Automated Runway Incursion Alerts With Multi-Source Traffic Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Runway incursions pose a significant safety risk due to challenges in monitoring aircraft and ground vehicle movements, particularly in adverse weather conditions, where radar has blind spots and visual observation is difficult, leading to potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
An automated runway incursion alert system that uses location sensors on board an aircraft to receive and process GPS and accelerometer data, combined with ADS-B data for target traffic, to determine ownship and target traffic criteria, and output alerts when specific conditions are met, including proximity, altitude, and direction, to prevent collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radar is used to monitor aircraft and ground vehicle movements, then monitoring capability is provided, but blind spots occur in adverse weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary alerting system that receives data from multiple sources including radar, location sensors on aircraft, and ground vehicle trackers. This intermediary system processes information from various sources and generates alerts when potential incursions are detected, compensating for radar blind spots by cross-referencing multiple data streams and providing redundant monitoring capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system integrates multiple monitoring functions into a unified platform that handles radar data, GPS data from aircraft, and ground vehicle location information. This multi-functional approach allows the system to monitor different types of traffic using appropriate sensors for each, ensuring comprehensive coverage including areas where radar may have blind spots.
2Reliability
If visual observation is used to monitor runway movements, then situational awareness is improved, but difficulty increases in adverse weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual observation system with an automated electronic monitoring system. Location sensors on aircraft, ground vehicle trackers, and radar data are electronically processed to determine positions, speeds, and directions of all traffic. This electronic substitution eliminates the need for visual observation while providing continuous, objective data even in adverse weather conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors and evaluates traffic positions without requiring human visual observation. The automated alerting system continuously processes location data, compares it against predefined criteria, and generates alerts when potential incursions are detected, providing self-service monitoring that operates independently of weather conditions.
3Reliability
If automated alerting criteria are implemented, then collision prevention is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex monitoring system into separate functional modules: radar data processing, location sensor data processing, ground vehicle tracker processing, and alert generation. Each module handles specific aspects of monitoring independently, making the overall system more manageable and easier to maintain while providing comprehensive collision prevention capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for providing an automated runway incursion alert comprises receiving, from a location sensor on board an aircraft, location sensor data for the aircraft. Location data is also received for target traffic. Based on the location sensor data for the aircraft, a location, a speed, and a direction of travel are determined for the aircraft. A location, a speed, and a direction of travel are determined for the target traffic based on the location data for the target traffic. The method further comprises determining that the aircraft meets one or more ownship alert criteria and determining that the target traffic meets one or more target traffic alert criteria. Based on determining that the aircraft meets the one or more ownship alert criteria and the target traffic meets the one or more target traffic alert criteria, a runway incursion alert is output.