JP2973302B2 - Airport surveillance equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airport surveillance device that supports airport control operations, and more particularly to reducing the load of control operations and automating alarms by using image recognition processing and character recognition processing. Airport surface monitoring device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows an airport surface detecting radar (Airport Surf Radar).
1 is a block diagram of an airport surface monitoring device in which ace Detecting Equipment (hereinafter, referred to as ASDE) is multifunctional. Sign 1
Is a radar antenna for detecting an airport surface, 2 is a transmitter for transmitting radar radio waves, 3 is a receiver for receiving the radio waves returned by reflecting the radio waves transmitted by the transmitter 2, and 6 is a transmitter 2 Or a radio wave transmitted or received by the receiver 3, 7
Is a circulator for switching between a radio wave received from the radar antenna 1 and a radio wave transmitted from the transmitter 2, and 8 is a received radio wave received by the receiver 3. Reference numeral 9 denotes a transmission radio wave transmitted by the transmitter 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a reception signal of the polar coordinates received by the receiver 3, and reference numeral 12 denotes a target by detecting the continuity of the azimuth and distance radar echoes from the reception signal 10 of the ASDE. The ASDE target detecting device 15 is a signal indicating the azimuth and distance of the target detected by the ASDE target detecting device 12.
Reference numeral 13 denotes an identification code adding device for adding an identification code such as a call sign to the ASDE detection target, 14 denotes a high-performance display device for displaying an aircraft or a vehicle traveling on an airport surface, and 16 denotes an aircraft identification number. Is a display data signal.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a code pulse from a primary surveillance radar (hereinafter referred to as ASR) for controlling the approach and departure of an aircraft in the airspace around the airport based on a radar echo, and an interrogator from the ground. A secondary surveillance radar (Secondary Surveillance) which responds with a specific code pulse by a transponder of the aircraft and receives and decodes it to identify
Radar, hereinafter referred to as SSR), 18 is an ASR / SSR target detecting device for detecting a target from an ASR / SSR radar echo, and 19 is an ASR / SSR radar echo.
The SR / SSR reception signal 20 is a beacon code information which is a code assigned to the aircraft, such as the position of the aircraft detected by the ASR / SSR target detecting device 18 and a response signal by the SSR.

[0004] Reference numeral 21 denotes a flight plan information processing device (FDP), which has a database of flight routes, flight numbers, aircraft numbers, and the like of the aircraft;
Is a data signal by FDP. Reference numeral 24 denotes a global positioning system (hereinafter referred to as GPS).
Vehicle-mounted GPS transmitter for transmitting its own position and identification code in a vehicle equipped with
A vehicle target detection device that receives and detects the position and identification code from the S transmitter 24, 26 is a communication radio wave of the vehicle position and vehicle number, and 25 is a vehicle position and vehicle number information for adding the vehicle position and vehicle number. is there.

[0005] Reference numeral 27 denotes an optical sensor such as a visible camera or a far-infrared camera, 28 denotes image data output from the optical sensor, 29 denotes a blind target detecting device by image processing, and 30 denotes a target such as an aircraft moving to the blind position. This is a position signal. Reference numeral 31 denotes a collision prediction device, 32 denotes a collision warning signal, 33 denotes an SSR mode S transceiver, 34 denotes a reception signal, 35 denotes a position location device, and 36 denotes a location position and a beacon code signal.

Next, the operation will be described. The radar antenna 1 emits a radio wave transmitted by the transmitter 2 into an airport.
The receiver 3 receives a radar echo of an aircraft or the like moving in the plane of the airport. The aircraft is automatically detected as a target by the ASDE target detection device 12 from the reception signal 10 of the polar coordinates received by the receiver 3 and the azimuth and distance signal 15 of the target is output.

An ASR / SSR 17 is used to add an identification number to an aircraft that has landed. The ASR / SSR target detection device 18 receives the signal of the aircraft position and beacon code information 2 based on the signal received by the ASR / SSR 17.
Outputs 0. However, beacon code and AS from SSR
In order to obtain the correlation between the DE detection positions, the detection regions of the ASR / SSR and the ASDE need to overlap. That is, the beacon code of the landing aircraft is acquired in SSR,
Correlate with ASDE while detecting by SSR and transfer beacon code.

