Automated passenger loading bridge method
AssigneeDEW Engineering and Development Limited
InventorNeil Hutton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for automatically aligning a passenger bridge to a door of an aircraft. The apparatus includes a sensor in the form of a laser range finder, a local computer for receiving signals from the sensor and for controlling bridge movement in dependence thereof, and memory storage for storing data relating to features of aircraft models with which the bridge is to be connected. Automated bridge alignment proceeds under the control of the local computer in dependence upon a determined error factor exceeding a predetermined minimum threshold value, which value is one of a default value and a value specified by a user of the apparatus. Accordingly, the instant invention permits different airlines to accept varying levels of risk associated with automatic bridge alignment.
Claims38
An apparatus for positioning one end of a moveable bridge in relation to a door on a craft comprising:
- a sensor for transmitting light and for detecting said light, to determine the position of the one end of the moveable bridge in relation to the craft and for providing a signal in dependence thereon;
- and,
- a processor for receiving the signal from the sensor and for determining a next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge in dependence upon the signal, the processor also for determining an error factor in the determination of the next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge and for i) stopping the movement of the one end of the moveable bridge in dependence upon the determined error factor being within a first predetermined range of values, and ii) automatically performing the determined next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge in dependence upon the determined error factor being within a second other predetermined range of values not overlapping the first predetermined range of values.
An apparatus for prepositioning a passenger bridge in relation to a door on an aircraft comprising:
- a passenger bridge including a first end moveable for abutting an aircraft having a door and a second end for fixedly engaging a building;
- a sensor for transmitting light and for detecting said light, to determine the position of the first end of the passenger bridge in relation to the aircraft and for providing a signal in dependence thereof;
- a processor for receiving the signal from the sensor and for determining a next movement of the first end of the passenger bridge in dependence upon the signal, the processor also for determining an error factor in the determination of the next movement of the bridge and for comparing the determined error factor to a threshold value and for providing a control signal in dependence upon the determined error factor;
- a memory in communication with the processor for storing template data relating to an extractable feature for a plurality of different models of aircrafts relative to which the first end of the passenger bridge is to be positioned;
- and,
- a mechanism in communication with the processor for receiving the control signal therefrom, the mechanism for prepositioning the first end of the passenger bridge to a predetermined position in dependence upon the received control signal.
An apparatus for positioning one end of a moveable bridge in relation to a door on a craft comprising:
- an imager for capturing a plurality of images of a craft and for providing a signal indicative of some of the plurality of images;
- an image processor for receiving the signal from the imager, for determining a craft model therefrom, and for providing a second signal indicative of the determined craft model;
- and,
- a controller for receiving the second signal from the image processor and for determining a next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge in dependence upon the second signal, the processor also for determining an error factor in the determination of the next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge and for i) stopping the movement of the one end of the moveable bridge in dependence upon the determined error factor being within a first predetermined range of values, and ii) automatically performing the determined next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge in dependence upon the determined error factor being within a second other predetermined range of values not overlapping the first predetermined range of values.
A method for positioning one end of a moveable bridge in relation to a door on a craft comprising the steps of:
- a) determining the position of the one end of the moveable bridge in relation to the craft;
- b) determining a next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge in dependence upon the determined position, the next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge for moving the one end of the moveable bridge toward the craft;
- c) determining an error factor associated with the determination of the next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge;
- and,
- d) performing the determined next movement of the bridge in dependence upon the determined error factor being within a predetermined range of values.
A method for positioning one end of a moveable bridge in relation to a door on an aircraft comprising the steps of:
- a) determining the position of the one end of the moveable bridge in relation to the aircraft;
- b) identifying a model of the aircraft and retrieving information relating to the position of a door on the identified model of the aircraft;
- c) determining, in dependence upon the retrieved information, an expected stopping position of the door on the identified model of the aircraft;
- d) determining a next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge in dependence upon the determined position of the one end of the moveable bridge and the expected stopping position of the door on the identified model of the aircraft, the next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge for moving the one end of the moveable bridge toward the expected stopping position of the door on the identified model of the aircraft;
- e) determining an error factor associated with the determination of the next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge;
- and,
- f) performing the determined next movement of the bridge in dependence upon the determined error factor being within a predetermined range of values.
An apparatus for positioning one end of a moveable bridge in relation to a door on a craft comprising
- a sensor for sensing a location of the craft relative to the one end of the moveable bridge and for providing sensor data in dependence upon the sensed location;
- and,
- a controller for receiving the sensor data, and for determining a next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge toward the sensed craft in dependence upon the sensor data, the controller also for determining an error factor in the determination of the next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge toward the sensed craft and for i) stopping the movement of the one end of the moveable bridge in dependence upon the determined error factor being within a first predetermined range of values, and ii) automatically performing the determined next movement of the one end of the moveable bridge toward the sensed craft in dependence upon the determined error factor being within a second other predetermined range of values not overlapping the first predetermined range of values.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.