Aerodrome Signalling Units with Cellular Sensor Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerodrome signalling systems face limitations in data bandwidth and accessibility, with limited frequency bands and centralized data storage, hindering efficient communication and maintenance of aerodrome signalling devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a wireless data communication system using cellular networks for aerodrome signalling units, incorporating sensor devices to capture environmental and operational data, and utilizing a central communication unit for distributed data transmission and control signals via power supply lines and cellular networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If power supply line communication with OFDM technique is used, then data communication capability is provided, but usable frequency bands are limited to about 190 kHz, limiting data bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into two independent parts: power supply line communication for control commands and wireless communication for measurement data. This allows each channel to operate in its optimal frequency range without interference, resolving the contradiction between limited frequency bands and sufficient data bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication interface as an intermediary between the signalling device and the central communication unit for transmitting measurement data. This intermediary enables high-frequency data transmission without using the power supply line, overcoming the frequency band limitation while maintaining data communication capability.
2Reliability
If galvanic insulating transformers are arranged at each node, then galvanic isolation is achieved, but high frequency signals are attenuated, requiring dedicated transformers increasing installation costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the high-frequency data transmission function from the power supply line communication system. By using wireless communication for measurement data, the system no longer requires dedicated high-frequency transformers on the power supply line, reducing installation costs while maintaining galvanic isolation through the existing transformer architecture for control signals.
3Loss of information
If signalling devices are arranged as series circuits, then circuit simplicity is maintained, but amount of information that can be passed through the circuit is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information transmission paths: control commands continue to use the simple series circuit power supply line communication, while measurement data from multiple sensors is transmitted wirelessly. This segmentation allows the series circuit topology to remain simple for control while capturing extensive information through distributed wireless sensor nodes.
4Reliability
If status condition information is stored centrally within the signalling system, then security is improved, but accessibility by maintenance personnel is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a wireless communication dimension to the central storage architecture. Status condition information remains stored centrally for security, but can now be accessed remotely through wireless communication by maintenance personnel, eliminating the need for physical access to the central storage location while maintaining security.
Data Source
AI summary
Aerodrome signalling system (100), comprising a plurality of signalling units (2), each comprising at least one aerodrome signalling device (9, 10), and a central communication unit (4) configured for data communication with the plurality of signalling units. The plurality of signalling units (2) each comprise a wireless data communication device (18) configured for cellular data communication and at least one sensor device (15) configured to capture measurement data in relation to one or more of: an environmental condition, a meteorological condition, a presence of an object, a movement of an object and a status condition relating to the respective signalling unit other than a status condition of the respective at least one signalling device. The at least one sensor device (15) is configured to communicate the measurement data to the wireless data communication device for transmission via a cellular network.