# US 10,501,207 B2 · System for assisting in the guiding of an aircraft on the ground

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- Number: US 10,501,207 B2
- Document ID: US10501207B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/418,257
- Filed: 2017-01-27
- Published: 2017-07-27
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2016-01-27
- Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH
- Applicants: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
- Inventors: Cyril Carradori; Ludovic Zimmermann; Antoine Rouiller; Patrick Orfila; Philippe Couzinie
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501207B2

## CPC

- B64F 1/002: {Taxiing aids}
- B64D 47/02: Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices
- B64F 1/22: for handling aircraft
- B64F 1/225: Vehicles specially adapted therefor, e.g. aircraft tow tractors
- B64F 5/10: Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
- G01C 15/105: {Optical plumbing}
- G08G 5/51: for control when on the ground, e.g. taxiing or rolling
- H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source}
- H04N 23/63: by using electronic viewfinders
- B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93})
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A system for assisting in guiding of an aircraft maneuvered by an aircraft tractor on the ground, the system including at least one projection device including a laser generating a laser beam fixed to an anchor point of the fuselage of the aircraft. A fixing mechanism is configured to fix the projection device to an anchor point of the fuselage, the laser beam from each laser projector then plotting a light trace on the ground to be used to assist in guiding the aircraft on the ground. A camera can film the light trace on the ground. A remote display device includes a screen, the display device being positioned on the aircraft tractor for the screen to be visible to an operator of the aircraft tractor, each projection device being connected to the display device, the display device being configured to display the image from each projection device camera.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for assisting in guiding an aircraft being maneuvered on a ground by an aircraft tractor, the system comprising:
at least one projection device comprising:
a laser projector arranged to generate a laser beam plotting at least one light trace on the ground;
a spirit level integral to the laser projector, the spirit level being configured to check a verticality of the laser beam generated by the laser projector; and
a camera arranged to film the light trace on the ground;
wherein the at least one projection device is attached to an anchor point of a fuselage of the aircraft; and
wherein a position of the laser projector is adjustable relative to the fuselage to ensure at least the verticality of the laser beam generated; and
a display device comprising a screen, the display device being positioned on the aircraft tractor for the screen to be visible to an operator of the aircraft tractor;
wherein each projection device is connected to the display device and the display device is configured to display the image from the camera of each projection device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least one projection device is connected to a relay device, the connection between the projection device and the display device being made via the relay device and the connection between the relay device and the display device being made by a wireless technology.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, comprising an axis of sight of the camera of the projection device being vertical, to the ground, its upwards extension comprising the anchor point of the fuselage to which the projection device is fixed, the camera then filming the light trace on the ground under the anchor point.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, the laser projector being a rotary laser level configured to generate a plane by a sweeping of the laser beam to plot a light trace on the ground and the fuselage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, the laser projector being a rotary laser level configured to generate a vertical plane by a sweeping of the laser beam, the vertical plane comprising the anchor point of the fuselage to which the projection device is fixed, wherein the position of the laser projected is adjustable to align the light trace on the fuselage with a marker present on the fuselage to superimpose the vertical plane generated by the rotary laser level on a vertical plane of symmetry of the fuselage of the aircraft.

### Claim 6

A method for installing a system for assisting in guiding an aircraft being maneuvered on a ground by an aircraft tractor, the system comprising:
at least one projection device comprising:
a laser projector;
a spirit level integral to the laser projector; and
a camera;
wherein the at least one projection device is attached to an anchor point of a fuselage of the aircraft; and
a display device comprising a screen, the display device being positioned on the aircraft tractor so the screen is visible to an operator of the aircraft tractor;
the method comprising:
fixing the projection device to an anchor point of the fuselage;
generating at least one laser beam using the laser projector of each projection device;
adjusting, using at least the spirit level of the projection device, at least a verticality of the laser beam generated by the laser projector;
plotting, using the laser projector, a light trace on the ground from the at least one laser beam to assist in guiding the aircraft on the ground;
filming the light trace on the ground;
positioning the display device on the aircraft tractor in a position that is visible to an operator of the aircraft tractor; and
connecting the projection device and the display device; and
displaying the image from the camera of each projection device on the display device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, the laser projector being a rotary laser level and the method comprising:
generating a vertical plane by sweeping the laser beam of the rotary laser level;
plotting the light trace on the fuselage;
adjusting, using at least the spirit level of the projection device, the verticality of the vertical plane generated by the rotary laser level; and
adjusting a position of the light trace on the fuselage to coincide with at least two markers present on the fuselage to superimpose the vertical plane generated by the rotary laser level on a vertical plane of symmetry of the fuselage.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein the vertical plane generated by sweeping the laser beam comprising the anchor point of the fuselage when the projection device is fixed to the anchor point, and wherein adjusting the position of the light trace on the fuselage to coincide with at least two markers is performed with a marker present on the fuselage in order to superimpose the vertical plane generated by the rotary laser level on the vertical plane of symmetry of the fuselage.