A system, method and device for monitoring an aircraft, including activity taking place within an aircraft and conditions of the aircraft, where one or more a percepting component such as a camera, microphone, or other sensor, is situated at a location within the aircraft from which information may be ascertained. Preferably the component is disguised within the surfaces or instrumentation of the aircraft. The percepting component is connected with a communication mechanism to transmit communications from the system resident within the aircraft to a grounds portion of the system through a communication link, such as a satellite communication link. The system may process the information corresponding with the aircraft condition or activity and generate alerts when a trigger is met or exceeded. The system components on the aircraft may monitor conditions and activity without using or interfering with the aircraft instrumentation, the system using only the aircraft power.

A system is described. The system may detect whether a user within a flight deck is authorized to control the aircraft. The user may receive differing levels of authority to control the aircraft depending on whether the user is authorized or unauthorized. The system may also control the aircraft depending on the various phases of the aircraft, including in flight and on the ground. The system may also be used to unlock the controls for the aircraft. The system may unlock the control using biometric information or nonbiometric information. The system may include a camera which is added to a flight deck. The camera may capture images of users within the flight deck. Faces within the images may be detected and compared against authorized users for locking or unlocking the aircraft controls.

A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for monitoring a platform. Images are received by a computer system from a sensor system positioned to monitor movement of human beings relative to the platform. A set of the human beings is identified by the computer system in the images. The movement of the set of the human beings relative to the platform is determined by the computer system using the images. A count of the human beings on the platform is determined by the computer system based on the movement determined for the set of the human beings. A set of actions is performed by the computer system based on the count of the human beings on the platform.

A computing device positioned in a vehicle for streaming data from the vehicle to a monitoring node. The computing device includes communications circuitry and processing circuitry operatively connected to the communications circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to: establish a secure communication tunnel with the monitoring node while the vehicle is moving; obtain data to be streamed to the monitoring node; translate the data into a message using a publish-and-subscribe protocol; initiate a communication session with the monitoring node; and transmit the message from the vehicle to the monitoring node via the secure communication tunnel.

An aircraft passenger reading light comprises at least one reading light source, which is arranged for emitting visible light in a reading light emission direction; and at least one infrared light source, which is arranged for emitting infrared light in an infrared light emission direction. The infrared light emission direction is inclined with respect to the reading light emission direction.

An imaging system for an aircraft is disclosed. The imaging system comprises one or more image sensors configured to image a surrounding environment of the aircraft, a light source configured to emit light, a mask including one or more prisms configured to direct the light, and one or more pinholes configured pass the light directed from the one or more prisms, and a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more image sensors. The controller is configured to: receive an image of the surrounding environment of the aircraft from the one or more image sensors, wherein the image includes an artifact based on the light passed by the one or more pinholes; determine centroid data and extent data of the artifact in the image; and determine an orientation of the artifact in the image with respect to a calibration artifact using the centroid data and the extent data.

The aim of the invention is to optimise the monitoring and security of at least one enclosure, allowing a constant and complete view of the enclosure, and a modulated assessment of the state of security of same. For this purpose, the invention proposes to transmit images of the enclosure wirelessly to a mobile medium for helping the flight crew assess the situation and the measures to take in case of a sensitive security situation. According to one embodiment, the optimised system for monitoring and securing an enclosure, a cockpit (3), a cabin (2) and/or a luggage hold (4) of an aircraft (1), comprises video cameras (21a to 23a, 21 b to 23b, 24 to 28) distributed so as to define a field of view inside or outside the enclosure (2 to 4), mobile (2T) or fixed (3A) display media dedicated to members of the crew of the enclosure capable, via suitable wireless transmission/reception means (20A), of receiving image streams transmitted by the video cameras (21a to 23a, 21b to 23b, 24 to 28) and of connecting to auxiliary data sources and to means for locking/unlocking (7 to 10, 41) the enclosure (2 to 4) arranged in areas sensitive with respect to security.

The aim of the invention is to optimise the monitoring and security of at least one enclosure, allowing a constant and complete view of the enclosure, and a modulated assessment of the state of security of same. For this purpose, the invention proposes to transmit images of the enclosure wirelessly to a mobile medium for helping the flight crew assess the situation and the measures to take in case of a sensitive security situation. According to one embodiment, the optimised system for monitoring and securing an enclosure, a cockpit (3), a cabin (2) and/or a luggage hold (4) of an aircraft (1), comprises video cameras (21a to 23a, 21b to 23b, 24 to 28) distributed so as to define a field of view inside or outside the enclosure (2 to 4), mobile (2T) or fixed (3A) display media dedicated to members of the crew of the enclosure capable, via suitable wireless transmission/reception means (20A), of receiving image streams transmitted by the video cameras (21a to 23a, 21b to 23b, 24 to 28) and of connecting to auxiliary data sources and to means for locking/unlocking (7 to 10, 41) the enclosure (2 to 4) arranged in areas sensitive with respect to security.

A method and system for a light source detection system, comprising an aircraft carrying at least one camera. The system includes a database for storing information about the aircraft's motion, direction, and position and ground location information, such as the onboard navigation system database or an remotely accessible database. The system also includes a processor that accesses the database and is connected to the camera. The processor uses image analysis and processing techniques to determine the ground location corresponding to the light source from an image of that light captured by the camera. It determines the path traveled by that light and estimates its location as being a pre-selected distance vertically above the ground along the path traveled by the light to the aircraft when the image of the light was captured.

An aircraft passenger service unit includes infrared sensor configured for detecting infrared radiation and for providing a corresponding sensor output, and a controller, which is configured for receiving and evaluating the sensor output provided by the infrared sensor. The infrared sensor is an infrared sensor array configured for detecting infrared radiation emitted within a plurality of spatial sectors covering a detection area below the aircraft passenger service unit; and the infrared sensor array is configured for detecting the infrared radiation individually for each spatial sector and for providing individual sensor signals for the plurality of spatial sectors. The infrared sensor array is configured such that each passenger seat arranged within the detection area is covered by at least two of the plurality of spatial sectors, respectively; and the controller is configured for determining a passenger seating position within a passenger seat from the individual sensor signals.