Vehicle collision shield

• US 20060064245A1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gilbert, Eric B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,862,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 other objects comprising:

a digital map of the outer dimensions of the ground vehicle;

a proximity sensor secured to the ground vehicle;

a comparator that signals when an object 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 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 said proximity sensor further detects a direction vector and velocity of the ground vehicle and wherein activation of said brake mechanism is modified based on the detected velocity.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured for preventing collisions between a ground services vehicle and an aircraft, and wherein said proximity sensor comprises a global positioning system attached to said ground services vehicle;

the system further comprising a global positioning system attached to the aircraft, wherein the signals from the global positioning systems attached to the ground services vehicle and the aircraft are compared to determine envelope breach.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a second digital map of the aircraft usable by the comparator to help determine envelope breach.

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

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a speed governor coupled to the ground services vehicle, said speed governor being activated with the defined territory.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the ground vehicle includes movable elements that change the outer geometry of the vehicle, wherein said map changes to describe any changes in the geometry of the vehicle.

10. A method of vehicle collision avoidance comprising:

providing a description of the geometry of a vehicle to a processor;

sensing the proximity of other objects to the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion with a micro-radar device by comparing the radar signals to the description of the vehicle; and

signaling a breach of a predetermined envelope around the vehicle when the vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance of another object.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising engaging a brake to stop the vehicle upon receipt of a signal indicating a breach of the predetermined envelope.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sensing the vehicle proximity to the gate area of an airport, wherein said brakes are engaged responsive to the signal only within a predetermined proximity to the gate area.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein sensing the vehicle proximity to the gate area comprises receiving a global positioning system signal of the vehicle location.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising sensing the speed of the vehicle, the definition of the predetermined envelope changing depending on the speed of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising modifying the description of the geometry of the vehicle upon in-use configuration changes to the vehicle.

16. A system for preventing collisions between an aircraft ground-services vehicle and an aircraft comprising:

a processor attached to the ground-services vehicle, said processor storing a map of the ground-services vehicle outer geometry;

a proximity sensor attached to the ground-services vehicle, said proximity sensor feeding a signal to said processor indicative of the position of the aircraft in the immediate vicinity of the ground-services vehicle; and

a brake controller activated by said processor to engage brakes on the ground-services vehicle when the aircraft is within at least one of a predetermined distance and a calculated distance from any part of the ground-services vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16, 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.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said territory switch comprises a global positioning system receiver on said ground-services vehicle.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said territory switch comprises an airport-based network, said network mapping multiple ground-service vehicles and aircraft.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said brakes comprise standard vehicle brakes otherwise used by the vehicle operator.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein said proximity sensor comprises a micro-radar device.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein said proximity sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

23. The system of claim 16, 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 the aircraft, signals from both global positioning systems being received by said processor to determine the distance between the ground-services vehicle and the aircraft.

24. The system of claim 23, 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.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein said three-dimensional map is modifiable upon in-use changes to the configuration of the ground-services vehicle.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said processor receives signals of vehicle configuration changes in use, said processor having data to modify said three-dimensional map upon receiving configuration changes.

27. A system for preventing collisions between a ground vehicle and other objects comprising:

a digital three-dimensional map of the outer dimensions of the ground vehicle;

a proximity sensor device secured to the ground vehicle;

a comparator that signals when an object is within a predetermined envelope around the outer dimensions of the ground vehicle, said comparator receiving signals from said micro radar and having dimension data from said three dimensional map; and

an indicator responsive to the signal from said comparator, said indicator alerting a possible impending collision when the predetermined envelope is breached.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said indicator activates a brake mechanism to stop the ground vehicle.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising modification data for said three-dimensional map to change said map upon in-use changes to the configuration of the vehicle.