A light control method for airport surface light guidance

Abstract

The application discloses a light control method for airport surface light guidance, and relates to the field of airport light control, which comprises the following steps: first, numbering and grouping the aid-to-navigation lamps on the airport surface; then, generating an aid-to-navigation lamp set closest to the aircraft sliding path position, and converting the aid-to-navigation lamp set into a lamp group set according to the grouping result; then, checking the lamp group set according to a preset lamp group mutual exclusion rule, and forming a new lamp group set; finally, according to the aircraft position information and the guidance length, turning on the correct aid-to-navigation lamps in the new lamp group set. Through the control method, the application can avoid the problem that the prior art incorrectly matches the sliding path centerline lamps on the non-sliding path at the dense part of the sliding path centerline lamps at the intersection of the airport sliding path, and can also quickly determine the opening direction of the bidirectional double-control sliding path centerline lamps, thereby saving the system computing resources.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of airport lighting control, and more specifically to a lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance. Background Technology

[0002] The statements in this section are provided only as background information in connection with this disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

[0003] With the rapid growth of flight traffic and the increasing complexity of airport layouts, the safe and efficient operation of aircraft on the airport surface has become a serious challenge. Currently, taxiing guidance at airports mainly relies on voice commands and ground markings. Especially under low visibility conditions, the visual ability of controllers and pilots decreases, making them prone to taxiing errors, runway incursions, and other unsafe incidents, which seriously affect airport operational safety and efficiency. To address these issues, internationally, lighting guidance systems have been proposed. These systems guide aircraft to taxi safely, efficiently, and orderly through navigational lights, effectively supporting the construction of smart airports and enabling intelligent airport operations. Lighting guidance systems locate moving targets using multi-point positioning and airfield surveillance radar, and, combined with conflict detection and path planning, automatically control the illumination of navigational lights such as taxiway centerline lights and stop bar lights. This provides intuitive lighting guidance for aircraft or vehicles, effectively reducing the workload of controllers and pilots, lowering the risk of conflict, and improving taxiing efficiency.

[0004] There are three main modes of light guidance: (1) Single-light guidance, which uses a fixed-length dynamic light strip in front of the aircraft / vehicle, with the dynamic light strip being presented by lighting and turning off individual lights; (2) Light segment guidance, which uses a fixed-length dynamic light strip in front of the aircraft / vehicle, with the dynamic light strip being presented by lighting and turning off individual light segments, usually with 2-15 lights per light segment; (3) Section guidance, in which most taxiway centerline lights along the route are permanently lit, while taxiway centerline lights at intersections are partially lit or turned off. At present, only a few airports in the world have implemented light guidance, and all of them use the light segment guidance mode.

[0005] Existing light guidance systems typically employ methods such as Figure 2 and Figure 3The process involves activating the necessary navigation lights for aircraft guidance. Specifically, it establishes path information and then activates the navigation lights closest to the path. However, since light guidance primarily uses the green taxiway centerline lights, which often converge at taxiway intersections, the aforementioned process can sometimes incorrectly match the centerline lights of another route to the required navigation lights. This can result in the green taxiway centerline lights illuminating off-path routes, causing pilot confusion. Furthermore, for guidance requiring bidirectional navigation lights, determining which direction's light source to activate requires complex algorithms, consuming significant system resources. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to address the problems existing in the prior art by providing a lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance. By matching taxiway paths with navigational aids, the centerline lights of each taxiway can be accurately matched to the set of navigational aids that need to be activated, avoiding unclear lighting guidance routes. At the same time, it can quickly confirm the light source direction that needs to be activated for bidirectional navigational aids, reducing system complexity and saving computing resources.

[0007] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0008] A lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance includes:

[0009] Step S1: Number and group the navigation lights on the airport surface;

[0010] Step S2: Generate a set of navigation lights that are closest to the aircraft's taxiway location, and convert the set of navigation lights into a set of light groups based on the grouping results;

[0011] Step S3: According to the preset mutual exclusion rules of light groups, verify the light group set to form a new light group set;

[0012] Step S4: Based on the aircraft position information and guide length, activate the correct navigation lights in the new light assembly.

[0013] Further, step S1 includes:

[0014] Based on the airport surface lighting setup rules, taxiway configuration, and taxi routes, the navigation lights are grouped to form a lighting group database.