[0008] The FDP 21 has a database of flight routes, flight numbers, etc. of the aircraft.
2 is output.

The vehicle is detected by the ASDE, but the FDP
Since the identification number cannot be obtained from 21, the vehicle mounted G
The position of the own vehicle calculated by GPS and the vehicle number assigned to the vehicle are transmitted from the PS transmitter 24. The vehicle position detecting device 23 receives the signal 26 and outputs vehicle position and vehicle number information 25.

An optical sensor is used in a blind spot area of the ASDE radar. The optical sensor 27 is installed in an apron illuminator or an airport building, projects a blind spot area with the radar antenna 1, detects an aircraft using image processing for pattern recognition of a captured image by the blind target detection device 29, and detects an aircraft inside the airport. , And outputs the target position as a blind target position signal 30.

An SSR mode S interrogation signal is used to add an identification number to a departure aircraft. An aircraft equipped with the SSR mode S is provided with an SSR mode S interrogation signal because an individual interrogation is possible, receives the response signal by the SSR mode S receiver 33, and outputs it as a reception signal 34 to the position locating device 35. I do. The position locating device 35 detects the aircraft position and the beacon code, and outputs these signals 36.

The identification code adding device 13 outputs these signals 1
For the same target among 5, 20, 22, 30, and 36, a position correlation process and a tracking process are performed, and an identification number adding process is performed based on a signal from 25. Display. After the processing in the identification code adding device 13, it is also possible to predict the collision of an aircraft or a vehicle in the collision prediction processing device 31 and to simultaneously display it on the high-performance display device 14.

[0013]

The airport surface monitoring device shown in FIG. 5 has a visual flight rule (Visual Flight Rule).
s (hereinafter referred to as VFR) aircraft may not be able to identify the aircraft from the ASR / SSR beacon code 20 and FDP 21 because their beacon codes may not be unique. Also, since the power supply of the response equipment in SSR mode S is to be turned on immediately before takeoff and cut off immediately after landing, the identification of the departure aircraft is valid only on the runway, The departure aircraft cannot be identified.
Since the SSR mode S is only mounted on modern large aircraft, it is not possible to identify small aircraft or older aircraft that are older. Further, in a blind spot such as a radar, an aircraft is detected by an optical sensor using a visible camera or the like. However, an identification code cannot be added because the presence of the aircraft is only known and the aircraft cannot be identified. For these reasons, it is not possible to add identification numbers to all aircraft at the airport surface, and for aircraft without identification numbers, the controller will directly identify and control the aircraft by radio communication. However, there is a problem that the load on the controller increases.

