Aircraft Door Sensor Monitoring for Accurate Passenger Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring the ingress and egress of passengers and objects from aircraft are labor-intensive and prone to errors, often failing to detect sleeping passengers, left luggage, or restricted items due to inconsistencies in checks performed by cabin and maintenance personnel.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a computer system and sensor network that receives images from sensors positioned around the aircraft to identify and track human beings and objects, determining their movement and count, and performing actions based on this data to ensure accurate monitoring of traffic in and out of the aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual checking by cabin and cleaning personnel is used to monitor ingress and egress of passengers and items, then the system is simple and easy to implement, but the accuracy and reliability of detection deteriorates due to human error and inconsistency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical checking by personnel with an automated sensor-based detection system. Sensors positioned at aircraft doors automatically detect when passengers or items enter or leave the aircraft, eliminating human error and inconsistency while maintaining operational simplicity through automated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service monitoring where the sensor network automatically tracks and counts passengers and items without requiring active intervention by cabin or cleaning personnel. The system serves itself by automatically generating alerts and maintaining records, reducing the burden on human staff while improving detection reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple manual checks are performed by different personnel during embarkation and disembarkation, then the coverage of monitoring is improved, but the time consumption and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system provides continuous automated monitoring throughout the entire embarkation and disembarkation processes. Sensors remain active and continuously track passengers and items from the moment they approach the aircraft until they board or leave, eliminating gaps in coverage that occur during manual check transitions while reducing total monitoring time through uninterrupted automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection by positioning sensors at aircraft doors to detect passengers and items before they fully enter or leave the aircraft. This preliminary action allows the system to track movement proactively, ensuring complete coverage without requiring multiple subsequent manual verification checks, thereby reducing total time consumption.
3Measurement precision
If visual inspection by cabin crew is performed to ensure all passengers and items have been removed, then the method requires minimal equipment, but the detection precision deteriorates due to inability to detect sleeping passengers or hidden items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual inspection by cabin crew with automated sensor detection systems that can identify passengers and items regardless of their state (sleeping, standing) or position (hidden in bins, carrying bags). Sensors positioned strategically detect presence and movement objectively, eliminating the limitations of human visual inspection while maintaining equipment simplicity through use of standard sensor technology.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product (822) for monitoring a platform (202). Images (224) are received by a computer system (216) from a sensor system positioned to monitor movement (212) of human beings (204) relative to the platform (202). A set of the human beings (204) is identified by the computer system (216) in the images (224). The movement (212) of the set of the human beings (204) relative to the platform (202) is determined by the computer system (216) using the images (224). A count of the human beings (204) on the platform (202) is determined by the computer system (216) based on the movement (212) determined for the set of the human beings (204). A set of actions (228) is performed by the computer system (216) based on the count (226) of the human beings (204) on the platform (202).