Aircraft Location Sensors for Automated Runway Occupancy Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for monitoring airport traffic, such as radar and visual observation, have limitations in detecting runway incursions due to blind spots, adverse weather conditions, and unreliable human communication, leading to potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
An automated runway occupied alert system that uses location sensors on aircraft to determine the aircraft's and target traffic's location, speed, and direction, applying runway occupancy criteria to output alerts via visual, auditory, and haptic feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radar and visual observation systems are used to monitor airport traffic, then traffic monitoring capability is provided, but blind spots and adverse weather conditions reduce detection reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated alert system that acts as an intermediary between location sensors and air traffic controllers. This system processes location data from multiple sensors (including ADS-B, radar, and visual observation systems) and generates automated alerts when potential runway incursions are detected, thereby improving reliability by reducing dependence on any single monitoring method and eliminating blind spots through data fusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring location sensor data in real-time and automatically generating alerts when occupancy criteria are met. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enhances detection reliability by immediately notifying controllers of potential conflicts, allowing for rapid response even in adverse weather conditions where traditional monitoring methods fail.
2Measurement precision
If automated alert systems are implemented, then detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring system into independent modular components: location sensors (GPS, ADS-B receivers), data processing units that evaluate occupancy criteria, and alert generation systems. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining high detection accuracy, and reduces overall system complexity by enabling flexible configuration and easier maintenance of individual modules.
3Loss of information
If multiple location sensors and data processing are used, then situational awareness is enhanced, but data processing requirements and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining runway occupancy criteria and thresholds before operation. Location sensor data is continuously evaluated against these pre-established criteria, allowing the system to maintain enhanced situational awareness through multi-sensor data fusion while reducing computational load by avoiding complex real-time analysis of all possible scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing an automated runway occupied alert comprises receiving, from a location sensor on board an aircraft, location sensor data for the aircraft. Location data is 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. Based on the location data for the target traffic, a location, a speed, and a direction of travel are determined for the target traffic. The method further comprises determining that the aircraft meets one or more runway occupancy criteria, and determining that the target traffic meets the one or more runway occupancy criteria. The runway occupied alert is output based upon determining that the aircraft and the target traffic meet the one or more runway occupancy criteria.