Airport control/management system using GNSS-based methods and equipment for the control of surface and airborne traffic

Claims

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved airport control/management system for controlling and managing surface and airborne movements of vehicles and aircraft operating within a selected airport space envelope, the airport control/management system comprising:

(a) means for establishing a precise 3-dimensional digital map of the selected airport space envelope, the map containing GNSS reference points,

(b) a computer with a monitor screen for receiving and displaying the 3-dimensional map,

(c) means located on at least one of said vehicles and aircrafts in the airport space envelope to generate and transmit continuous GNSS-based location reports,

(d) a radio receiver interfaced to the computer to receive said reports from said at least one of said vehicles and aircrafts,

(e) means for processing within the computer to use said reports to superimpose a 3-dimensional image corresponding to a path of said at least one of said vehicles and aircrafts on the 3-dimensional map,

(f) means for using the 3-dimensional map display for generating airport control and management signals as a function of said path to control the traffic in an airport, and

(g) means for manipulation of the 3-dimensional map and the 3-dimensional image of said at least one of said vehicles and aircrafts and said path to a desired apparent line of observation, to control the traffic in the airport,

(h) means for layering the 3-dimensional map in at least one digital map graphical layer,

(i) means for selecting for display on the monitor screen, at least one of the digital map graphical layers,

(j) means for controlling the display of the 3-dimensional map and the image of said at least one of the vehicles and aircrafts based upon the digital map graphical layers, and

(k) means for utilizing the graphical layers to sort and track at least one of the vehicles and aircrafts, each of the layers determined by function selected from a group of layers consisting of air traffic control responsibility, phase of flight, GNSS position, NOTAMS, zone identification, airline and airport operations.

2. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 1 further comprising:

(a) means for defining GNSS compatible zones using the 3-dimensional map,

(b) means for establishing the GNSS compatible zones, each of the GNSS compatible zones identified according to function selected from a group of zones consisting of forbidden zones, NOTAMS, areas off limits, zones around potentially colliding aircraft and vehicles, and air traffic controller areas of responsibility, and

(c) means for storing the GNSS compatible zones in a GNSS compatible zone database.

3. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 2 further comprising:

(a) means for creating a graphical symbol representing the GNSS compatible zone in at least one of the graphical layers of the 3-dimensional map,

(b) means for storing the graphical symbol in the 3-dimensional map, and

(c) means for displaying the graphical symbol in the 3-dimensional map as an alarm symbol when an aircraft or vehicle incurs the GNSS compatible zone.

4. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 2 further comprising:

(a) means for incorporating a bi-directional data link to be used for GNSS based control and management of aircraft and vehicles operating within the selected airport space envelope.

5. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 4 further comprising:

(a) means for the aircraft or vehicle to determine an identification number and a GNSS position for use in an Automatic Dependent Surveillance message,

(b) means for the aircraft or vehicle to construct the Automatic Dependent Surveillance message, said message including the identification number and the GNSS position,

(c) means aboard the aircraft or vehicle to broadcast the Automatic Dependent Surveillance message,

(d) means for receiving the Automatic Dependent Surveillance messages at a control site and aboard similarly equipped aircraft and vehicles,

(e) means to broadcast from the control site air traffic control and management signals based upon the received Automatic Dependent Surveillance messages.

6. In the improved airport control and management system according to claim 5 further comprising;

(a) means for deriving projected position information using the Automatic Dependent Surveillance message.

7. In the improved airport control and management system according to claim 6 further comprising:

(a) air traffic controller defined clearances, said clearances containing GNSS based travel path information, and

(b) means for broadcasting said clearances and travel path information to the aircraft or vehicle operating within the selected airport space envelope.

8. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 7 further comprising;

(a) means to determine off coarse deviations, said deviations calculated by comparing the projected position information with the clearances containing GNSS based travel path information,

(b) means to compare the off course deviations to preset course deviation limits,

(c) means to generate off course alarms should the preset course deviations exceed the limits, and

(d) means to transmit the off course alarms to the aircraft and vehicles operating in the airport space envelope using the bi-directional data link, for the control and management of an airport.

9. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 6 further comprising:

(a) means for broadcasting the GNSS compatible zones to the aircraft or vehicle operating within the selected airport space envelope.

10. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 9 further comprising;

(a) means to detect incursion of the aircraft or vehicle into the GNSS compatible zones using the projected position information and the GNSS compatible zone database,

(b) means to generate zone incursion alarms should said incursion be detected, and

(c) means to broadcast the zone incursion alarms to the aircraft and vehicles operating in the airport space envelope using the bi-directional data link for the control and management of an airport.

