Evaluating airport runway conditions in real time

• US 8,706,325 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Friedlander, Robert R., Kraemer, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shelly
• Application Number:
  US13/191,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20130030613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 701/16
• US Class Current: 701/16
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/01 Devices or auxiliary means for setting-out or checking the configuration of new surfacing, e.g. templates, screed or reference line supports form rails E01C19/50; Applications of apparatus for measuring, indicating, or recording the surface configuration of existing surfacing, e.g. profilographs E01C23/07 takes precedence; measuring roughness or irregularity in general G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/02 Automatic approach or landing aids, i.e. systems in which flight data of incoming planes are processed to provide landing data landing aids fitted in or to aircraft B64D45/04; visual or acoustic landing aids B64F1/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product evaluates a real-time condition of a construct of an airport runway. A processor receives a set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations. This set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations is measured by a set of smart sensors on an airport runway after a landing aircraft touches down on the airport runway. Using data that describes the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations as inputs to an analysis algorithm, a real-time physical condition of a construct of the airport runway is determined.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of evaluating a real-time condition of a construct of an airport runway, the computer-implemented method comprising:

a processor receiving a set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations, wherein the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations is measured by a set of smart sensors on an airport runway after a landing aircraft touches down on the airport runway; and

the processor using data that describes the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations as inputs to an analysis algorithm in order to determine a real-time physical condition of a construct of the airport runway.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the processor determining the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway by comparing the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations to a known series of temporally-spaced runway vibrations, wherein the known series of temporally-spaced runway vibrations was generated and recorded when the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway previously existed at the airport runway.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the processor determining that data describing the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway falls outside a predetermined nominal range; and

the processor initiating corrective measures to return the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway back within the predetermined nominal range.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the processor evaluating the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations in order to determine a braking distance for the landing aircraft after touching down on the airport runway; and

the processor using data that describes the braking distance as additional inputs to the analysis algorithm in order to confirm the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each of the smart sensors comprises a uniquely-identified radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag, and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises:

the processor mapping a location of each of the smart sensors by interrogating an RFID device in each smart sensor;

the processor receiving a signal from an aircraft proximity sensor indicating a runway location of the landing aircraft upon touching down; and

the processor modifying the data that describes the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations according to the runway location of the landing aircraft upon touching down relative to the location of each of the smart sensors.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the processor receiving an impact vibration from the set of smart sensors;

the processor receiving a landing weight of the landing aircraft from an aircraft weight scale on the airport runway;

the processor receiving a signal from an aircraft proximity sensor indicating a rate of descent of the landing aircraft upon touching down;

the processor using the impact vibration, the landing weight, and the rate of descent as inputs to the analysis algorithm in order to determine an impact condition of the airport runway; and

the processor confirming the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway based on the impact condition of the airport runway.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the processor receiving weather information describing current weather conditions on the airport runway; and

the processor modifying the data that describes the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations according to the weather conditions on the airport runway.

8. A computer program product for evaluating a real-time condition of a construct of an airport runway, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage media;

first program instructions to receive a set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations, wherein the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations is measured by a set of smart sensors on an airport runway as a landing aircraft applies its brakes after touching down on the airport runway; and

second program instructions to input data that describes the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations into an analysis algorithm in order to determine a real-time physical condition of a construct of the airport runway; and

wherein

the first and second program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

third program instructions to determine the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway by comparing the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations to a known series of temporally-spaced runway vibrations, wherein the known series of temporally-spaced runway vibrations was generated and recorded when the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway previously existed at the airport runway; and

wherein

the third program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

third program instructions to determine that data describing the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway falls outside a predetermined nominal range; and

fourth program instructions to initiate corrective measures to return the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway back within the predetermined nominal range; and

wherein

the third and fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

third program instructions to evaluate the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations in order to determine a braking distance for the landing aircraft after touching down on the airport runway; and

fourth program instructions to input data that describes the braking distance as additional inputs to the analysis algorithm in order to confirm the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway; and

wherein

the third and fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein each of the smart sensors comprises a uniquely-identified radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag, and wherein the computer program product further comprises:

third program instructions to map a location of each of the smart sensors by interrogating an RFID device in each smart sensor;

fourth program instructions to receive a signal from an aircraft proximity sensor indicating a runway location of the landing aircraft upon touching down; and

fifth program instructions to modify the data that describes the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations according to the runway location of the landing aircraft upon touching down relative to the location of each of the smart sensors; and

wherein

the third, fourth, and fifth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

third program instructions to receive an impact vibration from the set of smart sensors;

fourth program instructions to receive a landing weight of the landing aircraft from an aircraft weight scale on the airport runway;

fifth program instructions to receive a signal from an aircraft proximity sensor indicating a rate of descent of the landing aircraft upon touching down;

sixth program instructions to in the impact vibration, the landing weight, and the rate of descent into the analysis algorithm in order to determine an impact condition of the airport runway; and

seventh program instructions to confirm the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway based on the impact condition of the airport runway; and

wherein

the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

third program instructions to receive weather information describing current weather conditions on the airport runway; and

fourth program instructions to modify the data that describes the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations according to the weather conditions on the airport runway; and

wherein

the third and fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.

15. A system comprising:

a processor, a computer readable memory, and a computer readable storage media;

first program instructions to receive a set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations, wherein the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations is measured by a set of smart sensors on an airport runway as a landing aircraft applies its brakes after touching down on the airport runway; and

second program instructions to input data that describes the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations into an analysis algorithm in order to determine a real-time physical condition of a construct of the airport runway; and

wherein

the first and second program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

third program instructions to determine the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway by comparing the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations to a known series of temporally-spaced runway vibrations, wherein the known series of temporally-spaced runway vibrations was generated and recorded when the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway previously existed at the airport runway; and

wherein

the third program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

third program instructions to determine that data describing the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway falls outside a predetermined nominal range; and

fourth program instructions to initiate corrective measures to return the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway back within the predetermined nominal range; and

wherein

the third and fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

third program instructions to evaluate the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations in order to determine a braking distance for the landing aircraft after touching down on the airport runway; and

fourth program instructions to input data that describes the braking distance as additional inputs to the analysis algorithm in order to confirm the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway; and

wherein

the third and fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the smart sensors comprises a uniquely-identified radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag, and wherein the system further comprises:

third program instructions to map a location of each of the smart sensors by interrogating an RFID device in each smart sensor;

fourth program instructions to receive a signal from an aircraft proximity sensor indicating a runway location of the landing aircraft upon touching down; and

fifth program instructions to modify the data that describes the set of temporally-spaced runway vibrations according to the runway location of the landing aircraft upon touching down relative to the location of each of the smart sensors; and

wherein

the third, fourth, and fifth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

third program instructions to receive an impact vibration from the set of smart sensors;

fourth program instructions to receive a landing weight of the landing aircraft from an aircraft weight scale on the airport runway;

fifth program instructions to receive a signal from an aircraft proximity sensor indicating a rate of descent of the landing aircraft upon touching down;

sixth program instructions to in the impact vibration, the landing weight, and the rate of descent into the analysis algorithm in order to determine an impact condition of the airport runway; and

seventh program instructions to confirm the real-time physical condition of the construct of the airport runway based on the impact condition of the airport runway; and

wherein

the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.