System and method for detecting and preventing runway incursion, excursion and confusion

• US 8,401,774 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Ravenscroft, Donald L., Verbeke, James P., Pschierer, Karl C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewandroski, Sara
• Application Number:
  US12/358,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 701/120, 701/14, 340/972, 340/961
• US Class Current: 701/120
• 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

Abstract

A method for predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event for a mobile platform operating within a designated area. The method may involve obtaining a plurality of parameters including a position of the mobile platform within the designated area for determining a kinematic motion of the mobile platform while the mobile platform is operating within the designated area. Information may also be obtained that relates to surface geometry of the designated area. The information related to surface geometry may be used to determine physical constraints within the designated area that limit operation of the mobile platform within the designated area. The plurality of parameters may be used to determine a kinematic motion of the mobile platform within the designated area. The kinematic motion of the mobile platform and the physical constraints may be used to predict if motion of the mobile platform will cause it to incur an undesired operating event.

Claims

1. A method for predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event for a mobile platform operating within a designated area, the method comprising:

obtaining and using a plurality of operating parameters of said mobile platform to determine a kinematic motion of said mobile platform while said mobile platform is operating within said designated area, said kinematic motion including a heading, a velocity and an acceleration, and wherein the acceleration is determined from variables relating to a displacement of said mobile platform, a time over which said mobile platform travels, and a velocity of said mobile platform;

wirelessly obtaining and using a plurality of real time operating parameters of a vehicle operating within said designated area;

accessing a database of kinematics information remote from said mobile platform to determine a kinematic motion of said vehicle, wherein said kinematic motion of said vehicle includes a heading, a velocity and an acceleration of said vehicle;

obtaining information related to surface geometry of said designated area;

using said information related to surface geometry to determine physical constraints within said designated area that limit operation of at least one of said mobile platform and said vehicle within said designated area, and wherein said physical constraints include considering whether said vehicle is travelling on a first surface which is non-adjacent to a second surface on which said mobile platform is travelling, and a number of turns required for said vehicle to reach said second surface;

using said kinematic motion of said mobile platform and said vehicle, and said physical constraints, to predict the occurrence of an undesired operating event involving said mobile platform and said vehicle; and

generating an alert to one of an individual on-board said mobile platform and a facility remote from said mobile platform when said undesired operating event is predicted to occur.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predicting an undesired operating event involving said mobile platform and said vehicle comprises predicting an incursion involving said mobile platform and said vehicle, said incursion representing movement of said mobile platform and said vehicle into an unacceptably close proximity to one another.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said predicting an undesired operating even involving said mobile platform and said vehicle comprises predicting an excursion involving one of said mobile platform and said vehicle, said excursion representing movement of one of said mobile platform and said vehicle to a location outside of an acceptable operating area within said designated area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said method of predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event for a mobile platform comprises predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event for an aircraft operating at an airport.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising obtaining information relating to at least one of a take-off or a taxi plan for said aircraft.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining and using a plurality of operating parameters for each of said mobile platform and said vehicle comprises obtaining real time position information for said mobile platform and said vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said using said kinematic motions of said mobile platform and a speed and a vector of motion of said vehicle, and said physical constraints, to predict an undesired operating event involving said mobile platform and said vehicle, comprises updating said kinematic motion of said mobile platform and said speed and vector of motion of said vehicle repeatedly at a desired frequency.

8. A system for monitoring operation of a mobile platform within a designated operating area and predicting the occurrence of an undesired operating event, the system comprising:

a database on-board said mobile platform for containing information useful for determining kinematic motion of said mobile platform within a first area of said designated operating area, said kinematic motion including a heading, a velocity and an acceleration of said mobile platform; and

wherein said acceleration is determined by a displacement of said mobile platform, a time over which said displacement occurs, and the velocity of said mobile platform;

at least one information source remote from said mobile platform for supplying position information concerning said mobile platform and a heading and a kinematic motion of a vehicle operating within a second area of said designated operating area, where the kinematic motion includes a displacement, velocity and acceleration of said vehicle; and

a database remote from said mobile platform for containing information relating to physical characteristics of said designated operating area, including a number of turns required to travel between said first and second areas of said designated operating area;

a processor carried on-board said mobile platform for obtaining information from said database on-board said mobile platform, said database remote from said mobile platform and said information source to predict the occurrence of said undesired operating event.