11. In the improved control/management system according to claim 5 further comprising:

(a) means for broadcasting the Automatic Dependent Surveillance messages from aircraft and vehicles at a rate required for safe control and management of the selected airport space envelope.

12. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 5 further comprising:

(a) means for determining aboard the aircraft or vehicle GNSS derived parameters to be used in the broadcast of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance messages the parameters comprising, three GNSS positions, determined from three precisely located antennas aboard the aircraft or vehicle and heading information,

(b) means for using the three GNSS positions in combination with the heading information to accurately insert a scaled graphical symbol representing the aircraft or vehicle zone into a selected graphical layer of the 3-dimensional digital map, and

(c) means for displaying the scaled graphical symbol representing the aircraft or vehicle at the proper attitude in the 3-dimensional map.

13. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 5 further comprising:

(a) means for generating Differential GNSS corrections based upon the use of a local Differential GNSS receiver,

(b) means for broadcasting Differential GNSS corrections over the bi-directional datalink to the aircraft and vehicles operating in the selected airport space envelope.

14. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 5 further comprising:

(a) means for automatic control of radio frequency of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance message by the aircraft or vehicle as a function of aircraft or vehicle position within the selected airport space envelope.

15. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 4 wherein said means for incorporating a radio digital data link comprises;

(a) means for digital radio transmission and reception of X.25 carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) digital communications with frequency division multiplexing (FDM), and

(b) means for digital radio transmission and reception being installed into at least one aircraft or vehicle within the selected airport space envelope.

16. An improved airport control/management system for controlling and managing surface and airborne movements of vehicles and aircraft operating within a selected airport space envelope, the airport control/management system comprising:

(a) means for establishing a precise 3-dimensional digital man of the selected airport space envelope, the map containing GNSS reference points,

(b) a computer with a monitor screen for receiving and displaying the 3-dimensional map,

(c) means located on at least one of said vehicles and aircrafts in the airport space envelope to generate and transmit continuous GNSS-based location reports,

(d) a radio receiver interfaced to the computer to receive said reports from said at least one of said vehicles and aircrafts,

(e) means for processing within the computer to use said reports to superimpose a 3-dimensional image corresponding to a path of said at least one of said vehicles and aircrafts on the 3-dimensional map,

(f) means for using the 3-dimensional map display for generating airport control and management signals as a function of said path to control the traffic in an airport,

(g) means for manipulation of the 3-dimensional map and the 3-dimensional image of said at least one of said vehicles and aircrafts and said path to a desired apparent line of observation, to control the traffic in the airport,

(h) means for defining GNSS compatible zones using the 3-dimensional map,

(i) means for establishing the GNSS compatible zones, each of the GNSS compatible zones identified according to function selected from a group of zones consisting of forbidden zones, NOTAMS, areas off limits, zones around potentially colliding aircraft and vehicles, and air traffic controller areas of responsibility, and

(j) means for storing the GNSS compatible zones in a GNSS compatible zone database.

17. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 16 further comprising:

(a) means for incorporating a bi-directional data link to be used for GNSS based control and management of aircraft and vehicles operating within the selected airport space envelope.

18. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 17 further comprising:

(a) means for the aircraft or vehicle to determine an identification number and a GNSS position for use in an Automatic Dependent Surveillance message,

(b) means for the aircraft or vehicle to construct the Automatic Dependent Surveillance message, said message including the identification number and the GNSS position,

(c) means aboard the aircraft or vehicle to broadcast the Automatic Dependent Surveillance message,

(d) means for receiving the Automatic Dependent Surveillance messages at a control site and aboard similarly equipped aircraft and vehicles,

(e) means to broadcast from the control site air traffic control and management signals based upon the received Automatic Dependent Surveillance messages.

19. In the improved airport control and management system according to claim 18 further comprising;

(a) means for deriving projected position information using the Automatic Dependent Surveillance message.

20. In the improved airport control and management system according to claim 19 further comprising:

(a) air traffic controller defined clearances, said clearances containing GNSS based travel path information, and

(b) means for broadcasting said clearances and travel path information to the aircraft and vehicle operating within the selected airport space envelope.

21. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 20 further comprising;

(a) means to determine off course deviations, said deviations calculated by comparing the projected position information with the clearances containing GNSS based travel path information,

(b) means to compare the off course deviations to preset course deviation limits,

(c) means to generate off course alarms should the preset course deviations exceed the limits, and

(d) means to transmit the off course alarms to the aircraft and vehicles operating in the airport space envelope using the bi-directional data link, for the control and management of an airport.

22. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 19 further comprising:

(a) means for broadcasting the GNSS compatible zones to the aircraft or vehicle operating within the selected airport space envelope.

23. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 22 further comprising;

(a) means to detect incursion of the aircraft or vehicle into the GNSS compatible zones using the projected position information and the GNSS compatible zone database,

(b) means to generate zone incursion alarms should said incursion be detected, and

(c) means to broadcast the zone incursion alarms to the aircraft and vehicles operating in the airport space envelope using the hi-directional data link, for the control and management of an airport.

24. In the improved control/management system according to claim 18 further comprising;

(a) means for broadcasting the Automatic Dependent Surveillance messages from aircraft and vehicles at a rate required for safe control and management of the selected airport space envelope.

25. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 18 further comprising:

(a) means to determining aboard the aircraft or vehicle GNSS derived parameters to be used in the broadcast of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance messages the parameters comprising, three GNSS positions, determined from three precisely located antennas aboard the aircraft or vehicle and heading information,

(b) means for using the three GNSS positions in combination with the heading to accurately insert a scaled graphical symbol representing the aircraft or vehicle zone into the 3-dimensional digital map, and

(c) means for displaying the scaled graphical symbol representing the aircraft or vehicle at the proper attitude in the 3-dimensional map.

26. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 18 further comprising:

(a) means for generating Differential GNSS corrections based upon the use of a local Differential GNSS receiver,

(b) means for broadcasting Differential GNSS corrections over the bi-directional datalink to the aircraft and vehicles operating in the selected airport space envelope.

27. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 18 further comprising:

(a) means for automatic control of radio frequency of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance message by the aircraft or vehicle as a function of the aircraft or vehicle GNSS position within the selected airport space envelope.

28. In the improved airport control/management system according to claim 17 wherein said means for incorporating a radio digital data link comprises;

(a) means for digital radio transmission and reception of X.25 carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) digital communications with frequency division multiplexing (FDM), and

(b) means for digital radio transmission and reception being installed into at least one aircraft or vehicle within the selected airport space envelope.

29. An improved airport control/management system for controlling and managing surface and airborne movements of vehicles and aircraft operating within a selected airport space envelope, the airport control/management system comprising:

(a) means for establishing a precise 3-dimensional digital map of the selected airport space envelope, the map containing GNSS reference points,

(b) a computer with a monitor screen for receiving and displaying the 3-dimensional map,

(c) means located on at least one of said vehicles and aircrafts in the airport space envelope to generate and transmit continuous GNSS-based location reports,

(d) a radio receiver interfaced to the computer to receive said reports from said at least one of said vehicles and aircrafts,

(e) means for processing within the computer to use said reports to superimpose a 3-dimensional image corresponding to a path of said at least one of said vehicles and aircrafts on the 3-dimensional

(f) means for using the 3-dimensional map display for generating airport control and management signals as a function of said path to control the traffic in an airport,

(g) means for manipulation of the 3-dimensional map and the 3-dimensional image of said at least one of said vehicles and aircrafts and said path to a desired apparent line of observation, to control the traffic in the airport;

(h) means for establishing precise multi-monumented survey points within the airport space envelope, and

(i) means for performing local coordinate conversions using said survey points to support display of the 3-dimensional image corresponding to the vehicle path on to the 3-dimensional map.

30. A method used by a controller to monitor, control and manage vehicles including surface and airborne vehicles operating in a selected 3-dimensional space, the method combing the steps of:

(a) using GNSS, derived data based upon an earth centered earth fixed coordinate system, establishing a precise 3-dimensional digital map of the selected 3-dimensional space, in combination with at least one GNSS-compatible database;

(b) receiving GNSS position reports data from the vehicles within the selected 3-dimensional space and storing the GNSS position reports data in the GNSS-compatible databases, at least one of the vehicles having a means to receive GNSS signals and determine GNSS position, generate and transmit, by digital data, continuous GNSS-based position reports, and identification data to the controller;

(c) processing data received from the vehicles with the 3-dimensional digital map of the selected 3-dimensional space and the GNSS-compatible database creating a displayable map showing location and movement of at least one of the vehicles within the selected 3-dimensional space;