[0015] Furthermore, the grouping rules are as follows:

[0016] For bidirectional navigation lights, generate two combinations of lights in opposite directions;

[0017] For unidirectional navigation lights, generate a light combination.

[0018] Furthermore, the generation of two luminaire combinations in opposite directions includes:

[0019] For bidirectional navigation lights, two combinations of lights in opposite directions are generated based on the coordinates of the first and last navigation lights in the navigation light group;

[0020] The generation of a lighting fixture assembly includes:

[0021] For unidirectional navigation lights, a light combination is generated based on the coordinates of the first and last navigation lights in the navigation light group.

[0022] Further, step S2 includes:

[0023] Step S21: After assigning a taxiway to the aircraft, automatically generate a set of navigation lights that are closest to the aircraft's taxiway location;

[0024] Step S22: Match the navigation light set with the light groupings stored in the light grouping database, and convert the navigation light set into a light group set.

[0025] Further, step S3 includes:

[0026] Based on the mutual exclusion rule of light groups, the light group set is checked for direction and erroneous light groups, and unnecessary light groups are eliminated to form a new light group set.

[0027] Furthermore, the direction verification includes:

[0028] Extract all light groups in the light group set that have the same number and number of navigation lights, and pair them up in pairs;

[0029] Based on the lamp number that was first matched into the navigation light set, the paired light groups are directionally identified, and the light groups that are correctly identified re-enter the light set.

[0030] Furthermore, the faulty light group verification includes:

[0031] Extract mutually exclusive light groups from the light group set after direction verification, and calculate the number of navigation lights involved in the aircraft taxiing path in the mutually exclusive light groups.

[0032] Eliminate light groups with a small number of navigation lights that are relevant to the aircraft's taxiing path, and form a new set of light groups.

[0033] Furthermore, the mutual exclusion rules for the light groups include:

[0034] The lights at the intersection are mutually exclusive, ensuring that there is only one path at the intersection.

[0035] Further, step S4 includes:

[0036] Step S41: Locate the aircraft's position;

[0037] Step S42: Based on the length of the activated lights, within the new light combination set, count the navigation lights that are closest to the aircraft's taxiing path within that length range;

[0038] Step S43: Send a command to turn on the corresponding navigation lights.

[0039] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are:

[0040] A lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance includes: Step S1: numbering and grouping the navigation lights on the airport surface; Step S2: generating a set of navigation lights closest to the aircraft's taxiway path position, and converting the navigation light set into a light group set according to the grouping result; Step S3: verifying the light group set according to a preset light group mutual exclusion rule to form a new light group set; Step S4: activating the correct navigation lights in the new light group set according to the aircraft position information and guidance length. This control method can avoid the problem of existing technologies incorrectly matching taxiway centerline lights on non-taxiway paths at densely packed taxiway centerline lights at taxiway intersections, and can also quickly determine the activation direction of bidirectional dual-control taxiway centerline lights, saving system computing resources. Attached Figure Description

[0041] Figure 1 A flowchart of a lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance;

[0042] Figure 2 Here is a flowchart of the existing lighting control method;

[0043] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an existing lighting control method;

[0044] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the numbering results of navigation lights in Example 2;

[0045] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing the grouping result of navigation lights in Example 2;

[0046] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the aircraft's path in the formation result diagram in Example 2. Detailed Implementation

[0047] It should be noted that relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0048] The features and performance of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments.

[0049] Example 1

[0050] Please see Figure 1 A lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance specifically includes the following steps:

[0051] Step S1: Number and group the navigation lights on the airport surface; it should be noted that the numbering can be done using existing navigation lights or by making your own numbering, and the numbering rules are not limited in this invention.

[0052] Step S2: Generate a set of navigation lights that are closest to the aircraft's taxiing path position, and convert the set of navigation lights into a set of light groups based on the grouping results;

[0053] Step S3: According to the preset mutual exclusion rules of light groups, verify the light group set to form a new light group set;

[0054] Step S4: Based on the aircraft position information and guide length, activate the correct navigation lights in the new light assembly.

