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.

A device for moving aircraft along the ground includes at least one runway and at least one aircraft. The aircraft is secured to a tractor element having a magnetic mass formed mainly of type II superconductor material and the runway includes stator coils arranged in the runway with at least one line of coils parallel to an axis of the runway. A command/control system supplies power to the stator coils to generate a magnetic field that levitates the tractor element, magnetized beforehand into a phase II superconducting state, above the runway.

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.

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.

The exemplary embodiments provide a system of selectively moving airplanes on an airport apron. Airplanes are selectively moved from selective parking locations to areas adjacent to take-off locations such as runways. Airplanes may also be selectively moved from an area of the apron adjacent to a landing location and/or to a parking location. This may include for example an unloading location, an airport terminal, a servicing location, a fueling location, storage location and/or other suitable location. The exemplary system includes driving channels through which a carriage is selectively moved. The carriage includes a basket for operatively engaging at least one front wheel of selected airplanes for purposes of transporting such airplanes to and between the desired locations.

A device for maneuvering and immobilizing an aircraft on the ground. Included in the device is a moving apparatus and a remote control configured for remotely controlling the moving apparatus. The device allows a coupling of a single remote control with several moving apparatuses and/or of one moving apparatus with several remote controls. Also, the device allows an operator equipped with a remote control to remotely control several pushback maneuvers by successively using several moving apparatuses or several operators each equipped with a remote control to successively control the same moving apparatus.

An aircraft tow vehicle comprises a turntable lifting unit configured to automatically rotate and lift for attachment to a nose landing gear of an aircraft. A gate coupled to the turntable lifting unit automatically unlocks, opens to receive the nose landing gear, closes to secure the nose landing gear, and locks. A sensor system detects the nose landing gear. A controller receives data from the sensor system, processes the data to determine a position of the nose landing gear, and controls the turntable lifting unit while automatically adjusting a position of the tow vehicle relative to the nose landing gear. A moving floor adjusts to accommodate different nose wheel sizes. A nose wheel adapter automatically positions itself to hold down the nose landing gear when weight is detected on the moving floor.

An aircraft tow vehicle comprises a turntable lifting unit configured to automatically rotate and lift for attachment to a nose landing gear of an aircraft. A gate coupled to the turntable lifting unit automatically unlocks, opens to receive the nose landing gear, closes to secure the nose landing gear, and locks. A sensor system detects the nose landing gear. A controller receives data from the sensor system, processes the data to determine a position of the nose landing gear, and controls the turntable lifting unit while automatically adjusting a position of the tow vehicle relative to the nose landing gear. A moving floor adjusts to accommodate different nose wheel sizes. A nose wheel adapter automatically positions itself to hold down the nose landing gear when weight is detected on the moving floor.

An embodiment apparatus for moving an aircraft includes a first moving robot configured to lift and support a first landing gear of the aircraft, a second moving robot configured to lift and support a plurality of second landing gears of the aircraft, and a control device electrically connected to the first moving robot and the second moving robot, respectively, wherein the control device is configured to transmit a synchronized control signal to enable the first moving robot and the second moving robot to perform platooning.

An embodiment apparatus for moving an aircraft includes a first moving robot configured to lift and support a first landing gear of the aircraft, a second moving robot configured to lift and support a plurality of second landing gears of the aircraft, and a control device electrically connected to the first moving robot and the second moving robot, respectively, wherein the control device is configured to transmit a synchronized control signal to enable the first moving robot and the second moving robot to perform platooning.