AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM

Abstract

An air traffic control system for providing air traffic control of a group of balloons having at least two hot air balloons, each having at least one position sensing unit, including at least one hot air balloon navigation unit.

Claims

1. Air traffic control system for providing air traffic control of a group of balloons with at least two hot air balloons, each with at least one position sensing unit module, including at least one hot air balloon navigation unit, characterized in that; the navigation unit comprises a sensor unit that contains at least one height determination module for determining height, and a processing unit; a balloon position information containing the balloon identification number registered in a memory unit, and a communication unit configured to broadcast a balloon information containing the position information of a balloon obtained by the said position sensing unit and a height information obtained by said height determination module by any of the wireless communication methods and to receive the broadcasts made by other balloons and transmit them to the said processor unit; the processor unit is configured to determine the positions and of the balloons according to the balloon information it receives, and to mark the position of each balloon on a map in real time according to the determined positions and heights, to show the size of the balloons on the map according to characteristics, and to display this map on a user interface; the air traffic control system comprises a traffic control unit having a traffic control communication unit that receives the balloon information broadcast by the balloons; the traffic control unit is configured to create a map according to the balloon information and balloon information received from the balloons and display it in a traffic control user interface; and the traffic control unit is configured to send a warning signal to the navigation unit of at least one of the balloons involved in the hazard condition in case the traffic control unit detects a predetermined hazard condition based on the positions of the balloons on the map.

2. The air traffic control system according to claim 1, further comprising; a server to which the balloon information collected by the communication unit is sent in real-time by the traffic control unit.

3. The air traffic control system according to claim 1, further comprising; at least one image capture unit.

4. The air traffic control system according to claim 1, further comprising; the image capture unit comprises a camera and a microphone.

5. The air traffic control system according to claim 4, further comprising; at least one flight recording unit in which each balloon stores balloon information received from the other balloon, the balloon's own balloon information, images received from the camera, and audio data received from the microphone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a representative view of the flight air traffic control unit.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a representative view of the traffic control unit, server unit, and user terminals.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a representative view of the hot air balloon.

REFERENCE NUMBERS GIVEN IN THE FIGURES

[0017] 10 Flight Air Traffic Control Unit [0018] 100 Navigation Unit [0019] 110 Processor Unit [0020] 120 Memory Unit [0021] 121 Balloon identification information [0022] 122 Balloon information [0023] 130 User interface [0024] 140 Sensor Unit [0025] 141 Position sensing unit [0026] 142 Height detection unit [0027] 150 Communication Unit [0028] 151 Signal Receiver Unit [0029] 152 Signal Transmitter Unit [0030] 160 Warning Unit [0031] 200 Traffic Control Unit [0032] 210 Traffic Control Communication Unit [0033] 220 Traffic Control Memory Unit [0034] 230 Traffic Control Processor Unit [0035] 240 Traffic Control User interface [0036] 250 Mobile Terminal [0037] 300 Server Unit [0038] 400 User Terminals [0039] 500 Hot Air Balloon [0040] 510 Image Capture Unit [0041] 520 Flight Registration Unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0042] In this detailed description, the subject matter of the invention is explained only by means of examples that will not have any limiting effect for a better understanding of the subject matter.

[0043] The invention is related to an air traffic control system for providing air traffic control of a group of balloons comprising at least one hot air balloon (500) navigation unit (100) and at least two hot air balloons (500) having various avionic systems together with at least one position sensing unit (141).

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a balloon group containing multiple hot air balloons (500) and a traffic control unit (200). Hot air balloons (500) broadcast information called balloon information (122), the details of which to be explained below, and receive broadcasts from other balloons; the traffic control unit (200), on the other hand, receives the broadcast containing this information from all balloons and provides traffic control accordingly.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 2, in more detail, each hot air balloon (500) comprises a navigation unit (100). The navigation unit (100) includes a sensor unit (140) that obtains data regarding the position of the hot air balloon (500). The sensor unit (140) includes a position sensing unit (141) that detects the global position of the balloon. The position sensing unit (141) may be a GPS module or a GLONASS module. The sensor (140) unit comprises a height-sensing unit that detects the height of the balloon. The height sensing unit may be an altimeter.

[0046] The navigation unit (100) includes a memory unit (120) in which the position information and altitude information obtained by the sensor unit (140) is recorded. The memory unit (120) may also contain balloon identification information (121). The balloon identification information (121) can be a registration number or other distinguishing mark. The memory unit (120) may also comprise balloon features that match the balloon identification information (121). The mentioned balloon characteristics may comprise the model, volume, diameter, carrying capacity of the balloon, etc. Balloon identification information (121), position information, and height information are defined as balloon information (122) together.

[0047] The navigation unit (100) comprises a communication unit (150) that broadcasts balloon information (122) and receives balloon information (122) broadcast from communication units (150) of other balloons. The communication unit (150) may also be configured to exchange messages with other external devices. A signal receiver and a signal transmitter in the communication unit (150) broadcast balloon information (122) which is collected by the sensor unit (140) from the balloon in which they are placed and kept in the memory unit (120), by any of the wireless communication methods. These wireless communication methods can be Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, GSM, and RFID. Each hot air balloon (500) receives the balloon information (122) by sensing the broadcast of the other via the signal transmitter unit (152) with the signal receiver unit (151).

