US 12,304,463 B2
Airport vehicle having an anti-collision system and method for operating a vehicle having an anti-collision system
Martin Vestergaard, Gadstrup (DK); Jonas Gaard Andersen, Gadstrup (DK); and Jens Bonde, Gadstrup (DK)
Assigned to Power Stow International ApS, Gadstrup (DK)
Appl. No. 17/764,494
Filed by Power Stow International ApS, Gadstrup (DK)
PCT Filed Sep. 29, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IB2020/059105
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 28, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/064573, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 8, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. PCT/IB2019/058289 (WO), filed on Sep. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0396260 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. B60W 30/09 (2012.01); B60T 7/22 (2006.01); B60W 10/18 (2012.01); B60W 50/14 (2020.01); B64F 1/32 (2006.01)
CPC B60W 30/09 (2013.01) [B60T 7/22 (2013.01); B60W 10/18 (2013.01); B60W 50/14 (2013.01); B64F 1/32 (2013.01); B60T 2201/022 (2013.01); B60W 2420/408 (2024.01); B60W 2540/12 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An airport vehicle comprising:
a drivetrain; and
an anti-collision system configured to prevent a collision between the airport vehicle and an aircraft when the airport vehicle is approaching in close proximity of the aircraft to a luggage/cargo loading/unloading position, the anti-collision system comprising:
a distance sensor configured to sense a distance parameter between a front end of the airport vehicle and the aircraft;
a 3D sensor system, comprising two individual 3D sensors,
wherein each 3D sensor is configured to sense parameters of different parts of at least one of the aircraft or the airport vehicle, including a left door side and a right door side of an aircraft hold door frame and the front end of the airport vehicle;
a brake activation system configured to activate the braking system of the airport vehicle with a given braking force;
an operator visual indication system comprising a number of light indicators configured to provide visual indicative guiding to a vehicle operator in manoeuvring the front end into or out of the loading/unloading position;
an anti-collision processing system configured to:
control the visual indication system as a result of the sensed parameters from the distance sensor and the 3D sensors, and
control the brake activation system depending on the sensed parameters such that when a predefined minimum distance is sensed by the distance sensor, the visual indication system and the brake activation system are activated, and when the 3D sensor senses an aircraft part, at least one of the visual indication system or the brake activation system is activated,
wherein the brake activation system is configured to control an approaching speed of the airport vehicle by continuously controlling the brake system of the airport vehicle independently of any controlling and activation of the drivetrain of the airport vehicle such that an approaching speed of the airport vehicle is controlled independently of any controlling and activation of the drivetrain by the vehicle operator,
wherein the anti-collision processing system further comprises a wheel alignment sensing arrangement comprising a wheel position sensor configured to sense a directional position of the wheels of the airport vehicle,
wherein said anti-collision processing system is configured to control the brake activation system and the visual indication system based on information from the wheel alignment sensing arrangement,
wherein the brake activation system is activated when the wheels are not substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction of the airport vehicle when the vehicle starts backing away from the aircraft and the airport vehicle is within a specific distance from the aircraft, and
wherein the visual indication system comprises a number of indicators for emitting a light pattern towards the vehicle operator,
wherein the light pattern indicates which way the vehicle operator must turn steering wheels in order for the steering wheels to be aligned with the airport vehicle.