Vehicle collision shield

• US 9,482,750 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• 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:
  US14/311,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20140300505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

A method for avoiding collisions with an aircraft ground-services vehicle includes using a proximity sensor attached to the ground-services vehicle to generate a proximity signal, and using a processor that stores a three-dimensional map of the ground-services vehicle'"'"'s outer geometry. The three-dimensional map is modifiable upon in-use changes to the 3-D geometry of the ground-services vehicle. The processor uses the three-dimensional map and the proximity signal to determine whether a predetermined 3-D envelope around the vehicle has been breached, and notifies the vehicle of a breach.

Claims

1. A method of avoiding collisions between a ground vehicle and a stationary aircraft, the vehicle including movable elements that change an outer geometry of the vehicle, the method comprising:

changing the outer geometry of the vehicle;

sensing the proximity of the aircraft to the vehicle;

utilizing a digital map of three-dimensional outer dimensions of the ground vehicle, the digital map being modifiable to describe changes in the outer geometry of the vehicle, wherein utilizing the map includes comparing the map of three-dimensional outer dimensions of the ground vehicle to the proximity of the aircraft to determine when the aircraft is within a predetermined envelope around the outer dimensions of the ground vehicle; and

activating a brake mechanism to automatically engage a ground vehicle brake when the aircraft is within the predetermined envelope.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing the vehicle proximity to an airport gate area, wherein the brake mechanism is activated within a predetermined proximity to the gate area.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein sensing the vehicle proximity to the gate area includes receiving a global positioning system signal of vehicle location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a direction vector and velocity of the ground vehicle;

wherein activation of the brake mechanism is modified based on the detected velocity.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the proximity is sensed with a first global positioning system attached to said ground services vehicle;

wherein a second global positioning system is aboard the aircraft, and wherein signals from the first and second global positioning systems are compared to determine when the aircraft is within the predetermined envelope.

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

using a proximity sensor attached to the ground-services vehicle to generate a proximity signal; and

using a processor that stores a three-dimensional map of the ground-services vehicle outer geometry, the three-dimensional map modifiable upon in-use changes to the 3-D geometry of the ground-services vehicle;

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

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising engaging brakes on the ground-services vehicle when the envelope is breached.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the brakes are engaged when the ground-services vehicle is in a pre-designated aircraft terminal gate area.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the proximity sensor includes a global positioning system aboard the ground-services vehicle;

wherein a global positioning system is aboard an aircraft; and

wherein the processor uses signals from both global positioning systems to determine distance between the ground-services vehicle and the aircraft.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the processor receives signals of vehicle geometry changes in use, and modifies the three-dimensional map upon receiving the geometry changes.