Safely guiding airport vehicles
Major European airports are becoming steadily more overcrowded, and the EU is addressing the problem with certain measures intended to improve airport ramp efficiency. Yet, as a consequence, airport-apron accidents have dramatically increased, causing worker injuries and many billions of euros worth of damage to aircraft. The EU-funded RAMPAWARE project comprises eight-members in a consortium whose expertise includes radar design, control systems, system integration and navigation systems. The proposed sensing and navigation technologies include synthetic aperture radar (SAR), the automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) type of satellite positioning, an inertial navigation tracking system and other smart sensors. The project is also summarising the sensor information for the vehicle driver via a graphical user interface. Team members initially developed specifications for system requirements and conducted basic SAR research concerning quick detection of large objects. The research yielded optimal algorithms for accurate tracking of vehicle position and shape changing, control systems suitable for most GSE vehicles and an automated immediate braking system. The project also developed its inertial navigation tracking system, and validated the associated prototype software. Other technologies under development include a radar sensing system for feature extraction and accurate, all-weather positioning. The RAMPAWARE project deliverables stand to create jobs and business opportunities, while improving airport worker safety and increasing aviation profitability.
Keywords
Airport vehicles, aeroplanes, airport ramp, airport-apron accidents, inertial navigation
