Method and system for reducing runway incursion at airports

• US 8,352,168 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovation Solutions & Support, Inc., Innovative Solutions and Support Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innovative Solutions and Support Incorporated
• Inventors: Hedrick, Geoffrey S. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US13/280,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20120101710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• 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 relates to a system and method for minimizing or preventing runway incursion at airports by utilizing data packets of information transmitted over the voice communication channel used by pilots at the airport. The data packets of information contain the latitudinal and longitudinal position of the aircraft provided by an on board GPS receiver and a unique identifier for the aircraft, such as the tail number, which is then received by other aircraft on the same ground frequency, and the tower, and displayed on a geo-referenced map display of the airport provided to the pilots and the tower ground controller. The information may be updated by polling the various aircraft In this manner, information received from all active aircraft within an airport can be displayed on an electronic map of the airport which can be viewable by the pilots on the ground as well as the ground controller.

Claims

1. A method for reducing runway incursion comprising the steps of:

receiving a data packet transmitted on an airfield voice communication channel from at least one of a plurality of aircrafts dispersed on the ground at an airport, said data packet comprising a current ground position for said at least one aircraft and a unique identifier for said at least one aircraft; and

indicating a ground location for said at least one aircraft on a geo-referenced map display of said airport.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said geo-referenced map display is located at a central location at said airport.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said geo-referenced map display is presented on a flat panel display system inside an aircraft which receives said data packet.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the ground location for said aircraft having said flat panel display system is indicated on said geo-referenced map display.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said data packet is transmitted periodically from said at least one aircraft dispersed on the ground.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said data packet is transmitted from said at least one aircraft dispersed on the ground when voice communication is initiated on said airfield voice communication channel from said at least one aircraft.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said unique identifier for said at least one aircraft is indicated on said geo-referenced map display.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said indicated ground location for said at least one aircraft is updated on said geo-referenced map display after receiving an additional data packet from said at least one aircraft indicating an updated ground position for said at least one aircraft.

7. A method in accordance with clam 1 wherein said data packet is transmitted from said at least one aircraft dispersed on the ground in response to a polling request.

10. A system for reducing runway incursion comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive a data packet transmitted on an airfield voice communication channel from at least one of a plurality of aircrafts dispersed on the ground at an airport, said data packet comprising a current ground position for said at least one aircraft and a unique identifier for said at least one aircraft; and

a processor coupled to said receiver adapted to determine a ground location for said at least one aircraft on a geo-referenced map of said airport based upon said current ground position and said unique identifier for said at least one aircraft; and

a display coupled to said processor adapted to display said geo-referenced map and said ground location for said at least one aircraft on said geo-referenced map.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a data converter coupled to said receiver adapted to demodulate said current ground position and said unique identifier from said data packet received over said airfield voice communication channel.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said processor is further adapted to indicate said unique identifier for said aircraft on said geo-referenced map of said airport.

13. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said processor is further adapted to re-determine said ground location for said at least one aircraft on said geo-referenced map after receiving an additional data packet indicating an updated ground position for said at least one aircraft.

14. A system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a transmitter adapted to transmit data packets on said airfield voice communication channel, wherein each one of said data packets comprises a current ground position for another aircraft on which said receiver, processor, display and transmitter are located and a unique identifier for said other aircraft.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14 further comprising a data converter coupled to said transmitter adapted to modulate on said airfield voice communication channel said ground position for said other aircraft and said unique identifier for said other aircraft.

16. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said processor is further adapted to determine a ground location for said other aircraft.