Collision-avoidance system for ground crew using sensors

• US 9,207,319 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Starr, Jeffrey W., Lamkin, Andrew Fannon, Buster, Duke
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B
• Application Number:
  US13/689,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20130321192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 342/29, 342/36, 342/52, 342/59, 342/69, 342/179, 342181-183, 340/955, 340/958, 340/961, 340/983
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/91 for traffic control G01S13/93 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

A ground crew collision-avoidance system includes a plurality of radar sensor modules that each emit a radar signal, receives at a radar detector radar return signals corresponding to reflections of the emitted signal from a ground object, and transmits radar information associated with the received radar signal reflections reflected from the ground object, wherein each of the plurality of radar sensor modules are uniquely located on a surface of an aircraft that is at risk for collision with a ground object while the aircraft is being towed; a gateway unit that receives the radar information transmitted from the radar sensor module and transmits information associated with the received radar information; and a ground crew alert indicator that receives the information transmitted by the gateway unit and that presents a graphical alert icon on a display. The display indicates a likelihood of collision between the aircraft and the ground object.

Claims

1. A ground crew collision-avoidance system comprising:

a plurality of radar sensor modules each located at a selected different location on an exterior of an aircraft, wherein each radar sensor module comprises;

a radar emitter configured to emit a radar signal; and

a radar detector configured to receive a radar return signal associated with reflections of the emitted radar signal that are reflected from the ground object,

wherein each radar sensor module communicates radar information corresponding to the respective detected radar return signal;

a gateway unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of radar sensor modules and configured to receive the radar information communicated from the plurality of radar sensor modules; and

at least one ground crew alert indicator communicatively coupled to the gateway unit, wherein the at least one ground crew alert indicator is configured to be positioned on an exterior of the aircraft and comprises a display configured to present a graphical alert icon that is visible to at least one member of the ground crew engaged in towing the aircraft,

wherein information corresponding to a potential risk of collision of the aircraft with the ground object is communicated from the gateway unit to the at least one ground crew alert indicator,

wherein the at least one ground crew alert indicator is configured to present the graphical alert icon on the display in response to receiving the information from the gateway unit; and

wherein the at least one ground crew alert indicator is configured to present the graphical alert icon on the display at a presentation location that indicates a location of a potential collision of the aircraft with the ground object.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein each of the plurality of radar sensor modules further comprises a radio frequency (RF) system configured to wirelessly transmit the radar information associated with the received radar return signal, and

wherein the gateway unit further comprises a RF system configured to wirelessly receive the radar information transmitted from the plurality of radar sensor modules.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the gateway unit further is further configured to transmit information corresponding to the radar information in a transmitted RF signal, and wherein the at least one ground crew alert indicator further comprises a RF system configured to wirelessly receive a RF signal transmitted by the RF system of the gateway unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of radar sensor modules comprises a processing system configured to determine presence of the ground object based on the radar return signal received by its respective radar detector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway unit comprises a processing system configured to determine presence of the ground object based on the radar information transmitted by the plurality of radar sensor modules.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one ground crew alert indicator comprises an audible warning system configured to issue an audible alert.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one ground crew alert indicator comprises a first ground crew alert indicator, the system further comprising a second ground crew alert indicator, wherein the second ground crew alert indicator comprises a hand held device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one ground crew alert indicator comprises a first ground crew alert indicator, the system further comprising a second ground crew alert indicator, wherein the second ground crew alert indicator is affixed to a tow tug.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one ground crew alert indicator is affixed to a front landing gear structure of the aircraft.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one ground crew alert indicator comprises an inclinometer that senses a position of the front landing gear structure, wherein the at least one ground crew alert indicator is configured such that if the position of the front landing gear structure is retracted, then the at least one ground crew alert indicator is automatically turned off, and wherein if the position of the front landing gear structure is extended, then the at least one ground crew alert indicator is automatically turned on.

