm signals.

13. An aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage;

a propulsion system operatively coupled to the fuselage; and

a ground vehicle collision prevention system including;

a proximity detection unit positioned on the aircraft and coupled to at least one transducer proximate to at least one selected structural portion of the aircraft, the proximity detection unit being operable to emit ranging signals through the at least one transducer and to receive reflected signals through the at least one transducer to determine the position of an object within a ranging area adjacent to the selected structural portion; and

a response unit coupled to the proximity detection unit that is responsive to a proximity alarm signal generated by the proximity detection unit, the response unit including an alarm device configured to transmit a warning signal to an operator of a ground vehicle and a control signal generator configured to transmit a control signal to a control system of the ground vehicle to control a movement of the ground vehicle, the proximity detection unit comprising an ultrasonic detection and ranging apparatus, and the at least one transducer comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer.

14. The aircraft of claim 13, wherein the alarm device comprises at least one of an audio alarm device and a visual alarm device.

15. The aircraft of claim 13, wherein the ranging area is subdivided into at least a first field region adjacent to the at least one selected structural portion, and the proximity detection unit is operable to generate a first alarm signal characteristic when the ground vehicle is positioned within the first field region.

16. The aircraft of claim 15, wherein the first alarm signal characteristic comprises a steady audible tone at a selected audio frequency.

17. The aircraft of claim 15, further comprising a second field region adjacent to the first field region and spaced apart from the at least one structural portion, wherein the proximity detection unit is operable to generate a second alarm signal characteristic when the ground vehicle is positioned within the second field region.

18. The aircraft of claim 17, wherein the second alarm signal characteristic comprises an intermittent audible tone at a selected audio frequency.

19. The aircraft of claim 17, further comprising a third field region adjacent to the second field region and spaced apart from the first field region, wherein the proximity detection unit is operable to generate a third alarm signal characteristic when the ground vehicle is positioned within the third field region.

20. The aircraft of claim 19, wherein the third alarm signal characteristic comprises an intermittent audible tone at a selected audio frequency.

21. A method of preventing a collision between an aircraft and a ground service vehicle, comprising:

determining a distance between a moving ground service vehicle and a selected structural portion of an aircraft using an ultrasonic detection and ranging apparatus positioned proximate the aircraft when the moving ground surface vehicle is positioned in a ranging area;

generating a proximity alarm to an operator of the moving ground surface vehicle; and

generating a control signal to a control system of the moving ground surface vehicle to control a movement of the moving ground surface vehicle, based upon the distance.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein generating a proximity alarm based upon the distance further comprises generating at least one of an audible alarm and a visible alarm.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein generating a proximity alarm based upon the distance further comprises subdividing the ranging area into at least a first field region adjacent to the at least one selected structural portion, and generating a first alarm signal characteristic when the moving ground surface vehicle is positioned within the first field region.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein generating a first alarm signal characteristic further comprises generating a steady audible tone at a selected audio frequency.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein subdividing the ranging area into at least a first field region adjacent to the at least one selected structural portion further comprises subdividing the ranging area into a second field region adjacent to the first field region and spaced apart from the at least one structural portion, and generating a second alarm signal characteristic when the moving ground surface vehicle is positioned within the second field region.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the second alarm signal characteristic comprises an intermittent audible tone at a selected audio frequency.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein subdividing the ranging area into a second field region adjacent to the first field region further comprises subdividing the second field region into a third field region adjacent to the second field region and spaced apart from the first field region, and generating a third alarm signal characteristic when the moving ground surface vehicle is positioned within the third field region.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein generating the third alarm signal characteristic comprises generating an intermittent audible tone at a selected audio frequency.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the proximity alarm comprises a verbal alarm generated by a voice synthesis apparatus.