[0055] In this embodiment, specifically, step S1 includes:

[0056] Based on the airport surface lighting setup rules, taxiway configuration, and taxi routes, the navigation lights are grouped to form a lighting group database.

[0057] In this embodiment, the grouping rules are as follows:

[0058] For bidirectional navigation lights, two combinations of lights in opposite directions are generated; that is, two combinations are generated for each group of bidirectional navigation lights.

[0059] For unidirectional navigation lights, a light combination is generated; that is, each group of unidirectional navigation lights generates a combination.

[0060] Preferably, bidirectional navigation lights and unidirectional navigation lights are generally not grouped together.

[0061] In this embodiment, specifically, generating two combinations of lamps in opposite directions includes:

[0062] For bidirectional navigation lights, two combinations of lights in opposite directions are generated based on the coordinates of the first and last navigation lights in the navigation light group.

[0063] The generation of a lighting fixture assembly includes:

[0064] For unidirectional navigation lights, a light combination is generated based on the coordinates of the first and last navigation lights in the navigation light group.

[0065] In this embodiment, specifically, step S2 includes:

[0066] Step S21: After assigning a taxiway to the aircraft, automatically generate a set of navigation lights that are closest to the aircraft's taxiway location;

[0067] Step S22: Match the navigation light set with the light groupings stored in the light grouping database, and convert the navigation light set into a light group set.

[0068] In this embodiment, specifically, step S3 includes:

[0069] Based on the mutual exclusion rule of light groups, the light group set is checked for direction and erroneous light groups, and unnecessary light groups are eliminated to form a new light group set.

[0070] In this embodiment, specifically, the direction verification includes:

[0071] Extract all light groups in the light group set that have the same number and number of navigation lights, and pair them up in pairs;

[0072] Based on the lamp number that was first matched into the navigation light set, the paired light groups are directionally identified, and the light groups that are correctly identified re-enter the light set.

[0073] In this embodiment, specifically, the error lamp group verification includes:

[0074] Extract mutually exclusive light groups from the light group set after direction verification, and calculate the number of navigation lights involved in the aircraft taxiing path in the mutually exclusive light groups.

[0075] Eliminate light groups with a small number of navigation lights that are relevant to the aircraft's taxiing path, and form a new set of light groups.

[0076] In this embodiment, specifically, the mutual exclusion rules for the light groups include:

[0077] The lights at the intersection are mutually exclusive, ensuring that there is only one path at the intersection.

[0078] In this embodiment, specifically, step S4 includes:

[0079] Step S41: Locate the aircraft's position;

[0080] Step S42: Based on the length of the activated lights, within the new light combination set, count the navigation lights that are closest to the aircraft's taxiing path within that length range;

[0081] Step S43: Send a command to turn on the corresponding navigation lights.

[0082] Example 2

[0083] Example 2 is a specific application of a lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance proposed in Example 1.

[0084] First, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The navigation lights in the diagram are numbered and grouped. Specifically, based on the airport taxiway structure, the navigation lights are divided into light group a / -a, light group b / -b, light group c / -c, light group d / -d, light group e / -e, light group f / -f, light group g / -g, light group h / -h, light group j / -j, and light group k / -k. It should be noted that in this embodiment, all navigation lights are bidirectional. Light group j and light group -j indicate that the navigation lights in the two groups are the same but in opposite directions.

[0085] Then, according to the mutual exclusion rule of light groups, it can be known that light group c / -c, light group d / -d, light group e / -e, light group f / -f, light group g / -g, and light group j / -j are mutually exclusive.

[0086] See Figure 6 In this embodiment, the aircraft will taxi from point A to point B, that is, the taxiing path is A→B. After the taxiing path is given, the system will generate path feature information and collect the navigation lights closest to the taxiing path in sequence to form a light set. The light set is (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20).

[0087] Based on the above set of lamps, a set of lamp groups is formed (lamp group a / -a, lamp group e / -e, lamp group c / -c, lamp group d / -d, lamp group j / -j, lamp group f / -f, lamp group k / -k);

[0088] Specifically, the navigation lights numbered 1, 2, and 3 correspond to light groups a / -a;

[0089] The navigation lights numbered 4, 8, and 17 correspond to light groups e / -e;

[0090] The navigation light numbered 5 corresponds to light group c / -c;

[0091] The navigational aid light numbered 6 corresponds to light group d / -d;

[0092] The navigational aid light numbered 16 corresponds to light group j / -j;

[0093] The navigational aid light numbered 18 corresponds to light group f / -f;

[0094] The navigation lights numbered 19 and 20 correspond to light groups k / -k.

