Remote Aircraft Pusher Control with 3D Enablement Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lifting and transporting arrangements, such as aircraft pushers, lack safety mechanisms to prevent unsafe operations, particularly when controlled from unsuitable positions like the cockpit, which are not addressed by existing safety apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
Implement a safety apparatus with a defined enablement area that includes both horizontal and vertical limits, using height determination means to ensure the remote-control transmitter is within a safe operating position relative to the lifting device, and enable or disable control processes based on this position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only horizontal position monitoring is implemented, then the safety apparatus can prevent control from most unsafe positions, but it cannot detect or prevent control from positions at appropriate horizontal locations but at unsafe heights (such as from the cockpit)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the safety monitoring from two-dimensional horizontal plane to three-dimensional space by adding vertical height monitoring. The enablement area is defined with both horizontal boundaries and vertical height limits, creating a volumetric safe zone. This dimensional expansion prevents control from unsafe positions such as cockpits while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the enablement area is extended to higher vertical positions, then control from more positions becomes possible, but unsafe operations from positions like the cockpit become possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different spatial constraints to different operational contexts. The enablement area is configured with specific horizontal and vertical boundaries that create a localized safe zone appropriate for ground-level operation. This localized quality ensures control is permitted only from positions with safe visibility and control characteristics, while blocking access from positions like cockpits that present safety hazards.
3Reliability
If the safety apparatus blocks control signals from outside the enablement area, then unauthorized control is prevented, but legitimate control operations may also be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The safety apparatus continuously monitors the position of the remote-control transmitter and provides feedback control. When the transmitter moves outside the enablement area, the system automatically blocks control signals. When brought back within the area, control is restored. This feedback mechanism ensures only operations from safe positions are permitted while minimizing interruptions to legitimate work.
Data Source
AI summary
A lifting and/or transporting arrangement includes a remote-controllable lifting and/or transporting device, such as an aircraft pusher; a remote-control transmitter for controlling a lifting and/or transporting movement of the lifting and/or transporting device; and a safety apparatus on which data for defining a horizontally extending virtual enablement area are stored and which has a sensor system for determining a position of the remote-control sensor. A control process of the remote-control transmitter can be enabled or blocked by the safety apparatus on the basis of a currently detected position of the remote-control transmitter with respect to the enablement area. The enablement area has a limited vertical extent in a vertical direction, and the sensor system of the safety apparatus has height determination device for determining a height of the remote-control transmitter. The control process can be enabled or blocked on the basis of a currently detected height of the remote-control transmitter with respect to the vertical extent of the enablement area.