Method for monitoring autonomous accelerated aircraft pushback

摘要

A method for monitoring an autonomous accelerated pushback process in an aircraft equipped with an engines-off taxi system is provided to maximize safety and facilitate the accelerated pushback process. The aircraft is equipped with a monitoring system including a number of different kinds of sensors and monitoring devices positioned to maximally monitor the aircraft's exterior ground environment and communicate the presence or absence of obstructions in the aircraft's path while the pilot is controlling the engines-off taxi system to drive the aircraft in reverse away from a terminal gate and then turn in place at a selected location before driving forward to a taxiway. The sensors and monitoring devices may be a combination of cameras, ultrasound, global positioning, radar, and LiDAR or LADAR devices, and proximity sensors located at varying heights adapted to continuously or intermittently scan or sweep the aircraft exterior and ground environment during aircraft ground movement.

主权项

1. A method for maximizing safety and time savings during pushback in aircraft equipped with an engines-off taxi system for autonomous ground travel without reliance on operation of the aircraft main engines or tow vehicles, comprising:
a. in an aircraft equipped with a pilot controllable engines-off taxi system operable to drive the aircraft autonomously, providing a monitoring system comprising a plurality of different kinds of monitors, sensors, and sensor devices positioned in multiple locations on an exterior of the aircraft and at multiple heights above an airport ground surface selected to obtain information relating to the aircraft ground environment and space surrounding the aircraft's exterior during pushback; b. controlling the engines-off taxi system during pushback to drive the aircraft in a reverse direction along a defined pushback travel path away from an airport terminal wherein the aircraft is positioned in a nose-in orientation with a longest axis of the aircraft perpendicular to the airport terminal as the aircraft is moved in the reverse direction along the defined pushback travel path to a turning location, turning the aircraft in place at the turning location through an angle of about 180 degrees so that the aircraft is positioned in a nose-out orientation with a longest axis of the aircraft perpendicular to the airport terminal, and driving the aircraft in the nose-out orientation in a forward direction away from the airport terminal to a taxiway or takeoff runway; c. while the engines-off taxi system is controlled to drive the aircraft in reverse along the defined pushback travel path, turn the aircraft in place at the turning location, and then drive the aircraft forward, activating the monitoring system so that said plurality of monitors, sensors, and sensor devices continuously or intermittently sweep the aircraft ground environment and aircraft exterior surface and space to obtain and integrate real time information from the plurality of monitors, sensors, and sensor devices relating to the aircraft exterior environment in the defined pushback travel path and communicating the integrated information to the pilot; and d. in response to the communicated real time information, further controlling the engines-off taxi system to continue the pushback process without interruption and then drive the aircraft to a taxiway or to stop the aircraft when the communicated real time information indicates that the pushback process cannot be continued safely.