Radio frequency identification based system and method for aligning one end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft

A system for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft, comprising:

• a first passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for being disposed at a known first location aboard the aircraft relative to the doorway, the first passive RFID tag comprising a first tag antenna and a first integrated circuit for encoding first data that is unique to the first passive RFID tag;
• a first directional RFID reader for being disposed proximate the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge, the first directional RFID reader comprising a plurality of first radio frequency (rf) antenna elements for conductively coupling with the first tag antenna so as to support exchange of first wireless communication signals therebetween, and a first processor for determining first directional information relating to the first passive RFID tag based on the exchanged first wireless communication signals;
• and,
• a bridge controller in communication with the first directional RFID reader for determining a movement of the passenger boarding bridge toward the doorway of the aircraft based on the determined first directional information.

A method for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft, the aircraft equipped with a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is disposed at a known location relative to the doorway, the method comprising:

• moving the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge to an interrogation position, the interrogation position based on an expected stopping location of the doorway of the aircraft;
• using a plurality of antenna elements disposed aboard the passenger boarding bridge, emitting a radio frequency (rf) interrogation signal for energizing the passive RFID tag;
• using the plurality of antenna elements disposed aboard the passenger boarding bridge, receiving a modulated form of the rf interrogation signal after reflection from the passive RFID tag;
• determining an angle of arrival of the modulated form of the rf interrogation signal based on differences in the signal received at each of the plurality of antenna elements;
• based on the determined angle of arrival, determining a movement of the passenger boarding bridge toward the doorway of the aircraft;
• and,
• automatically performing the determined movement of the passenger boarding bridge toward the doorway of the aircraft.

A method for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft, the aircraft equipped with a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is disposed at a known location relative to the doorway, the method comprising:

• using a directional RFID reader that is disposed proximate the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge, transmitting a radio frequency (rf) interrogation signal for energizing the passive RFID tag;
• receiving an rf signal at the directional RFID reader, the rf signal being a modulated form of the rf interrogation signal reflected from the passive RFID tag, wherein the modulation is indicative of data that is encoded uniquely within the passive RFID tag;
• determining angle of arrival data based on differences in the rf signal received at each antenna element of a plurality of antenna elements of the directional RFID reader;
• determining an intensity of the rf signal received at the directional RFID reader;
• based on the determined angle of arrival data and the determined intensity, determining a movement of the passenger boarding bridge for moving the aircraft-engaging end thereof toward the doorway of the aircraft;
• and,
• automatically performing the determined movement of the passenger boarding bridge toward the doorway of the aircraft.

A system for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft, comprising:

• a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for being disposed at a known location aboard the aircraft relative to the doorway, the passive RFID tag comprising a tag antenna and an integrated circuit for encoding data that is unique to the passive RFID tag;
• a plurality of antenna elements for being disposed proximate the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge, for emitting radio frequency waves and for receiving from the passive RFID tag a wireless data communication signal including the encoded data;
• a processor for identifying the encoded data within the wireless data communication signal, for determining an angle of arrival of the encoded data based on differences in signal received at each of the plurality of antenna elements and for determining an intensity of the signal including the encoded data;
• and,
• a bridge controller in communication with the processor for determining a movement of the passenger boarding bridge toward the doorway of the aircraft based on the determined angle of arrival of the encoded data and the intensity of the signal including the encoded data.

A method for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft, the aircraft equipped with a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the method comprising:

• providing a visual docking guidance system (VDGS) in association with the passenger boarding bridge;
• identifying a type and sub-type of the aircraft;
• based on the identified type and sub-type of the aircraft, guiding the aircraft to a predetermined stopping position adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge;
• interrogating the passive RFID tag using a RFID reader that is disposed proximate the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge;
• receiving from the passive RFID tag a wireless data communication signal in response to the passive RFID tag being interrogated, the wireless data communication signal including data that is encoded by an integrated circuit of the passive RFID tag, the data including type and sub-type information for the aircraft;
• comparing the type and sub-type information for the aircraft as received from the passive RFID tag to the identified type and sub-type of the aircraft;
• and,
• when the comparison results in a match, automatically aligning the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge with the doorway of the aircraft.