Aircraft Ground Collision Alert System Using ADS-B
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collision-avoidance systems are ineffective on the ground, particularly at night or in low-visibility conditions, and few airports have radar to monitor surface traffic, leading to potential collisions between aircraft and ground vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A system aboard an aircraft or vehicle that receives information from ground traffic, calculates the estimated full-stop location based on ownship data and predefined constants, and generates a collision alert if the distance to traffic is less than a safe distance, using data from avionic systems and ADS-B data links, without relying on airport map data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCAS systems are used for collision avoidance, then airborne collision detection is improved, but ground collision detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the collision avoidance function into airborne mode (using TCAS) and ground mode (using independent sensors and processors). Each mode has dedicated hardware and algorithms optimized for its specific operational context, allowing reliable ground collision detection without interfering with airborne TCAS functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary ground detection system that bridges the gap between airborne TCAS and ground operations. This intermediary system uses sensors, processors, and alert generators specifically designed for ground proximity detection, acting as a mediator that extends collision avoidance coverage to the ground without compromising airborne capabilities.
2Reliability
If radar systems are deployed to monitor surface traffic, then ground traffic detection is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the essential ground detection function from complex radar infrastructure and implements it using simpler, aircraft-mounted sensors and processors. By taking out only the necessary detection capabilities and implementing them locally on each aircraft, the system achieves surface traffic monitoring without requiring extensive radar infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Each aircraft serves itself by detecting ground traffic and other aircraft using its own onboard sensors and processing systems. This self-service approach eliminates the need for centralized radar infrastructure, as each aircraft independently performs ground collision detection and generates alerts for its own safety.
3Measurement precision
If airport map data is used for collision alerting, then alert accuracy is improved, but system dependency on external data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses self-service navigation data from the aircraft's own navigation systems (GPS, inertial sensors) rather than relying on external airport map data. Each aircraft independently determines its position, speed, and trajectory using its own onboard instruments, maintaining alert accuracy without external data dependency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the data parameters from static airport map information to dynamic real-time navigation parameters from onboard systems. By using live position, speed, and heading data from the aircraft's own navigation suite, the system maintains precision while eliminating infrastructure dependency.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for providing the crew of an airplane or vehicle with a potential traffic-threat alert. When the alert is triggered is based on presumed flight-crew action and reaction times, ownship speed, and required distance to safely stop the ownship before intersection with traffic. An exemplary system (20)located aboard an ownship (18) includes a communication device (28) that receives information from a ground traffic; a memory device (30) that stores ownship information and predefined constants; and a processing device (24) that determines a distance to the traffic when the traffic passes the ownship after the ownship stops at an estimated full-stop location, based on the received ownship information and the predefined constants, determines distance to the ground traffic vehicle, based on the determined point in time, and generates a potential collision alert if the determined distance is less than a predefined safe distance value. An output device (32) outputs the generated potential collision alert.