Foreign object detection system and method

Abstract

A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces including a plurality of foreign object detector modules mounted on a corresponding plurality of existing aircraft travel surface lighting supports, the plurality of foreign object detector modules providing a corresponding plurality of detection outputs and a high speed detection output analyzer operative to receive at least one of the plurality of detection outputs and to provide a high speed output indication of foreign object presence.

1 . A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces comprising:
 a plurality of foreign object detector modules mounted on a corresponding plurality of existing aircraft travel surface lighting supports, said plurality of foreign object detector modules providing a corresponding plurality of detection outputs; and   a high speed detection output analyzer operative to receive at least one of said plurality of detection outputs and to provide a high speed output indication of foreign object presence.   
   
   
       2 . A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces according to  claim 1  wherein said airport travel surfaces include at least one taxiway and at least one runway and said system employs at least some existing electrical power infrastructure associated with existing runway and taxiway lighting fixtures. 
   
   
       3 . A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces according to  claim 1  and wherein said plurality of foreign object detector modules communicate with a computer system comprising an operator console operative to provide a foreign object presence alarm and an image of the foreign object to an operator. 
   
   
       4 . A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces according to  claim 3  and wherein said high speed detection output analyzer is located in the vicinity of said operator console. 
   
   
       5 . A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces according to  claim 1  and also including a laser pointer associated with at least one of said plurality of foreign object detector modules to assist in on-site inspections. 
   
   
       6 . A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces according to  claim 1  and wherein at least one of said plurality of foreign object detector modules incorporates at least one foreign object sensor module and a local processing module which receives an output from said at least one foreign object sensor module and provides said detection output including at least an initial determination of whether a foreign object is present. 
   
   
       7 . A system for detection of foreign objects according to  claim 6  and wherein said local processing module comprises multiple sensor correlation software providing an output based on the correlation between said output from multiple ones of said at least one foreign object sensor module in said detector module. 
   
   
       8 . A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces according to  claim 1  and wherein at least one of said plurality of foreign object detector modules incorporates at least one foreign object sensor module which provides said detection output to said high speed detection output analyzer which is remotely located with respect thereto. 
   
   
       9 . A system for detection of foreign objects according to  claim 8  and wherein said high speed detection output analyzer comprises multiple sensor correlation software providing an output based on the correlation between said detection output from multiple ones of said at least one foreign object sensor module in individual ones of said plurality of detector modules. 
   
   
       10 . A system for detection of foreign objects according to  claim 8  and wherein said high speed detection output analyzer comprises multiple detector correlation software providing an output based on the correlation between said detection output from multiple ones of said at least one foreign object sensor module in multiple ones of said plurality of detector modules.