US 11,107,360 B1Granted

Automated air traffic control systems and methods

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsGur Kimchi, Brian Beckman

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Abstract

Automated air traffic control systems and methods may include one or more sensors, such as radar sensors, that are positioned and oriented at opposite ends of a runway. The sensors may detect aerial vehicles on the runway, as well as aerial vehicles within approach corridors at opposite ends of the runway, and other aerial vehicles proximate the runway. Based on data received by the sensors, various characteristics of aerial vehicles can be determined, and instructions for the aerial vehicles can be determined based on the detected characteristics. Then, the aerial vehicles may utilize the determined instructions to coordinate their operations proximate the runway, which may include takeoff, taxiing, and/or landing operations. Further, speech-to-data processing may be used to translate between data and speech or audio input/output in order to enable coordination between unmanned aerial vehicles, manned aerial vehicles, and combinations thereof.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An automated air traffic control system, comprising:

a first set of radar sensors positioned at a first end of a runway, the first set of radar sensors including:
a first radar sensor oriented towards a first approach corridor associated with the first end of the runway;
and
a second radar sensor oriented towards the runway from the first end of the runway;
a second set of radar sensors positioned at a second end of the runway opposite the first end, the second set of radar sensors including:
a third radar sensor oriented towards a second approach corridor associated with the second end of the runway;
and
a fourth radar sensor oriented towards the runway from the second end of the runway;
and
a controller in communication with each of the first set of radar sensors and the second set of radar sensors, the controller configured to at least:
receive, from a first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on the runway, flight data associated with the first UAV;
receive, from at least one of the second radar sensor or the fourth radar sensor, sensor data associated with the first UAV on the runway;
receive, from a second UAV within at least one of the first approach corridor or the second approach corridor, flight data associated with the second UAV;
receive, from at least one of the first radar sensor or the third radar sensor, sensor data associated with the second UAV within at least one of the first approach corridor or the second approach corridor;
process the flight data and the sensor data associated with the first and second UAVs;
determine first instruction data for the first UAV and second instruction data for the second UAV based at least in part on the flight data and the sensor data associated with the first and second UAVs;
transmit the first instruction data to the first UAV;
and
transmit the second instruction data to the second UAV.

16 more elements

A system, comprising:

a first sensor positioned at a first lengthwise end of a runway and having a first field of view oriented towards the runway;
a second sensor positioned at a second, opposite lengthwise end of the runway and having a second field of view oriented towards the runway;
wherein the first field of view of the first sensor and the second field of view of the second sensor are oriented towards each other;
and
a controller in communication with each of the first sensor and the second sensor, the controller configured to at least:
receive, from at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor, sensor data associated with an aerial vehicle in proximity to the runway;
process the sensor data associated with the aerial vehicle;
determine instruction data for the aerial vehicle based at least in part on the sensor data associated with the aerial vehicle;
and
transmit the instruction data to the aerial vehicle.

7 more elements

A method, comprising:

receiving, by a controller from at least one of a first sensor or a second sensor, sensor data associated with an aerial vehicle in proximity to a runway, the first sensor positioned at a first lengthwise end of the runway and having a first field of view oriented towards the runway, and the second sensor positioned at a second, opposite lengthwise end of the runway and having a second field of view oriented towards the runway, the first and second fields of view of the first and second sensors being oriented towards each other;
processing, by the controller, the sensor data associated with the aerial vehicle;
determining, by the controller, instruction data for the aerial vehicle based at least in part on the sensor data associated with the aerial vehicle;
and
transmitting, by the controller, the instruction data to the aerial vehicle.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.