An aircraft boarding apparatus has a passenger bridge that has a confinement structure coupled to the second passenger bridge. The confinement structure exerts a ground-anchoring effect on the second passenger bridge to offset the ultralight configuration of the passenger bridge.

An aircraft boarding apparatus has a passenger bridge that has a confinement structure coupled to the second passenger bridge. The confinement structure exerts a ground-anchoring effect on the second passenger bridge to offset the ultralight configuration of the passenger bridge.

A system is provided that guides aircraft driven with landing gear wheel-mounted electric taxi drive systems without reliance on airport ground personnel to park the aircraft parallel to an airport terminal with connections to multiple passenger loading bridges, automatically docks the aircraft, and connects the multiple loading bridges to multiple forward and rear doors. Cooperative on-aircraft monitoring systems, airport docking systems, loading bridge and terminal monitoring systems, and processors are integrated to use real time information and guide the aircraft to safely maneuver into and automatically dock in a parallel orientation at a parking location with multiple aircraft forward and rear doors connected to multiple loading bridges. The system may automatically undock the aircraft and retract the loading bridges and guide the electric taxi drive system-driven aircraft out of the parking location without reliance on airport ground personnel.

A system is provided that guides aircraft driven with landing gear wheel-mounted electric taxi drive systems without reliance on airport ground personnel to park the aircraft parallel to an airport terminal with connections to multiple passenger loading bridges, automatically docks the aircraft, and connects the multiple loading bridges to multiple forward and rear doors. Cooperative on-aircraft monitoring systems, airport docking systems, loading bridge and terminal monitoring systems, and processors are integrated to use real time information and guide the aircraft to safely maneuver into and automatically dock in a parallel orientation at a parking location with multiple aircraft forward and rear doors connected to multiple loading bridges. The system may automatically undock the aircraft and retract the loading bridges and guide the electric taxi drive system-driven aircraft out of the parking location without reliance on airport ground personnel.

The telescoping joints (110,114) of an articulating aircraft passenger boarding bridge are sealed airtight by an expandable seal (202) in the overlapping and concentric portion between the outer circumference of an internal structure (106) and the interior circumference of an external structure (108). The preferred embodiment is an inflatable bladder (202) with an air outlet (412) and an air inlet (406) to accept compressed air. The bladder (202) expands to seal the gap between the concentric structures when the telescoping structures are immobilized and deflate to allow movement of the telescoping structures. The embodiment may be comprised of a plurality of expandable seals geometrically shaped to form a whole seal.

The telescoping joints (110,114) of an articulating aircraft passenger boarding bridge are sealed airtight by an expandable seal (202) in the overlapping and concentric portion between the outer circumference of an internal structure (106) and the interior circumference of an external structure (108). The preferred embodiment is an inflatable bladder (202) with an air outlet (412) and an air inlet (406) to accept compressed air. The bladder (202) expands to seal the gap between the concentric structures when the telescoping structures are immobilized and deflate to allow movement of the telescoping structures. The embodiment may be comprised of a plurality of expandable seals geometrically shaped to form a whole seal.

An improved passenger boarding bridge comprises a proximal section such as a rotunda which is connectable to a doored exit of an airport concourse, a distal section such as a cab adapted to dock with a parked aircraft, and at least one tunnel section interposed therebetween. A plurality seals are associated with the various sections and their junctures to extend an environmental envelope of the airport concourse to the parked aircraft. For example, a first plurality of seals may be provided for sealing a juncture of the rotunda section and the tunnel section, and a second plurality of seals may be provided for sealing a juncture of the cab section and the tunnel section. Seals are also associated with each of the rotunda and cab sections.

An improved passenger boarding bridge comprises a proximal section such as a rotunda which is connectable to a doored exit of an airport concourse, a distal section such as a cab adapted to dock with a parked aircraft, and at least one tunnel section interposed therebetween. A plurality seals are associated with the various sections and their junctures to extend an environmental envelope of the airport concourse to the parked aircraft. For example, a first plurality of seals may be provided for sealing a juncture of the rotunda section and the tunnel section, and a second plurality of seals may be provided for sealing a juncture of the cab section and the tunnel section. Seals are also associated with each of the rotunda and cab sections.

A device may receive one or more images that depict one or more shapes associated with a first object that includes a portal. The device may identify, based on the one or more images, one or more characteristics of the one or more shapes. The device may determine, based on the one or more characteristics of the one or more shapes, one or more attributes of the portal. The device may determine, based on the one or more attributes of the portal, positioning information to be used to position a second object relative to the portal of the first object. The device may output, based on the positioning information, one or more control signals associated with positioning the second object relative to the portal.

A method for the automated docking of a passenger boarding bridge to an aircraft parked in a stand includes, determining a target position with respect to a door of the aircraft, to which target position a bridgehead of the passenger boarding bridge is to be moved, and moving the bridgehead to dock with the door of the aircraft based on the determined target position.