11. The system of claim 1,

wherein the at least one ground crew alert indicator is configured to present three supplemental alert icons on the display of the at least one ground crew alert indicator,

wherein the three supplemental alert indicator icons are aligned in a vertical row,

wherein a first supplemental alert indicator icon of the three supplemental support icons is located at a lower position of the three supplemental alert indicator icons, the at least one ground crew alert indicator being configured to illuminate the first supplemental alert indicator icon in a green color to indicate that the aircraft is presently free from potential collision with any ground objects;

wherein a second supplemental alert indicator icon of the three supplemental support icons is located at a middle position of the three supplemental alert indicator icons, the at least one ground crew alert indicator being configured to illuminate the first supplemental alert indicator icon in a yellow color to indicate that the aircraft may be at risk of a potential collision with one or more ground objects, and

wherein a third supplemental alert indicator icon of the three supplemental support icons is located at an upper position of the three supplemental alert indicator icons, the at least one ground crew alert indicator being configured to illuminate the first supplemental alert indicator icon in a red color to indicate that the aircraft may be at imminent risk of a collision with one or more ground objects.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one ground crew alert indicator is a first ground crew alert indicator, and further comprising:

a second ground crew alert indicator,

wherein information corresponding to the potential risk of collision of the aircraft with the ground object is communicated from the gateway unit to the second ground crew alert indicator,

wherein the second ground crew alert indicator is configured to present the graphical alert icon on the display of the second ground crew alert indicator in response to receiving the information from the gateway unit to the second ground crew alert indicator, and

wherein the graphical alert icon is presented on the display of the second ground crew alert indicator at a presentation location that indicates the location of the potential collision of the aircraft with the ground object.

13. A method comprising:

at each of a plurality of radar sensor modules,

emitting, from a radar emitter, a radar signal;

receiving, at a radar detector, radar return signals corresponding to reflections of the emitted radar signal from a ground object; and

transmitting radar information associated with the received radar return signal reflections reflected from the ground object,

wherein each of the plurality of radar sensor modules are uniquely located on a surface of an aircraft;

at a gateway unit,

receiving the radar information transmitted from the radar sensor module; and

transmitting information associated with the received radar information, and

at a ground crew alert indicator positioned on an exterior of the aircraft,

receiving the information transmitted by the gateway unit; and

presenting a graphical alert icon on a display, wherein the display is viewable by at least one member of a ground crew that is towing the aircraft,

wherein the presented graphical alert icon indicates a likelihood of collision between the aircraft and the ground object, and

wherein the presented graphical alert icon indicates a location on the aircraft of the collision between the aircraft and the ground object.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining, by the gateway unit, a likelihood of the collision between the aircraft and the ground object based on the radar information received from the transmitting radar sensor module.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a color of illumination of the alert icon indicates the likelihood of collision between the aircraft and the ground object.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein an intensity of illumination of the alert icon indicates the likelihood of collision between the aircraft and the ground object.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising, at the ground crew alert indicator:

presenting a frontal end-on image corresponding to the aircraft on the display,

wherein a presentation location of the alert icon on the frontal end-on image indicates a location on the aircraft of the collision between the aircraft and the ground object.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one radar sensor module of the plurality of radar sensor modules resides in an aircraft light module, the method further comprising:

emitting light from the aircraft light module.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising, at the ground crew alert indicator:

presenting three supplemental alert indicator icons on the display,

wherein the three supplemental alert indicator icons are aligned in a vertical row, and

wherein presenting the three supplemental alert icons comprises one of;

illuminating a first supplemental alert indicator icon of the three supplemental support icons in a green color to indicate that the aircraft is presently free from potential collision with any ground objects, wherein the first supplemental alert indicator icon is located at a lower position of the three supplemental alert icons;

illuminating a second supplemental alert indicator icon of the three supplemental support icons in a yellow color to indicate that the aircraft may be at risk of a potential collision with one or more ground objects, wherein the second supplemental alert indicator icon is located at a middle position of the three supplemental alert icons;

or

illuminating a third supplemental alert indicator icon of the three supplemental support icons in a red color to indicate that the aircraft may be at imminent risk of a collision with one or more ground objects, wherein the third supplemental alert indicator icon is located at an upper position of the three supplemental alert icons.

20. A method comprising:

at each of a plurality of sensor modules,

detecting a ground object using a sensor; and

transmitting information associated with the detected ground object,

wherein each of the plurality of sensor modules are uniquely located on a surface of an aircraft;

at a gateway unit,

receiving the information transmitted from the sensor module; and

transmitting information associated with the received information, and

at a ground crew alert indicator positioned on an exterior of the aircraft,

receiving the information transmitted by the gateway unit;

presenting a graphical alert icon on a display, wherein the display is viewable by at least one member of a ground crew that is towing the aircraft,

wherein the presented graphical alert icon indicates a likelihood of collision between the aircraft and the ground object, and

wherein the presented graphical alert icon indicates a location on the aircraft of the collision between the aircraft and the ground object.