Ground Support Vehicle Synchronization with Taxiing Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airlines face challenges in reducing gate turn-around times due to the time-consuming nature of ground support operations and taxiing between gates and runways at large airports, which affects service quality and profitability.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for synchronizing the taxiing aircraft with a ground support vehicle by determining and transmitting navigational routes, allowing the aircraft and ground support vehicle to couple and provide services during taxiing, utilizing a taxi transponder, autonomous taxi system, and computer-readable memory to navigate and coordinate ground support operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ground support operations are performed sequentially between flight legs, then service quality can be maintained, but gate turn-around time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground support vehicle determines the aircraft's taxi route in advance and positions itself at an interception point before the aircraft arrives. This preliminary positioning allows the vehicle to be ready to provide services immediately when the aircraft is coupled, eliminating sequential waiting time and enabling concurrent operations without compromising service quality
Solution Approach 2:
The ground support vehicle provides services continuously during the aircraft's taxiing movement rather than performing operations sequentially after the aircraft stops. The vehicle moves alongside the aircraft at matching speeds, maintaining continuous service provision throughout the taxi route, thereby reducing total gate turn-around time while maintaining service standards
2Measurement precision
If ground support vehicles wait for aircraft to stop before providing services, then service accuracy can be ensured, but time is lost and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground support vehicle determines the complete taxi route in advance and positions itself at a predetermined interception point before the aircraft arrives. This preliminary preparation ensures that when coupling occurs, both vehicles are precisely positioned and synchronized, maintaining service accuracy without requiring waiting time after the aircraft stops
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses transponders and navigation systems to continuously monitor and communicate the aircraft's position, speed, and route information to the ground support vehicle. This real-time feedback enables the vehicle to adjust its position and speed dynamically, ensuring precise coupling and service delivery during movement without losing time
3Adaptability or versatility
If aircraft taxi between gates and runways at large airports, then operational flexibility is maintained, but taxiing time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground support vehicle merges its movement with the aircraft's taxiing route by positioning itself at an interception point along the taxi path. The vehicle travels alongside the aircraft during taxiing, combining the support service provision with the necessary taxiing movement, thereby eliminating separate waiting and service time while maintaining operational flexibility for various gate and runway configurations
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and associated methods relate to synchronization of a ground support vehicle with a taxiing aircraft, so as to provide ground support services during taxi operation. After landing, a taxiing aircraft obtains a parking destination from a ground traffic controller. A first navigational route from a first location of the taxiing aircraft to the parking destination is determined. The taxiing aircraft transmits a signal indicative of the first navigational route to the ground support vehicle. A second navigational route of the ground support vehicle is determined so as to intercept the taxiing aircraft. The ground support vehicle navigates according to the determined second navigational route, and couples to the taxiing aircraft at a coupling location common to both the first and the second navigational routes. The ground support vehicle provides ground support service during continued navigation according to a coupled portion of the first navigational route.