Remote Aircraft Deicing Control for Low-Staff Ground Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deicing/anti-icing providers face challenges in hiring and retaining employees due to the need for specialized training and the inefficiencies caused by part-time, on-call workers, leading to understaffing, increased costs, and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A remote deicing/anti-icing system that allows a single operator to control deicing/anti-icing functions from a remote location using a remote operator station with cameras, GPS, and communication devices, enabling full control of truck movement, boom, and fluid distribution, while reducing the need for local staff and improving operational efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple employees are hired to operate deicing/anti-icing vehicles, then operational reliability is improved, but labor cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the operator through a remote operator station that replicates all control functions. The remote station includes duplicate controls for boom movement, spray systems, and vehicle operation, allowing a single operator to control multiple deicing vehicles simultaneously. This copying approach maintains operational reliability while reducing the need for multiple physical operators at each vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote operator station is designed to be universal, capable of controlling multiple different deicing/anti-icing vehicles from a single location. The system can manage fleets of vehicles with different configurations (boom types, spray patterns, heating systems) through a unified control interface, making the operator multi-functional and reducing overall staff requirements.
2Loss of energy
If part-time, on-call employees are used, then labor cost is reduced, but productivity and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of having multiple physical operators present at each vehicle with an electronic/telecommunications-based remote control system. This substitution allows operators to work from centralized locations, reducing the need for extensive travel and on-site presence while maintaining full operational control and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote operator station enables continuous monitoring and control of multiple vehicles simultaneously, allowing operators to maintain constant oversight without interruption. The system provides continuous feedback through cameras and sensors, enabling uninterrupted deicing operations even when operators are not physically present at each vehicle location.
3Loss of energy
If poor performing employees operate deicing equipment, then labor cost is reduced, but harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The remote operator station is equipped with multiple cameras, sensors, and real-time monitoring systems that provide continuous feedback on vehicle position, boom angle, spray application rates, and chemical consumption. This feedback mechanism allows operators to precisely control deicing operations, optimizing chemical usage and preventing waste or environmental contamination regardless of operator experience level.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning the boom and spray systems before actual deicing begins. The remote operator can plan and execute the entire deicing sequence from a centralized location, ensuring optimal chemical application from the start and preventing the need for corrective actions that would increase chemical usage and environmental impact.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for remote deicing/anti-icing of an aircraft are described herein. One remote operator deicing/anti-icing station located in a remote location from a deicing/anti-icing rig includes a number of remote rig control components for actuation by a remote operator, wherein the remote rig control components include a remote operator user interface, located outside of a rig being at least partially controlled by the remote operator deicing/anti-icing station, the rig including a truck and a deicing/anti-icing control cabin that controls disbursement of substances to deice/anti-ice an aircraft, and a communication device that communicates instructions from the remote operator user interface and the number of remote rig control components to the rig to control at least one of the truck and the deicing/anti-icing control cabin.