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US 8,245,980 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.
Claims29
An unmanned airplane transfer system, comprising:
- a transfer module configured for the transfer of an airplane by firmly gripping a nose landing gear of the airplane, the transfer module comprising a skid steering arrangement configured to rotate the transfer module;
- and
- a controller coupled to the transfer module, adapted to control steering of the transfer module in response to steering control signals associated with rotational movement of the nose landing gear induced by steering of the airplane;
- wherein in response to said rotational movement of the nose landing gear, the controller is configured to induce rotation of the transfer module by the skid steering arrangement, to align the transfer module with the rotated nose landing gear.
1 more element
A method for transferring an airplane, the method comprising:
- providing a transfer module configured for the transfer of the airplane by firmly gripping a nose landing gear of the airplane, the transfer module comprising a skid steering arrangement configured to rotate the transfer module;
- receiving, by a controller coupled to the transfer module, steering control signals associated with rotational movement of the nose landing gear induced by steering of the airplane;
- controlling the steering of the transfer module, by the controller, in response to the steering control signals;
- and
- inducing, by the controller, rotation of the transfer module by the skid steering arrangement, in response to the rotational movement of the nose land gear, thereby aligning the transfer module with the rotated nose landing gear.
2 more elements
An unmanned airplane transfer system, comprising:
- a transfer module configured for the transfer of an airplane, said transfer module comprising:
- a landing gear holder configured to firmly grip a nose landing gear of the airplane and pivotally coupled to a structural element of the transfer module so as to rotate together with said nose landing gear during steering of the airplane;
- and a skid steering arrangement configured to rotate the transfer module;
- and
- a controller coupled to the transfer module, adapted to control steering of the transfer module in response to steering control signals associated with rotational movement of the landing gear holder induced by steering of the airplane;
- wherein in response to said rotational movement of the landing gear holder, the controller is configured to induce rotation of the transfer module by said skid steering arrangement, to align said transfer module with the rotated nose landing gear being gripped by said landing gear holder.
3 more elements
An unmanned airplane transfer system, comprising:
- a transfer module configured for the transfer of an airplane by firmly gripping a nose landing gear of the airplane;
- and
- a controller coupled to the transfer module, adapted to control steering of the transfer module in response to steering control signals associated with rotational movement of the nose landing gear induced by steering of the airplane;
- wherein in response to said rotational movement of the nose landing gear, the controller is configured to induce rotation of the transfer module, to align said transfer module with the rotated nose landing gear.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.