In order to identify a vehicle, it is necessary to mount a vehicle-mounted GPS transmitter on all vehicles traveling at an airport. Generally, a GPS receiver has a positioning error of about 100 m,
Furthermore, the shape of vehicles traveling at airports is often special,
It is difficult to install the antenna by retrofitting since the positioning error of the GPS antenna greatly affects the positioning error. Even if it is identified based on the correlation between the positioning results from the ASDE and the GPS, there is a limit to the identification of vehicles approaching several tens of meters at an overcrowded airport in consideration of errors in the GPS receiver. Also, even if a collision prediction of an aircraft or a vehicle is performed and a dangerous condition is displayed on the display device, there is a high possibility that the air traffic controller controlling the overcrowded airport surface may miss it because the load is high. May be delayed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and recognizes the positions and identification numbers of all aircraft and vehicles traveling on an airport surface in an overcrowded airport surface, and may cause a collision. It is an object of the present invention to provide an airport surveillance device that can automatically issue a collision warning to an object, thereby reducing the air traffic control operation of an air traffic controller and improving airport safety.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airport surface detecting radar for detecting a target such as an aircraft or a vehicle moving on an airport, a video camera for photographing the target, A target extraction unit that extracts the target from an image captured by a video camera, a character recognition processing unit that recognizes the identification number of the target from the target, and identifies a moving direction of the target from the target A moving direction identification processing unit, a coordinate information adding unit that calculates the coordinates of the target from the target, and a character recognition processing unit, the movement direction identification processing unit, and the coordinate information adding unit. A plurality of pattern recognizing devices each comprising a data synthesizing unit for synthesizing the first target data, an input buffer for storing the first target data, and an output buffer for the airport surface detection radar. And a position correlation processing device for obtaining a position correlation between the second target data obtained based on the first target data and the first target data stored in the input buffer, and a display for displaying the first and second target data. A first target data and a second target data whose position correlation has been obtained by the position correlation processing device are displayed on a display device as the same target, and a target whose position correlation has not been obtained is a first target. The object data and the second target object data are individually displayed on the display device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a database storing information on aircraft and a database storing information on vehicles, and information corresponding to target data obtained by the character recognition processing section is stored in the database. It is characterized in that the information is drawn on a display device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the possibility of collision of an aircraft or a vehicle is predicted based on target data obtained by the moving direction identification processing section and the coordinate information adding section, and the possibility of collision is determined. A collision prediction device that outputs collision warning information when there is, a collision warning transmission device that inputs the collision warning information and transmits the collision warning information to an airport surface, and the collision warning transmission device mounted on an aircraft or a vehicle Aircraft and vehicle-mounted collision warning receiving device that receives the collision warning information transmitted by the aircraft and transmits a collision warning to an aircraft or a vehicle, automatically with respect to an aircraft or a vehicle that may have a collision at an airport. Is characterized by issuing a collision warning.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an airport surface monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the embodiment. In FIG.
Is a pattern recognition device, and an optical video camera 41 using visible light, infrared light, or the like for photographing an aircraft or a vehicle passing in front of the pattern recognition device 40, and an aircraft or a vehicle can be targeted from the obtained image. A character extraction processing unit 45 for recognizing a machine number or a vehicle identification number from the target; a movement direction identification processing unit 46 for identifying the movement direction of the extracted target; A coordinate information adding unit 49 for adding position coordinates, a data synthesizing unit 51 for synthesizing data output from the character recognition processing unit 45, the moving direction identification processing unit 46, and the data output from the coordinate information adding unit 49 as the same data; Consists of

Reference numeral 42 denotes image data output from the video camera 41, and reference numeral 44 denotes image digital data obtained by digitizing the target extracted by the target extractor 43. Reference numeral 47 denotes machine number or vehicle identification number information. Reference numeral 48 denotes moving direction information processed by the moving direction identification processing unit 46. Reference numeral 50 denotes coordinate position information processed by the coordinate information adding unit. Reference numeral 52 denotes target information obtained by synthesizing the information on the target by the data synthesizing unit 51 with the same data. Reference numeral 53 denotes an input buffer for storing information from a plurality of pattern recognition devices 40 and outputting target identification information 54 as necessary. Reference numeral 63 denotes ACP (Azimuth Count Pulse, hereinafter referred to as ACP), ARP (Azimuth Reference Pulse, hereinafter ARP) in the processing of ASDE.
Reference numeral 64 is a signal output from the ACP / ARP 63 and used to output the target identification information 54.

Reference numeral 55 denotes a position correlation processing device that obtains a position correlation between the azimuth and distance signal 15 of the target output from the ASDE target detection device 12 and the target identification information 54, and combines these data. Reference numeral 56 denotes a tracking processing device that performs tracking processing on a target that has been correlated by the position correlation processing device 55. Reference numeral 57 denotes a vehicle database (hereinafter, database is referred to as DB) in which information (vehicle company name, vehicle type, and the like) related to the vehicle corresponding to the vehicle identification number is stored in a database. Reference numeral 59 denotes the FDP 21 and the vehicle D
This is an identification code adding device that adds an identification code to a target whose tracking processing has been completed based on information 58 of B57.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram in the airport of the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 40 denotes the above-described pattern recognition device. The pattern recognition device 40 is installed at several places so that the entire image of an aircraft or a vehicle entering or exiting the intersection of a taxiway, a runway, or a road in an airport or around a ramp is within the field of view of the video camera 41. By performing such an installation, an aircraft or a vehicle existing at a key point in the airport can be photographed. Further, a body number indicating a registration number of the body in each country is described on a side surface of the body of the aircraft, and an identification number unique to the vehicle, such as alphabets and numerals, is described for the vehicle. The video camera 41 has a resolution that can sufficiently read and determine the machine number and identification number of an aircraft or vehicle existing in the field of view. FIG.
Is a display example of a screen on the high-performance display device 14 of the embodiment.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG.
An aircraft or vehicle passing in front of the pattern recognition device 40 is photographed by the video camera 41 and image data 42 is output. The image data 42 is input to the target object extraction unit 43 and converted into digital data. Image processing is performed on the converted digital data to extract an aircraft or vehicle in the data as a target area, and the result is added as target information. As image digital data 44, a character recognition processing unit 45, a moving direction identification processing unit 46 and the coordinate information adding unit 49.

