Autonomous Mobile Platform for Airport Passenger Navigation
Solution Overview
Problem
Current airport transportation systems, such as moving sidewalks and personnel-assisted wheelchairs, are inefficient and resource-intensive for passengers with mobility issues, particularly as the aging population increases, requiring a more efficient and cost-effective solution for navigating within airports.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled passenger platform equipped with a movement system, location system, and navigator that identifies flight information and generates routes to gates and points of interest, allowing passengers to travel autonomously without human intervention, reducing the need for personnel and resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If personnel-assisted wheelchairs or carts are used to transport passengers with mobility issues, then passengers receive assistance and can reach their destinations, but more equipment, personnel, and resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous mobile platform enables passengers with mobility issues to transport themselves without requiring airport personnel assistance. The platform autonomously navigates through the airport using sensors, processors, and navigation systems to reach the destination gate independently, eliminating the need for staffed wheelchair services.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual wheelchair pushing with an autonomous robotic platform equipped with sensors, processors, and self-navigation capabilities. The system uses optical sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and computer vision to detect and navigate to the destination, substituting human-operated mechanical transport with autonomous intelligent systems.
2Productivity
If traditional transportation systems like moving sidewalks and trams are used, then passengers can be transported through the airport, but these systems may not provide sufficient assistance to disabled passengers or may be intimidating
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous platform provides personalized assistance to passengers with mobility issues by autonomously navigating to their specific gate destinations. The platform adapts to individual passenger needs, providing door-to-door service that traditional fixed-route transportation systems cannot offer, thereby improving both productivity and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides customized transportation solutions tailored to each passenger's specific needs and destination. The autonomous platform can adjust its speed, route, and stopping points based on the individual passenger requirements, offering localized quality service rather than uniform mass transportation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more resources are devoted to transport passengers with mobility issues, then more passengers can be assisted, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By deploying autonomous mobile platforms, the airport can assist multiple passengers simultaneously without proportionally increasing personnel resources. Each autonomous platform operates independently, allowing the system to scale capacity by adding more autonomous units rather than hiring additional staff, thereby improving adaptability while controlling operational resource consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus comprising a mobile platform, a movement system associated with the mobile platform, a location system, and a navigator. The mobile platform is configured to hold a passenger. The movement system is configured to move the mobile platform. The location system is configured to identify a location of the mobile platform. The navigator is configured to identify flight information for the passenger. The navigator is further configured to generate a route to a gate for the passenger using the flight information. The navigator is further configured to control the movement system to move the mobile platform along the route using the location of the mobile platform.