System and method for aligning passenger boarding bridges

Abstract

A sensor is disposed aboard an aircraft for sensing movement of a passenger boarding bridge during an automated alignment operation. Determinations are made whether the actual sensed movements of the passenger boarding bridge correspond to expected movements of the passenger boarding bridge for a current alignment operation. If the sensed movements do not correspond to the expected movements, then a transmitter aboard the aircraft is used to transmit an anti-collision signal to an automated controller of the passenger boarding bridge.

1 . A system for aligning in an automated fashion an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft, the passenger boarding bridge equipped with a controller and a drive system, the controller for providing first control signals to the drive system for effecting a movement of the aircraft-engaging end along a direction toward the doorway of the aircraft, the system comprising: 
 a transmitter disposed aboard the aircraft for wirelessly transmitting second control signals to the controller, the second control signals for use by the controller in determining the first control signals;    a sensor disposed aboard the aircraft for sensing movement of the passenger boarding bridge during a current alignment operation; and,    a processor in communication with the sensor for receiving therefrom data relating to the sensed movement of the passenger boarding bridge, and for comparing the data to other data relating to an expected movement of the passenger boarding bridge based upon the transmitted second control signals.    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is for providing an anti-collision signal for transmission by the transmitter if the sensed movement differs from the expected movement by more than a predetermined threshold value.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the anti-collision signal comprises an emergency-stop command.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an imager for capturing an image of the passenger boarding bridge during the current alignment operation.  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a digital video camera for capturing a video segment of the passenger boarding bridge during the current alignment operation.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a digital still camera for capturing a series of images of the passenger boarding bridge during the current alignment operation.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is for transmitting the second control signals in the form of bridge movement instruction signals for the current alignment operation.  
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is for transmitting the second control signals in the form of a beacon signal.  
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 1 , comprising a user interface disposed aboard the aircraft for receiving from a user an input signal relating to a desired bridge movement instruction for the current alignment operation, and for providing an output signal to the transmitter for transmission thereby, the output signal relating to the desired bridge movement, the output signal for inclusion in the second control signals.  
   
   
       10 . A method for aligning in an automated fashion an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft, the method comprising: 
 transmitting a signal from the aircraft to an automated controller of the passenger boarding bridge, the signal for initiating a desired movement of the passenger boarding bridge during a current bridge alignment operation;    during the current bridge alignment operation, using a sensor disposed aboard the aircraft to sense an actual movement of the passenger boarding bridge;    comparing the actual movement to the desired movement; and,    if the actual movement differs from the desired movement by more than a predetermined threshold value, using the transmitter to transmit an anti-collision signal.    
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the anti-collision signal comprises an emergency-stop signal.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the anti-collision signal comprises a retract bridge signal.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the anti-collision signal comprises a power-down signal.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein sensing the actual movement of the passenger boarding bridge comprises capturing an image of the passenger boarding bridge.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the desired movement is for confirming a communication link between the aircraft and the automated controller.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the sensor is an individual aboard the aircraft and wherein transmitting a signal from the aircraft comprises the individual providing a command via a user interface, the command for initiating the desired movement of the passenger boarding bridge.  
   
   
       17 . A method for aligning in an automated fashion an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft, the method comprising: 
 parking the aircraft within a parking space that is adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge;    using a sensor disposed aboard the aircraft, sensing an initial position of the passenger boarding bridge relative to the aircraft for a current alignment operation;    during the current alignment operation, using the sensor to sense movements of the passenger boarding bridge from the initial position along a direction toward the doorway of the aircraft;    comparing the sensed movements of the passenger boarding bridge with expected movements of the passenger boarding bridge for the given initial position of the passenger boarding bridge; and,    if the sensed movements differ from the expected movements by more than a predetermined threshold value, using a transmitter disposed aboard the aircraft to transmit an anti-collision signal.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the anti-collision signal comprises an emergency-stop signal.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the anti-collision signal comprises a retract bridge signal.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the anti-collision signal comprises a power-down signal.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein sensing movements of the passenger boarding bridge comprises capturing an image of the passenger boarding bridge.  
   
   
       22 . A method for establishing communication between a passenger boarding bridge and an aircraft, comprising: 
 parking the aircraft within a parking space that is adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge;    using a sensor disposed aboard the aircraft, sensing movements of the passenger boarding bridge;    comparing the sensed movements of the passenger boarding bridge with expected movements of the passenger boarding bridge, the expected movements comprising a predetermined sequence of movements; and,    when the sensed movements and the expected movements are the same to within predetermined threshold values, aligning the passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of the aircraft in an automated fashion.    
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the predetermined sequence of movements is for providing a visually distinguishable indication that the passenger boarding bridge is in a condition for being aligned with the doorway of the aircraft.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23 , comprising providing a processor disposed aboard the aircraft and in communication with the sensor, wherein the processor is for comparing the sensed movements of the passenger boarding bridge with expected movements of the passenger boarding bridge.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein aligning the passenger boarding bridge with the doorway of the aircraft comprises transmitting a command from the aircraft to an automated bridge controller, the command for initiating an automated alignment process.  
   
   
       26 . A method for establishing communication between a passenger boarding bridge and an aircraft, comprising: 
 waiting for an aircraft to approach a parking space that is adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge;    performing a predetermined sequence of movements of the passenger boarding bridge for providing a visually distinguishable indication that the passenger boarding bridge is in a condition for being aligned with a doorway of the aircraft;    receiving a signal transmitted from the aircraft for initiating an automated bridge alignment operation, the signal for indicating that the predetermined sequence of movements conformed with expected movements to within a predetermined threshold value;    in dependence upon receiving the signal from the aircraft, initiating an automated alignment operation of the passenger boarding bridge to the doorway of the aircraft.    
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the predetermined sequence of movements is performed in response to receiving a call signal from the aircraft.  
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 26 , comprising using a sensor disposed aboard the passenger boarding bridge to sense the approach of the aircraft within the parking space that is adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge.  
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the predetermined sequence of movements is performed in response to sensing the approach of the aircraft within the parking space that is adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge.  
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein receiving a signal transmitted from the aircraft is performed using a receiver disposed aboard the passenger boarding bridge and in communication with an automated bridge controller.  
   
   
       31 . A method for aligning in an automated fashion an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft, the method comprising: 
 parking the aircraft within a parking space that is adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge;    using a sensor disposed aboard the aircraft, sensing an initial position of the passenger boarding bridge relative to the aircraft for a current alignment operation;    during the current alignment operation, using the sensor to sense movements of the passenger boarding bridge from the initial position along a direction toward the doorway of the aircraft;    based upon the sensed movements of the passenger boarding bridge, determining a value relating to a probability of a collision involving the passenger boarding bridge and the aircraft during the current alignment operation; and,    if the determined value is outside a range of predetermined threshold values, transmitting from the aircraft a signal for aborting the current alignment operation.    
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein sensing movements of the passenger boarding bridge comprises capturing images of the passenger boarding bridge during the current alignment operation.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein transmitting a signal for aborting the current alignment operation comprises transmitting an optical signal.  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein transmitting a signal for aborting the current alignment operation comprises transmitting a radio frequency signal.