Aircraft Tow Vehicle Lighting for Direction and Mode Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tow vehicles for aircraft lack effective systems to indicate their direction of travel and mode of operation, making it difficult for operators to maneuver and coordinate with other airport ground support equipment.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system with a control system that monitors direction of travel and selectively illuminates lighting elements on opposite sides to indicate direction, and a light system with color or pattern differentiation to provide operational indications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional tow vehicles are used without directional indication systems, then the vehicle structure remains simple, but operators cannot effectively perceive the direction of travel and coordinate with other ground support equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-coded lighting elements to indicate different operational modes and directions of travel. Different colors convey different information about the vehicle's state, enabling operators to quickly perceive directional and operational information without complex mechanical indicators.
Solution Approach 2:
The light system is segmented into multiple independent lighting elements positioned at different locations on the vehicle body. Each lighting element can be independently controlled to provide specific directional information, allowing the system to convey complex operational status through simple, distributed visual signals.
2Loss of information
If no operational mode indication system is implemented, then the vehicle system remains simple, but operators cannot understand the current mode of operation, reducing coordination efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the vehicle's operational state and provides real-time visual feedback through the light system. This feedback mechanism enables operators to immediately understand the current mode of operation, improving coordination and safety without requiring complex communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
Different colors or patterns of lighting elements indicate different operational modes, providing intuitive visual feedback about the vehicle's current state. This allows operators to quickly comprehend operational status without requiring additional information displays or complex signaling systems.
3Ease of operation
If lighting elements are positioned only on one side of the vehicle, then the light system is simpler, but operators positioned outside the vehicle cannot effectively perceive directional information
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting elements are positioned asymmetrically on opposite sides of the vehicle body, with each side's lighting configuration optimized for operators viewing from that direction. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that operators positioned outside the vehicle can effectively perceive directional information regardless of their location.
Solution Approach 2:
The light system extends into the spatial dimension by positioning lighting elements on multiple sides of the vehicle rather than concentrating them in one location. This three-dimensional distribution of lighting elements ensures comprehensive visibility from all external viewing angles.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle for towing an airplane includes a chassis, a body coupled to the chassis, the body and the chassis having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a tractive assembly, a tow mechanism configured to engage with a nose landing gear of the airplane, a light system including a first lighting element positioned along the first side and a second lighting element positioned along the second side, and a control system configured to monitor a direction of travel of the vehicle and control operation of the light system to selectively illuminate the first lighting element and the second lighting element to provide an indication of the direction of travel of the vehicle, thereby making the direction of travel of the vehicle perceivable to an operator positioned outside of the vehicle.