The character recognition processing section 45 further extracts the area of the aircraft body number and the vehicle identification number of the vehicle from the target area of the image digital data 44. Next, since there are machine numbers and vehicle identification numbers in that area, those numbers are written in that area using pattern recognition processing by image processing based on rules such as alphabets and numerals. Recognize the machine number and vehicle identification number that are present. The identified information is output to the data synthesizing unit 51 as the machine number or the vehicle identification number information 47. Further, the moving direction identification processing unit 46 determines the target from the position of the target object area of the image digital data 44 on the image, the stored position on the immediately preceding image, and the installation position and direction of the pattern recognition device 40. Identify the direction of movement of the object. The identified information is the moving direction information 48
And outputs it to the data synthesizing unit 51. Further, the coordinate information adding unit 49 obtains the center coordinates of the target area of the image digital data 44, and obtains the position coordinates of the target from the installation position and the direction of the pattern recognition device 40. The obtained information is output to the data synthesizing unit 51 as coordinate position information 50. The character recognition processing unit 45, the moving direction identification processing unit 46, and the coordinate information adding unit 49 perform processing simultaneously.

The data synthesizing unit 51 synthesizes the machine number or vehicle identification number information 47, the moving direction information 48, and the coordinate position information into one piece of information, and outputs it as target information 52 to the input buffer 53. Multiple pattern recognition devices 40
The target object information 52 output from is stored for each pattern recognition device 40 in the input buffer 53. The input buffer 53 synchronizes with a trigger signal 64 of the ACP / ARP 63 and sequentially outputs target identification information 54.

The position correlation processing device 55 includes the target identification information 5
4 which is obtained by analyzing the correlation between the data of the target of the aircraft or the vehicle obtained by inputting 4 from the input buffer 53 and the direction and distance signal 15 of the target detected by the ASDE target detection device 12 Tags such as a machine number and a vehicle identification number. As a result of analyzing the correlation, if the same target is not found, that is, if only the information from the ASDE target detection device 12 or only the information from the pattern recognition device 40 is used, each of the individual information Continue processing only with

For the aircraft or vehicle to which the tag is added, the tracking processing device 56 performs the tracking process using the moving direction information, and counts the number of targets entering and exiting taxiways, runways, airport roads and ramps. Check the quantity with. Next, since tags attached to each target are aircraft numbers and vehicle identification numbers and are not identification information normally used by controllers,
If it is an aircraft, it is converted to a flight number, and if it is a vehicle, it is converted to a company name or vehicle name and displayed. The identification code adding device 59 searches the FDP 21 or the vehicle DB 57 for the flight number or vehicle name of the target using the tag added to each target as a keyword, and if there is a match, the tag added to the target. And the display data signal 16 is obtained by adding the search result. When the registration item corresponding to the tag specified as the keyword is not found in the FDP 21 or the vehicle DB 57 as a result of the search, the display data signal 16 is set without performing any additional processing on the tag. The display data signal 16 is displayed on the high-performance display device 14. FIG. 3 is an image diagram in which the display data 16 is displayed on the high-performance display device 14.

The display data signal 16 is input to a collision prediction device 31, and a collision prediction process is performed by analyzing the moving direction of each target. If it is determined that there is a possibility of collision, a collision warning signal 32 is generated. The display is superimposed on the display result of the display data signal 16 on the high-performance display device 14.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 60 denotes a collision warning transmitting device, and reference numeral 62 denotes an aircraft / vehicle collision warning receiving device mounted on each aircraft and vehicle.

