A sensor assembly for use in association with non-integrated, ground-based collision avoidance systems for aircraft, including (a) a sensor; and (b) a frame sub-assembly, wherein the sensor is releasably securable to the frame sub-assembly.

Devices, systems, and methods for determining aircraft orientation are described herein. One device includes instructions executable to determine a subsection of a rendering of a portion of an airport, wherein the subsection is associated with a particular stand of the airport, and wherein the subsection includes a plurality of ground travel pathways, determine a first subset of the plurality of pathways, a second subset of the plurality of pathways, and a third subset of the plurality of pathways, track a location of an outbound aircraft within the subsection of the rendering, determine an orientation of the aircraft according to a first set of rules responsive to a determination that the location of the aircraft is within the first or second subset of the plurality of pathways, and determine the orientation of the aircraft according to a second set of rules responsive to a determination that the location of the aircraft is within the third subset of the plurality of pathways.

An air passenger bridge with a coupling module for coupling to an aircraft, wherein the coupling module has a floor device. The floor device has a front edge, whereas said floor device with said front edge can be traveled towards a fuselage of an aircraft in a region below an aircraft door, and wherein a safety device is provided that is configured to avoid a collision of the floor device with the aircraft door. The safety device has at least one contactlessly acting proximity sensor that is integrated in the floor device.

Systems and methods for embedding a warning signal in a sensor pulse. When a taxi anticollision system of a host aircraft senses a threat headed for the aircraft, a warning signal is embedded in a sensor pulse to warn the offending vehicle that it is in the field of view of the host aircraft's sensor and is moving on a trajectory that is threatening collision with the host aircraft. Alternately, the radar issues a dedicated pulse for reading and alerting the receiving device.

An aircraft collision avoidance system including (a) at least one separation monitoring device connectable to at least a portion of an aircraft and/or vehicle, the separation monitoring device comprising (1) at least one transmitter, (2) at least one receiver, and (3) an image sensor, and (b) a master unit.

In some examples, a ground obstacle detection system of an aircraft is configured to generate and display a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a graphical representation of a detected obstacle with which the aircraft may collide during a ground operation and an indication of an area of unknown associated with the detected obstacle. Instead of, in addition to, a GUI that includes an indication of an area of unknown associated with an obstacle, in some examples, a ground obstacle detection system to generate a GUI that includes at least two windows that present different views of an aircraft. At least one of the windows may include a graphical representation of an obstacle that may not be visible in the view of another window.

Systems and methods for embedding a warning signal in a sensor pulse. When a taxi anticollision system of a host aircraft senses a threat headed for the aircraft, a warning signal is embedded in a sensor pulse to warn the offending vehicle that it is in the field of view of the host aircraft's sensor and is moving on a trajectory that is threatening collision with the host aircraft. Alternately, the radar issues a dedicated pulse for reading and alerting the receiving device.

A method and system for assisting a pilot of an aircraft when the aircraft is taxiing on a traffic lane of an airport are described. The system includes a unit for receiving at least a part of a path (TR) to be followed by the aircraft (AC) on the airport, a unit for surveying the airport so as to be able to detect a characteristic element of a traffic lane taken by the aircraft (AC), to determine a current relative position of the aircraft (AC) with respect to the characteristic element detected and to deduce therefrom at least one assistance information item, and a unit for assisting the pilot of the aircraft (AC) when taxiing on the airport by taking into account at least this assistance information item, this assistance being able to be implemented according to a plurality of different, more or less automated, assistance modes.

The system includes a unit for monitoring the aerodrome so as to be able to detect at least one obstacle to determine a current relative position and a current relative speed of the aircraft (AC) with respect to the detected obstacle, and to detect a future or potential collision of the aircraft (AC) with the obstacle according to at least this current relative position and this current relative speed. The system also includes a unit for, in the event of detection of a future collision, implementing at least one action intended to help to avoid this future collision. The system is configured to provide assistance to the pilot of the aircraft by improving his awareness of the future collision, by means of warning messages and/or ground navigation aids, and by providing protection of last resort in the form of an automatic avoidance maneuver.

The system for assisting the avoidance of an excursion by an aircraft from a runway or taxiway of an aerodrome includes a unit for monitoring the aerodrome so as to allow the detection, by optical detection, of a characteristic element of a pathway, for determining a current relative position of a landing gear of the aircraft (AC) with respect to the detected characteristic element, and for detecting a future excursion from the pathway of the aerodrome by the aircraft (AC) on the basis of at least this current relative position, and a unit for assisting the implementation of an action for assisting the avoidance of said future excursion. The system is configured for providing assistance to the pilot of the aircraft by improving his awareness of a potential excursion, by warning and/or ground navigation aid messages, and by providing protection of last resort via automatic braking.