[0095] Based on the lamp number that was first matched into the lamp set, remove lamp group-a, lamp group-e, and lamp group-k.

[0096] The faulty light fixture verification begins. According to the mutual exclusion rule of light groups, we know that light groups c / -c, d / -d, e / -e, f / -f, and j / -j are mutually exclusive. Then, we calculate the number of lights involving road tracks in each of the mutually exclusive light groups e / -e, c / -c, d / -d, f / -f, and j / -j respectively. We get: light group c = -c = d = -d = f = -f = j = -j < e. Therefore, we can exclude light groups c / -c, d / -d, f / -f, and j / -j, and select light group e to enter the final light group set. The final light group set is (light group a, light group e, light group k).

[0097] Finally, based on the aircraft's position information and guidance length, activate the correct navigation lights in the light group (light group a, light group e, light group k).

[0098] The embodiments described above merely illustrate specific implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are detailed and specific, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the technical solution of this application, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0099] This background section is provided to generally present the context of the invention. The work of the currently named inventors, the work to the extent described in this background section, and aspects described in this section that did not constitute prior art at the time of application are neither expressly nor impliedly acknowledged as prior art to the invention.

Claims

1. A lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance, characterized in that, include: Step S1: Number and group the navigation lights on the airport surface; Step S2: Generate a set of navigation lights that are closest to the aircraft's taxiway location, and convert the set of navigation lights into a set of light groups based on the grouping results; Step S3: According to the preset mutual exclusion rules of light groups, verify the light group set to form a new light group set; Step S4: Based on the aircraft position information and guide length, activate the correct navigation lights in the new light assembly.

2. The lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step S1 includes: Based on the airport surface lighting setup rules, taxiway configuration, and taxi routes, the navigation lights are grouped to form a lighting group database.

3. A lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance according to claim 2, characterized in that, The grouping rules are as follows: For bidirectional navigation lights, generate two combinations of lights in opposite directions; For unidirectional navigation lights, generate a light combination.

4. A lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance according to claim 3, characterized in that, The generation of two lamp combinations in opposite directions includes: For bidirectional navigation lights, two combinations of lights in opposite directions are generated based on the coordinates of the first and last navigation lights in the navigation light group; The generation of a lighting fixture assembly includes: For unidirectional navigation lights, a light combination is generated based on the coordinates of the first and last navigation lights in the navigation light group.

5. A lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance according to claim 3, characterized in that, Step S2 includes: Step S21: After assigning a taxiway to the aircraft, automatically generate a set of navigation lights that are closest to the aircraft's taxiway location; Step S22: Match the navigation light set with the light groupings stored in the light grouping database, and convert the navigation light set into a light group set.

6. A lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step S3 includes: Based on the mutual exclusion rule of light groups, the light group set is checked for direction and erroneous light groups, and unnecessary light groups are eliminated to form a new light group set.

7. A lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance according to claim 6, characterized in that, The direction verification includes: Extract all light groups in the light group set that have the same number and number of navigation lights, and pair them up in pairs; Based on the lamp number that was first matched into the navigation light set, the paired light groups are directionally identified, and the light groups that are correctly identified re-enter the light set.

8. A lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance according to claim 6, characterized in that, The error lamp group verification includes: Extract mutually exclusive light groups from the light group set after direction verification, and calculate the number of navigation lights involved in the aircraft taxiing path in the mutually exclusive light groups. Eliminate light groups with a small number of navigation lights that are relevant to the aircraft's taxiing path, and form a new set of light groups.

9. A lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mutual exclusion rules for the light groups include: The lights at the intersection are mutually exclusive, ensuring that there is only one path at the intersection.

10. A lighting control method for airport surface lighting guidance according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step S4 includes: Step S41: Locate the aircraft's position; Step S42: Based on the length of the activated lights, within the new light combination set, count the navigation lights that are closest to the aircraft's taxiing path within that length range; Step S43: Send a command to turn on the corresponding navigation lights.

Images