초록 ▼

A method for operating an autonomous vehicle at an airport comprises the steps of: receiving a set of general purpose navigation signals; receiving a supplementary set of navigation signals; receiving constraint data representing a permitted area of operation; calculating a present position of the v

A method for operating an autonomous vehicle at an airport comprises the steps of: receiving a set of general purpose navigation signals; receiving a supplementary set of navigation signals; receiving constraint data representing a permitted area of operation; calculating a present position of the vehicle; comparing the calculated present position of the vehicle with the constraint data, thereby to determine whether the vehicle's present position lies within the permitted area; and producing a signal indicative of the result of said comparing step. The autonomous vehicle for use at an airport, comprising: a navigation processor for calculating a present position of the vehicle; a constraint store for storing constraint data indicating a permitted area of operation; navigation receivers for receiving general purpose navigation signals and supplementary navigation signals, for guiding aircraft to land at the airport; and a comparator for comparing the constraint data with the present position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for operating an autonomous vehicle at an airport, comprising the steps of:(a) providing (18) a first set of navigation signals for general purpose use;(b) providing (26) a second set of navigation signals (28), being supplementary to the first navigation signals, for guiding aircraft to

1. A method for operating an autonomous vehicle at an airport, comprising the steps of:(a) providing (18) a first set of navigation signals for general purpose use;(b) providing (26) a second set of navigation signals (28), being supplementary to the first navigation signals, for guiding aircraft to land at the airport;(c) receiving (400), in the vehicle, the first set of navigation signals;(d) receiving (402), in the vehicle, the second set of navigation signals;(e) receiving (304; 404) constraint data representing a permitted area of operation;(f) calculating (406,310) a present position of the vehicle;(g) comparing (312) the calculated present position of the vehicle with the constraint data, thereby to determine whether the vehicle's present position lies within the permitted area; and(h) producing a signal (313; 315) indicative of the result of said comparing step; and(i) operating the vehicle in accordance with a predefined strategy (314) in response to the status of the signal (313; 315) of step (h).2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the steps (f), (g) and (h) are also performed within the vehicle.3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first set of navigation signals comprises signals emitted by a satellite navigation system (18).4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second set of navigation signals comprises signals emitted by an augmentation system (26) for navigation for commercial air transport.5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the second set of navigation signals comprises signals sent by a ground-based augmentation system (GBAS).6. A method according to claim 4 wherein the second set of navigation signals comprises a set of signals issued at a fixed period, and wherein the vehicle monitors the arrival of these periodic signals and emits an alarm signal if the periodic signal is not received within a predetermined delay.7. A method according to claim 6 wherein, in response to the alarm signal, the vehicle proceeds to a predetermined muster station, which may be the current location of that vehicle.8. A method according to claim 1, wherein, in response to the comparing step indicating that the vehicle lies outside of the permitted area, generating an alarm (313) to an operator (300).9. A method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of enabling the operator (300) to remotely control the vehicle, thereby moving the vehicle into its permitted area.10. A method according to claim 1, wherein, in response to the comparing step indicating that the vehicle lies outside the permitted area, automatically calculating a route from the vehicle's present position to the permitted area; and controlling the vehicle to proceed to the permitted area.11. A method according to claim 1, wherein, in response to the comparing step indicating that the vehicle lies outside of the permitted area, controlling the vehicle to proceed to a predetermined station.12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of issuing a muster signal to the vehicle, receiving said muster signal in the vehicle, and controlling the vehicle to proceed to a muster station.13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the muster signal comprises signal redefining the permitted area to include only the muster station.14. An autonomous vehicle for use at an airport, comprising:electrical and mechanical subsystems (414) to enable the vehicle to move and to perform an allotted function;a traction control subsystem (412) for controlling the electrical and mechanical subsystems to operate the vehicle in a required manner;a path management system (410) for calculating a required path for the motion of the vehicle to follow;a navigation processor (406) for calculating a present position of the vehicle;a constraint store for storing constraint data indicating a permitted area of operation;a comparator for comparing the constraint data with the present position;a first navigation receiver (400) for receiving a first set of navigation signals, being general purpose navigation signals;an operator interface (404) for communicating with an operator; anda second navigation receiver (402) for receiving a second set of navigation signals, being supplementary to the first navigation signals, for guiding aircraft to land at the airport.