Aerial ropeway hazard sensing system and method

A method of performing a plurality of safety functions on an aerial ropeway system comprising a plurality of carriers mounted on a ropeway cable, and a carrier unloading/loading station having a carrier unloading ramp and a carrier loading ramp, the method comprising at least two of:

• sensing, with a first forwardly directed radar beam, velocity and swinging displacement of an approaching carrier while the carrier is a distance from the unloading ramp and generating a first sensing signal in response thereto;
• sensing with a second radar beam directed downwardly and toward at least a portion of the unloading ramp, a skier fallen from a carrier and generating a second sensing signal in response thereto;
• sensing with a third radar beam, directed transversely to the first radar beam, carrier swing of a carrier before the carrier enters or after it leaves the loading/unloading station and generating a third sensing signal in response thereto;
• and
• sensing with a fourth radar beam a hazard condition of a carrier when the carrier is positioned within the unloading/loading station.

A method of performing a plurality of safety functions on an aerial ropeway system comprising a plurality of carriers mounted on a ropeway cable, and a carrier unloading/loading station having a carrier unloading ramp and a carrier loading ramp, the method comprising at least two of:

• sensing, with a first forwardly directed radar beam transmitted from a location proximate a forward end of said unloading ramp, velocity and swinging displacement of an approaching carrier while the carrier is a distance from the unloading ramp and generating a first sensing signal in response thereto;
• sensing with a second radar beam, transmitted from a location proximate a rearward of said unloading ramp and directed downwardly and toward at least a portion of the unloading ramp, a skier fallen from a carrier and generating a second sensing signal in response thereto;
• sensing with a third radar beam, transmitted from a location forward of said unloading station and directed transversely to the first radar beam, carrier swing of a carrier before the carrier enters or after it leaves the loading/unloading station and generating a third sensing signal in response thereto;
• and
• sensing with a fourth radar beam, transmitted from a location proximate a rearward end of said loading station, a hazard condition of a carrier when the carrier is positioned within the unloading/loading station.