[0048] There is a processor unit (110) inside the navigation unit (100). The processor unit (110) determines the location, height, and properties of the balloons according to the balloon information (122) it receives. It marks the position of each balloon on a map in real-time according to the detected location, height, and property, and determines the size of the balloon on the map according to its characteristics. All data processed by the processor unit (110) is transmitted to a user interface (130) so that the user can see it on a map. The user interface (130) may be a screen. The mentioned map is a virtual map and can scale the region, and the balloons on the same are shown at scale according to their features.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 2, a traffic control unit (200) transmits the information received by the communication unit (150) and the balloon information (122) that the processor unit (110) receives from all balloons to a traffic control processor unit (230) via a traffic control communication unit (210). The traffic control processor unit (230) creates a map according to all balloon information (122) received and evaluated, similar to what the processor unit (110) in the navigation unit (100) does and ensures that it is transferred to a traffic control user interface (240).

[0050] The traffic control processor unit (230) can evaluate the information it receives with a mathematical model or machine learning methods and detect the dangerous situations that meet the predetermined conditions. Danger situations, such as balloons approaching each other, the intersection of the routes drawn by the balloons, etc. may occur. When the traffic control processor unit (230) detects a situation that may risk air traffic from the data it evaluates, it sends a warning message to the warning units of the balloons (160) via a mobile terminal (250) from a different channel.

[0051] The balloon information (122) received by said traffic control communication unit (210) is stored in a traffic control memory unit (220). Said traffic control unit (200) transmits the data it receives from the navigation unit (100) to a server unit (300) in real-time. The real-time transmitted data coming to the server unit (300) is accessed via a user terminal (400). The data is transmitted uninterruptedly by any of the wireless communication methods. These wireless communication methods can be Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, GSM, and RFID.

[0052] All information such as the position, height, and volume of all hot air balloons (500) transmitted by wireless communication methods are displayed on the screen of the user and the pilot of the hot air balloon (500).

[0053] In addition, an image capture unit (510) in the hot air balloon (500) takes video and sound recordings to ensure the safety of the balloon during flight. The image capture unit (510) may include a camera and a microphone.

[0054] The information recorded by the image capture unit (510) and all avionic data of the balloon collected during the flight is kept in a flight registration unit (520). The flight registration unit (520) ensures that the data needed by the teams investigating the incident can be safely obtained in the event of a possible accident.

[0055] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained as follows;

[0056] When the hot air balloon group (500) with at least two hot air balloons (500) takes off for flight, the hot air balloons (500) communicate with each other with the traffic control unit (200). Balloon information (122) collected by the navigation unit (100), position sensing unit (141), and height detection unit (142) located in the sensor unit (140) is transmitted to the processor unit (110).

[0057] In addition, balloon identification information (121) and balloon information (122) in the memory unit (120) are also transmitted to the processor unit (110). The processor unit (110) transmits the data collected by the sensor unit (140) and the data received from the memory unit (120) to the communication unit (150). The communication unit (150) ensures that the information coming from the processor unit (110) is broadcast to other hot air balloons (500) by means of the signal transmitter unit (152). The broadcast made by other hot air balloons (500) is detected by the signal receiver unit (151) located in the communication unit (150). Thereby, mutual information exchange is provided between the hot air balloons (500).

[0058] The processor unit (110) creates a map by compiling the information it receives from other hot air balloons (500). The created map is transmitted to the user interface (130) by the processor unit (110). The user interface (130) may be a screen. In the user interface (130), the pilots of the hot air balloon (500) can see the volume, altitude, and position of the other balloons. In this way, the pilots provide the necessary controls on the map.

[0059] The data collected by the navigation unit (100) is transmitted to the traffic control unit (200). The traffic control processor unit (230) evaluates the data it receives. These evaluated data are instantly stored in the traffic control memory unit (220). While the traffic control memory unit (220) evaluates the incoming data, it also ensures that these data are sent to the traffic control user interface (240). As a result of the evaluation of these instantaneously sent data, when the risk of an accident may arise, a warning message is sent via the mobile terminal (250) to the warning units (160) of the balloons that carry the risk of accident through different channels.

[0060] Along with the data transmitted by the navigation unit (100) to the server unit (300), the server unit (300) provides access to the instantly transmitted information via user terminals (400). Thus, uninterrupted communication between hot air balloons (500) and between hot air balloons (500) and the traffic control unit (200) is ensured both uninterruptedly and backed up to prevent data loss.

[0061] The image capture unit (510) in the hot air balloon (500) keeps records during the flight. The image capture unit (510) checks that the flight is safe or that no element endangers the safety. In case of a dangerous situation, all the data obtained is kept in the flight registration unit (520) for review and to enable the examination of the data provided by the hot air balloon (500) avionics systems.

[0062] The protection scope of the invention is specified in the appended claims and cannot be strictly limited to what has been described in this detailed description for illustrative purposes. It is clear that those skilled in the art can put forth similar embodiments in the light of the foregoing, without departing from the main theme of the invention.