Aircraft Tow Tractor Control Using Voice-Vision Cross-Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional aircraft tow tractors require frequent communication between drivers and pilots during towing, leading to safety concerns and inefficiencies, and existing semi-intelligent systems either require driver presence or extensive infrastructure modifications.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent system combining voice and vision recognition for controlling aircraft tow tractors, featuring a voice recognition system, visual recognition system, and vehicle-mounted motion controller, with a clamping device, nose landing gear, and anti-collision lights, allowing for remote operation and cross-validation of commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional aircraft tow tractors use manual control with drivers, commanders, and pilots communicating frequently, then the towing process can be controlled in real-time, but the complexity of communication increases and safety accidents occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical communication system (radio communication between drivers, commanders, and pilots) with an automated vision-based recognition system. The system uses cameras to detect aircraft types, tail numbers, and lighting signals, then automatically controls the tow tractor without requiring human-to-human communication, thereby eliminating communication complexity while maintaining towing safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The tow tractor system performs self-service by automatically identifying aircraft information and interpreting pilot commands through vision recognition. The system processes visual information from cameras and autonomously executes towing operations based on recognized signals (such as taxi light patterns), reducing reliance on external communication and enabling the system to serve itself.
2Reliability
If semi-intelligent tow tractors allow drivers to walk out and control remotely, then driver safety is improved, but the drivers still need to communicate with pilots increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for remote controllers and radio communication by implementing a vision-based automated control system. Cameras mounted on the tow tractor capture aircraft information and pilot commands, which are then processed to automatically control towing operations, replacing both the remote control mechanism and the communication requirement entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the communication function from the towing control system. Instead of requiring drivers to communicate with pilots via radio, the system uses vision recognition to directly interpret pilot commands (such as taxi light patterns) and translates them into automated control signals, removing the communication layer while preserving the control function.
3Extent of automation
If TaxiBot tow tractors are controlled by pilots after being fixed to landing gears, then intelligent control level is greatly improved, but extensive infrastructure modifications are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal tow tractor control system that can identify and work with multiple aircraft types through vision recognition. The system uses cameras to detect various aircraft configurations and automatically adapts its control parameters, making the system universally applicable across different airport infrastructures without requiring custom modifications for each aircraft type or airport.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for specialized airport infrastructure (such as dedicated control towers or modified communication systems) with a self-contained vision recognition system mounted on the tow tractor. The system uses standard cameras and image processing to achieve intelligent control, eliminating the need for extensive infrastructure modifications while maintaining high automation levels.
4Measurement precision
If voice recognition and visual recognition systems are combined for tow tractor control, then towing accuracy and safety are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges voice recognition and visual recognition systems into a unified control architecture. The vision system captures aircraft information and pilot commands through cameras, while the voice system receives verbal instructions from pilots. Both inputs are processed by a centralized control unit that integrates the information and generates coordinated control signals, achieving high towing accuracy through multi-sensory fusion while managing system complexity through integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
An intelligent system for controlling driving of an aircraft tow tractor by means of combination of voice and vision includes an audio transmission line, a voice recognition system, a visual recognition system, and a vehicle-mounted motion controller. According to the intelligent system, visual recognition is performed based on a belly-mounted anti-collision light on an aircraft, a taxi light, and the visual recognition system on an aircraft tow tractor, and the aircraft tow tractor is intelligently controlled by means of combination of voice recognition and the visual recognition; furthermore, the aircraft tow tractor is intelligently controlled by voices of flight crew via the audio transmission line, safety in a towing process is guaranteed by the visual recognition, and each step in the towing process is performed by means of a cross validation based on the voice recognition and the visual recognition.