Vehicle collision shield

• US 8,862,379 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gilbert, Eric B.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US10/945,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,676 Days
• Field of Search: 701/301, 340/436, 340/901, 342/104, 342/118
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93273 on the top of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/00 Traffic control systems for aircraft , e.g. air-traffic control [ATC]

Abstract

In the present disclosure, systems and methods for preventing collisions between a ground services vehicle and other objects are described. In one embodiment, a system includes a digital three dimensional map of the outer dimensions of the ground vehicle, a micro radar device, a comparator, and an indicator. The micro radar device is secured to the ground vehicle. A comparator signals when an object is within a predetermined envelope around the outer dimensions of the ground vehicle. The comparator receives signals from the micro radar device, and includes dimension data from the three dimensional map. The indicator is responsive to the signal from the comparator. The indicator alerts of possible and pending collision when the predetermined envelope is breached. The indicator may also activate a brake mechanism to stop the ground vehicle. Methods for carrying out the invention by sensing a breach of the envelope and stopping the vehicle are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for preventing collisions between a ground vehicle and a stationary aircraft, the vehicle including movable elements that change the outer geometry of the vehicle, the system comprising:

a digital map of the three-dimensional outer dimensions of the ground vehicle, said map changing to describe any changes in the geometry of the vehicle;

a proximity sensor secured to the ground vehicle;

a comparator that signals when the aircraft is within a predetermined envelope around the outer dimensions of the ground vehicle, said comparator receiving signals from said proximity sensor and having dimension data from said digital map; and

a brake mechanism activated by said comparator to automatically engage a ground vehicle brake when the predetermined envelope is breached.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said proximity sensor comprises a micro-radar device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said proximity sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the brake mechanism is switched for activation by the comparator only within a defined territory.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a speed governor coupled to the ground services vehicle, said speed governor being activated with the defined territory.

6. A system for preventing collisions with an aircraft ground-services vehicle, the system comprising:

a processor attached to the ground-services vehicle, said processor storing a three-dimensional map of the ground-services vehicle outer geometry, said three-dimensional map modifiable upon in-use changes to the 3-D geometry of the ground-services vehicle; and

a proximity sensor attached to the ground-services vehicle, said proximity sensor feeding a signal to said processor;

wherein the processor uses the three-dimensional map and the sensor signal to determine whether a predetermined 3-D envelope around the vehicle has been breached, and notifies the vehicle of a breach.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a territory switch that allows the system to fully function to engage the brakes only when the ground-services vehicle is in pre-designated aircraft terminal gate areas.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said territory switch comprises a global positioning system receiver on said ground-services vehicle.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said territory switch comprises an airport-based network, said network mapping multiple ground-service vehicles and aircraft.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said proximity sensor comprises a global positioning system coupled to the ground-services vehicle;

the system further comprising a global positioning system coupled to an aircraft, signals from both global positioning systems being received by said processor to determine distance between the ground-services vehicle and the aircraft.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said processor stores a map of the aircraft outer geometry, the geometry information from the ground-services vehicle and the aircraft being usable by the processor along with the signal from the proximity sensor to determine the distances between the vehicle and the aircraft.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein said processor receives signals of vehicle geometry changes in use, said processor modifying said three-dimensional map upon receiving the geometry changes.