An offscreen traffic information indicator system includes signal receivers for receiving traffic messages from proximate air and ground vehicles and a traffic indicator for determining the positions of the host aircraft and the proximate vehicles based on the traffic messages. Based on the locations of the host aircraft and proximate vehicles and their proximity to airport runways, the traffic indicator may designate runways as relevant runways (or receive relevant runway designations from the flight management system of the host aircraft) and designate proximate vehicles as relevant to the host aircraft. A display unit may display, along with a dynamic map of a region near the host aircraft, relevant runway indicators for relevant runways within the mapped region and offscreen traffic indicators for relevant aircraft positioned outside the mapped region.

A collision avoidance system for an airplane under tow may include a sensing device configured to capture image data of at least a portion of the airplane and an object while the airplane is being towed. The sensing device may be located remotely to both the airplane and the object. Positions of two or more features of the airplane may be determined based on the image data. A bounding box encompassing the airplane may be generated based, at least in part, on the positions of the two or more features. Additionally, based on a comparison of the position of an object relative to the bounding box, it may be determined whether the object is within a predetermined distance from the airplane.

The invention relates to a method for guiding an aircraft along a reference path, said method comprising: a) when the altitude of the aircraft is greater than a threshold, estimating (E1) a relative location of the aircraft in relation to a taxiing starting point using a map of the platform and reference points on the ground, b) when the altitude of the aircraft is less than said threshold and before the aircraft is located at the taxiing starting point, estimating (E2) a relative location of the aircraft in relation to the taxiing starting point using data relating to the absolute location of the aircraft and the last relative location estimated at step a), c) when the aircraft is located at the taxiing starting point, guiding (E3) the aircraft on the basis of a location of the aircraft relative to the reference path as estimated using data relating to a set of indicators on the ground.

Systems and methods for on-ground vehicle collision avoidance utilizing shared vehicle hazard sensor data are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises: a ground based hazard data aggregation system comprising at least one memory storing a hazard position database; and at least one vehicle-ground communications electronics system coupled to the aggregation system; wherein the aggregation system is communicatively coupled to an onboard ground hazard collision avoidance system of at least a first on-ground subscriber vehicle through a wireless datalink established via the vehicle-ground communications electronics system; wherein the hazard position database stores vehicle collected hazard position data generated by a first on-ground contributing vehicle; and wherein the ground based hazard data aggregation system transmits to the first on-ground subscriber vehicle aggregated hazard position data from the hazard position database, the aggregated hazard position data including the vehicle collected hazard position data generated by the first on-ground contributing vehicle.

Collision warning systems, collision warning devices, and methods of operating collision warning systems are disclosed herein. A collision warning system includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of proximity sensors and a computer device. The plurality of proximity sensors are configured to mount on an aircraft and to generate a proximity signal. The computer device is communicatively coupled with the plurality of proximity sensors and is configured to determine a location in which the collision warning system is located, where the location includes at least one of a country and a region. The computer device is further configured to select an active linguistic profile based on the location, where the active linguistic profile includes at least one of a language and a dialect. The computer device is yet further configured to alert ground crew of potential collisions using the active linguistic profile and based on the proximity signal.

A stationary object identification system includes memory and a transmitter. The memory has obstacle data stored therein that includes a plurality of parameters associated with each of a plurality of stationary obstacles located at a location, such as an aerodrome. The transmitter is in operable communication with the memory and is configured to generate a plurality of signals. Each of the signals is associated with a different one of the stationary obstacles and has a power level representative of the plurality of parameters associated with the stationary obstacle.

A system and method for setting, controlling, or maintaining a selected taxi speed and route for one or more aircraft equipped with an onboard non-engine powered drive means powering one or more aircraft wheels to move the aircraft during taxi is provided. Taxi speed and/or route can be set, maintained, or controlled by the aircraft pilot or ground traffic control in conjunction with taxi speed and travel of other aircraft and ground vehicles. A pilot activates a speed control to set and control taxi speed. The aircraft will automatically travel on the ground at that speed without input from the pilot until it is necessary to change the speed manually or automatically. Airport ground traffic control can generate taxi profiles for all non-engine driven aircraft to automatically control, subject to pilot capability to override, the taxi of multiple aircraft at an airport in conjunction with ground vehicle movement.

Processing arrangement for managing temporary updates to a map for use by vehicular navigation systems in vehicles in which a communications system at a remote site receives wireless communications from each vehicle including information about presence of an object or condition at a specific location automatically identified at the specific location without requiring manual entry of data about the object or condition at the specific location and that affects movement of vehicles on a roadway. A processor generates a map update for use by vehicular navigation systems based on the identified object or condition at the specific location which is transmitted to any vehicle in a vicinity of the specific location to cause the vehicular navigation system of that vehicle to use a map with the generated map update to display or otherwise indicate the presence of the object or condition at the specific location.

Method and device for estimating lateral speed and lateral position of an aircraft during a phase where the aircraft is traveling on the ground. The device includes a unit for determining an initial lateral position value, corresponding to lateral position with respect to axis of a runway when touching down on landing, a unit for repetitively determining, at least from runway touch down, current ground speed and a current lateral angular deviation, representing angular deviation between the current route and the heading of the runway, a unit for repetitively computing current lateral speed, from the current ground speed and current lateral angular deviation, a unit for computing a current lateral position, from current lateral speed and initial lateral position, and a link for transmitting the current lateral speed and/or the current lateral position to at least one user system.

A wing protection system for increasing avoidance of grounded aircraft utilizes a first wing clamp and a second wing clamp to attach to an aircraft wing. The first wing clamp and the second wing clamp are connected to a central support that is used to mount and house an electronics assembly; the electronics assembly including a plurality of sensors, a processor, and a peripheral alert system. The plurality of sensors detects objects approaching the grounded aircraft, while the peripheral alert system provides a visual and audible alert to the presence of the grounded aircraft; the processor receiving signals from the plurality of sensors and dictating appropriate action of the peripheral alert system. A linear actuator is slidably coupled to the first wing clamp, allowing the wing protection system to be fitted to several types of aircraft. A surveillance camera can also be provided for video surveillance of the grounded aircraft.