An aircraft collision avoidance system includes a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors, a plurality of sensor processors, a plurality of transmitters, and a display device. Each 3D LIDAR sensor is enclosed in an aircraft exterior lighting fixture that is configured for mounting on an aircraft, and is configured to sense objects within its field-of-view and supply sensor data. Each sensor processor receives sensor data and processes the received sensor data to determine locations and physical dimensions of the sensed objects. Each transmitter receives the object data, and is configured to transmit the received object data. The display device receives and fuses the object data transmitted from each transmitter, fuses the object data and selectively generates one or more potential obstacle alerts based on the fused object data.

In some examples, a collision awareness system includes two cameras mounted on portions of a vehicle and processing circuitry configured to determine a position of an object based on an image captured by a first camera when the object is within a field of view of the first camera. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine the position of the object based on an image captured by a second camera when the object is within a field of view of the second camera. The processing circuitry is also configured to determine whether a distance between a future position of the vehicle and a current or future position of the object is less than a threshold level. In response to determine that the distance is less than the threshold level, the processing circuitry can generate an alert.

One variation of a tram system includes: a chassis; a latch configured to selectively engage a latch receiver mounted to an aircraft; an alignment feature adjacent the latch and configured to engage an alignment receiver mounted to the aircraft and to communicate acceleration and braking forces from the chassis into the aircraft; an optical sensor facing upwardly from the chassis; a drivetrain configured to accelerate and decelerate the chassis along a runway; and a controller configured to detect an optical fiducial arranged on the aircraft in optical images recorded by the optical sensor adjust a speed of the drivetrain to longitudinally align the alignment feature with the alignment receiver based on positions of the optical fiducial detected in the optical images, trigger the latch to engage the latch receiver once the aircraft has descended onto the chassis, and trigger the drivetrain to actively decelerate the chassis during a landing routine.

There is disclosed an apparatus (100) for alerting an operator to the presence of obstacles (50, 52) during the towing or push-back of an aircraft (10) while it is on the ground, the apparatus (100) comprising: a self-propelled platform (110); at least one sensor (120) attached to said platform, configured to sense potential obstacles; and a communication system (130) attached to said platform for transmitting data relating to said sensed obstacles, the communication system being operable to communicate with at least one of: a same said apparatus; an operator control panel; a command centre (70); the aircraft (10) being towed or pushed-back; and a vehicle (20) towing or pushing-back the aircraft. There is also disclosed an aircraft collision avoidance system (200) for use during towing or push-back of an aircraft while it is on the ground, the system comprising: at least one apparatus (100a) as aforesaid; and a carrier (250) configured to carry said at least one apparatus.

Airport gate visual docking guidance system digital twin methods, systems, and devices are described herein. One method includes: identifying that a device of the visual docking guidance system is non-responsive, determining which device is non-responsive, initiating start-up of one visual docking guidance system program selected from: a visual docking guidance system software program, a central computing system program, or an operating station program, selecting a digital twin data set corresponding to the device of the visual docking guidance system that was non-responsive, wherein the set includes parameter data that was customized by a user of the visual docking guidance system and is particular to the device of the visual docking guidance system that was non-responsive, and sending the digital twin parameter data to the device of the visual docking guidance system that was non-responsive to update one or more parameters stored in association with the visual docking guidance system program.

An aircraft landing event system is disclosed including a processor, the processor being configured to receive aircraft braking performance information from a plurality of aircraft that have performed a landing event on a particular runway. The processor is configured to determine an aircraft braking performance indicator on the basis of the aircraft braking performance information of the plurality of aircraft, and communicate the aircraft braking performance indicator to an aircraft landing system of an approaching aircraft that is about to perform a landing event on the particular runway.

A system and method for alerting when a trend vector associated with a traffic aircraft is predicted to intercept a travel route of an ownship aircraft. A control module receives real-time aircraft state data, flight plan data, and traffic data associated with the traffic aircraft. The control module processes these data and constructs the travel route of the ownship aircraft from the current location to the intended destination The control module generates the trend vector associated with the traffic aircraft, predicts a location of an intersection of the trend vector and the travel route, determines an amount of time it will take for the ownship aircraft to reach the location of the intersection, and generates display commands that cause the display device to generate an alert that visually distinguishes the location on the image based at least in part on the amount of time.

A ground collision avoidance method in an ownship vehicle is disclosed. The method includes: retrieving position measurements for the ownship vehicle and for a dynamic obstacle; retrieving mapping data from an airport map database that includes coordinate data for airport travel pathways; adjusting a position measurement for the ownship vehicle and a position measurement for the dynamic obstacle based on coordinate data retrieved from the airport map database and historical aircraft movement data; predicting a series of future positions for the ownship vehicle that are constrained by airport surface operation rules; predicting a series of future positions for the dynamic obstacle that are constrained by airport surface operation rules; calculating whether a potential collision is imminent; and causing a collision alert to be displayed when the processor has determined that a potential collision between the ownship vehicle and the dynamic obstacle is imminent.

Disclosed are an aircraft ground guidance system and method based on semantic recognition of a controller instruction. The system includes a semantic recognition module, a path generation and geographic information system (GIS) mapping module, and an aircraft guidance terminal module. The system can improve safety of aircraft ground operation, does not require manual operation of an aircraft guidance vehicle, can reduce construction, transformation, maintenance and operation costs, and meets airport control requirements, and a highly reliable, low-fault, economical and practical airport control decision support system and aircraft ground guidance system in an airport flight area are formed, improving the safety of aircraft ground operation.

A collision avoidance system for aircraft. A light fixture assembly includes a housing with a base and a clear dome over the base. The base including an aircraft attachment element that allows for drop-in replacement of original light housings. An aircraft light is within the housing, as well as an ultrasonic sensor. The sensor is tied to a warning indicator configured to issue an alert when the light fixture approaches an obstacle. The installation provides a permanent replacement for wing lights or taillights, whereby the proximity sensors are always on the aircraft, and do not need to be added once landed.