Next, the operation will be described. When it is determined by the collision prediction device 31 that there is a possibility that the aircraft or the vehicle has a collision, and the collision warning signal 32 is output, the collision warning transmitting device 60 inputs the collision warning signal 32 and outputs the collision warning information 6.
As one, the information is automatically transmitted to the airport. The collision warning information 61 includes an aircraft body number or a vehicle identification number of an aircraft determined to have a possibility of a collision, a model of an aircraft or a vehicle type of a partner aircraft determined to have a possibility of a collision, and the like. The relative direction of the opponent and the relative distance to the opponent are included. All the aircraft / vehicle-mounted collision warning receiving devices 62 that have received the collision warning information 61 determine whether the received information does not include the body number of the own device or the vehicle identification number of the own vehicle, and includes the information. If so, the information is transmitted to the pilot or driver by sound.

[0031]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, all aircraft and vehicles traveling on the airport surface can be detected and displayed on the high-performance display device with the identification code added. The effect is obtained. In addition, since all the aircraft can be displayed, the air traffic controller does not need to perform the work of directly communicating with the aircraft by radio and identifying the aircraft, so that the effect of reducing the load when performing the traffic control work can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since it is possible to display on the high-performance display device with an identification code such as an aircraft flight number or a vehicle name which is easy for the air traffic controller to understand, the control operation can be performed while watching the display. The effect that the load at the time of performing can be reduced is obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the air traffic controller misses the collision warning displayed on the high-performance display device, and the like. The effect is obtained that the warning can be transmitted automatically.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram showing an arrangement of a pattern recognition device 40 in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a display screen image diagram of the high-performance display device 14 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional airport surface monitoring device.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 ... High-performance display device 16 ... Display data signal 21 ... Flight plan information processing device (FDP) 22 ...
-Flight plan information 31 ... collision prediction device 32 ... collision warning signal 40 ... pattern recognition device 41 ... video camera 42 ... image data 43 ... target extraction unit 44 ... image Digital data 45: Character recognition processing unit 46: Moving direction identification processing unit 47: Vehicle identification number information 48: Moving direction information 49: Coordinate information adding unit 50: Coordinate position information 51 ... Data synthesis unit 5
2 Target information 53 Input buffer 54 Target identification information 55 Position correlation processing device 56 Tracking processing device 57 Vehicle database 58 Vehicle data 59 ··· Identification code adding device 60 ··· Collision warning transmitting device 61 ··· Collision warning information 62 ··· Aircraft / vehicle collision warning receiving device 63 ··· ACP / ARP 64 ··· ACP / ARP
Trigger signal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01S 7/00-7/42 G01S 13/00-13/95 G08G 5/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. (a) an airport surface detecting radar for detecting a target such as an aircraft or a vehicle traveling on an airport surface; (b) a video camera for capturing the target; and an image captured by the video camera. A target extraction unit that extracts the target, a character recognition processing unit that recognizes the identification number of the target from the target, and a movement direction identification processing unit that identifies the movement direction of the target from the target. A coordinate information adding unit that obtains coordinates of the target from the target, and data output from the character recognition processing unit, the moving direction identification processing unit, and the coordinate information adding unit, respectively, (C) an input buffer for accumulating the first target data; and (d) an input buffer for storing the first target data. Based A position correlation processing device for obtaining a position correlation between the second target data obtained by the above and the first target data stored in the input buffer; and (e) the first target data and the processing correlation processing device. A display device for displaying an image based on the output of the airport surface monitoring device. And a database storing information about an aircraft and a database storing information about a vehicle, extracting information corresponding to data obtained by the character recognition processing unit from the database, and transmitting the information to the display device. 2. The airport surface monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the information is displayed. 3. A collision prediction device that predicts a possibility of collision of an aircraft or a vehicle based on data output to the display device and outputs collision warning information when there is a possibility of collision, and the collision prediction device A collision warning transmitting device that inputs warning information and transmits the collision warning information to an airport surface, and an aircraft that is mounted on an aircraft or a vehicle and receives the collision warning information transmitted by the collision warning transmitting device and issues a collision warning. The airport surface monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a vehicle-mounted collision warning receiving device.