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US 7,975,959 B2Granted
System and method for transferring airplanes
AssigneeIsrael Aerospace Industries Ltd.
InventorsArie Perry, Ran Braier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for transferring airplanes and an unmanned airplane transfer system. The airplane transferring system includes: receiving a transfer signal responsive of a movement of an airplane control component; and transferring an airplane, by an unmanned airplane transfer system, in response to the transfer signal.
Claims23
An unmanned airplane transfer system, comprising:
- a transfer module comprising at least one motor and being configured thereby to transfer an airplane, said airplane comprising a control component configured to provide commands;
- and
- a controller being coupled to the transfer module and configured to receive a transfer signal that is responsive to one or more of said commands, and to control the transfer module in response to the transfer signal,
- a landing gear holder configured to firmly grip a nose landing gear of the airplane, said landing gear holder pivotally coupled to a structural element of the unmanned airplane transfer system;
- wherein the transfer signal is responsive to steering induced movement of the landing gear holder,
- wherein the controller is configured to control the transfer module steering in response to said transfer signal, and
- wherein at least one of said commands is by itself capable of controlling the airplane to be steered.
4 more elements
A method of using an unmanned airplane transfer system for transferring an airplane engaged to said transfer system, said airplane comprising a control component configured to provide commands, the method comprising:
- receiving by the unmanned transfer system a transfer signal responsive to one or more of said commands;
- and
- controlling the movement of said unmanned transfer system when transferring the airplane in response to said transfer signal,
- wherein at least one of said commands is by itself capable of controlling the airplane to be steered,
- wherein the unmanned transfer system comprises at least one motor involved in transferring the airplane, and
- wherein the transfer signal is responsive to steering control induced movements of a landing gear holder;
- said landing gear holder firmly grips a nose landing gear of the airplane and is pivotally coupled to a structural element of the unmanned airplane transfer system.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.