(d) providing to the controller, based on the processed data, commands for communication to at least one of the vehicles thereby monitoring, controlling and managing the movements of at least one of the vehicles within the selected 3-dimensional space;

(e) identifying GNSS compatible zones of interest within the selected 3-dimensional space,

(f) creating a 3-dimensional digital map of the GNSS compatible zones and the selected 3-dimensional space,

(g) establishing at least a map and zone database compatible with computer processing, the map and said zone database maintaining the GNSS compatible zones and the 3-dimensional digital map coordinate information,

(h) processing data received from the vehicles with the map and the zone database creating a displayable map showing location and movement of the vehicles with respect to the 3-dimensional digital map of the GNSS compatible zones and the selected 3-dimensional space,

(i) identifying potential for incursion of the vehicles into any of the GNSS compatible zones, the potential for incursion determined from the processed data received from the vehicles and criteria selected from the group consisting of NOTAMS, areas off limits, zones around potentially colliding vehicles, air traffic controller stations, and

(j) generating control and management signals as a function of the vehicle path and the potential for incursion into zones to assist the controller to monitor, control and manage said selected 3-dimensional space.

31. The method used by a controller to monitor, control and manage vehicles according to claim 30 further comprising the steps of:

(a) deriving velocity data from the GNSS-position reports data,

(b) computing projected path and destination information using the velocity data of the vehicles within the selected 3-dimensional space,

(c) generating alarms based upon encroachment by the vehicles of the GNSS compatible zones, and

(d) broadcasting to the vehicles the alarm condition.

32. The method used by a controller to monitor, control and manage vehicles according to claim 31 further comprising the steps of:

(a) determining vehicle attitude using GNSS position coordinates;

(b) characterizing vehicle shape; and

(c) displaying the attitude and shape and the location of the vehicle in 3-dimensions on the screen in combination with the displayable map of the selected 3-dimensional space.

33. The method used by a controller to monitor, control and manage vehicles according to claim 31 further comprising the steps of:

(a) generating controller defined GNSS based clearances, said clearances containing GNSS based travel path information,

(b) broadcasting said clearances and GNSS based travel path information to the vehicles operating within the selected 3-dimensional space.

34. The method used by a controller to monitor, control and manage vehicles according to claim 33 further comprising the steps of:

(a) determining off course deviations, said deviations determined by comparing the projected position information with the clearances containing GNSS based travel path information,

(b) comparing the off course deviations to preset course deviation limits,

(c) generating alarms should the preset course deviations exceed the limits, and

(d) transmitting the alarms to the vehicles operating in the selected 3-dimensional space.

35. A method used by a controller to monitor, control and manage vehicles including surface and airborne vehicles operating in a selected 3-dimensional space, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) using GNSS, derived dam based upon an earth centered earth fixed coordinate system, establishing a precise 3-dimensional digital map of the selected 3-dimensional space, in combination with at least one GNSS-compatible database;

(b) receiving GNSS position reports data from the vehicles within the selected 3-dimensional space and storing the GNSS position reports data in the GNSS-compatible databases, at least one of the vehicles having a means to receive GNSS signals and determine GNSS position, generate and transmit, by digital data, continuous GNSS-based position reports, and identification data to the controller;

(c) processing data received from the vehicles with the 3-dimensional digital map of the selected 3-dimensional space and the GNSS-compatible database creating a displayable map showing location and movement of each vehicle within the selected 3-dimensional space;

(d) providing to the controller, based on the processed data, commands for communication to at least one of the vehicles thereby monitoring, controlling and managing the movements of at least one of the vehicles within the selected 3-dimensional space; and

(e) layering the 3-dimensional map creating a layered map having at least one layer, the layering thereby permitting sorting and tracking of each at least one of the vehicles, the layers selected from the group determined by function consisting of traffic control phase, notams, forbidden zone identification, the selected and defined 3-dimensional space operations, vehicle identification, airline operations and airport operations.

36. The method used by a controller to monitor, control and manage vehicles according to claim 35 further comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying GNSS compatible zones of interest within the selected 3-dimensional space based upon the earth centered earth fixed coordinate system,

(b) creating a 3-dimensional digital map of the GNSS compatible zones and the selected 3-dimensional space

(c) establishing at least a map and zone database compatible with computer processing, the map and said zone database maintaining the GNSS compatible zones and the 3-dimensional digital map coordinate information,

(d) processing data received from the vehicles with the map a