Aircraft Taxi Guidance Using Intersection Counting for Ground Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft pilots face challenges during ground operations, particularly in taxiing, as they need to divide their attention between visual aids, external environment, and controlling the aircraft, and reliance on satellite navigation hinders autonomous ground operations.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using digital modeling of taxi lines to detect intersections and increment a counter, allowing the aircraft to follow a digital trajectory, thereby guiding the aircraft along the taxi line and reducing pilot workload, utilizing cameras for real-time image processing and iterative analysis to maintain alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the pilot relies on visual aid systems and satellite navigation to determine position and follow taxiing circuits, then the aircraft can be localized and guided on the ground, but the pilot's attention is diverted from other critical tasks and autonomous ground operations are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft performs self-localization by autonomously detecting and counting intersections of the taxi line using its own sensors and processing units, without requiring continuous pilot interaction with external navigation systems. The aircraft's system independently determines its position along the digital trajectory by detecting physical intersections in the environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces satellite-based electronic navigation systems with a ground-based visual infrastructure (painted intersections on taxiways) that the aircraft detects through optical sensors. This substitution eliminates reliance on satellite signals and provides a more reliable, pilot-independent localization method
2Manufacturing precision
If the pilot focuses on visual aid systems to ensure correct positioning on the taxiing circuit, then the aircraft can be guided along the desired path, but the pilot's attention is diverted from executing controlling movements and monitoring the external environment
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft's system autonomously performs path following by automatically detecting intersections, counting them against the digital trajectory, and determining position without pilot intervention. The system self-regulates the aircraft's alignment with the taxi line through automatic control based on detected intersection sequences
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the aircraft's position by detecting intersections and comparing the count against the pre-defined digital trajectory. This real-time feedback enables automatic correction of the aircraft's path to maintain alignment with the desired taxi line, reducing the need for pilot monitoring
3Measurement precision
If satellite navigation systems are used to localize the aircraft's position in real time, then the aircraft can be positioned on the taxiing circuit, but autonomous ground operations are obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft performs self-localization using ground-based visual markers (painted intersections) detected by onboard sensors, eliminating dependence on satellite navigation infrastructure. The system independently determines its position by counting detected intersections against a digital trajectory model, enabling fully autonomous operation without external satellite signals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ground-based painted intersections as an intermediary between the aircraft and the navigation system. These physical markers serve as a mediating reference that the aircraft's sensors can directly detect and process, replacing the need for satellite signals and enabling autonomous localization
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for assisting the driving of an aircraft (AC) moving on the ground, on a taxiing circuit (CP) including a taxi line (TL) to be followed by the aircraft (AC). The taxi line (TL) has different portions (PR) forming between them intersections (IP). The device is configured to use a digital modeling of the taxi line (TL), called digital trajectory (TR), including nodes corresponding to the intersections (IP). In addition, the device includes a detection unit (4) configured to detect at least one of the intersections (IP), as well as an increment unit (6) configured to increment a counter associated with the digital trajectory (TR), after detection of the intersection (IP), the counter being designed to count a series of the nodes.