JP3569073B2 - Runway centerline visual support system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a runway centerline visual support system that enables a pilot to visually recognize a runway centerline from a cockpit in an aircraft.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Military aircraft, unlike general commercial aircraft, plunge or have various accessories attached to the exterior of the fuselage, so it is not preferable to install a projection device or the like indicating the runway center line on the runway. .
[0003]
For this reason, it is common practice for civil aircraft and military aircraft to take off and land at separate airports, but due to the narrowness of the airport and regional factors, civil aircraft and military aircraft are used separately. You may have to use the same airport. In such a case, the runway centerline is not set on the runway of the airport for the above reasons.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, in an airport where civil and military aircraft are shared as described above, when a commercial or military aircraft lands at the airport, such as a foggy day, a snowy day, or a strong wind, On days with poor visibility, for example, it is very difficult for the pilot to land in the center of the runway while looking out of the cockpit. is there.
[0005]
Therefore, most pilots feel more difficult to operate when landing at an airport without a centerline on the runway than at an airport with a centerline on the runway. Complains of the need. Currently, pilots are trying to land in the center of the runway using everything they can see, but in the end they had to rely on their intuition, giving the pilot very uneasiness. That is the fact.
[0006]
Therefore, at this type of airport, there is a demand for setting a runway center line on the runway within a range in which the aircraft is safe and does not interfere with military aircraft.
The invention described in claim 1 provides a runway centerline visual support system that forms a runway centerline in a pseudo manner without placing a protrusion on the runway and enables an aircraft to safely land. The purpose is to:
[0007]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, a component is installed on the surface of the center of the runway so as not to hinder the landing of the aircraft, and the laser beam is received to create a visible state representing the runway center line from the component. Another object of the present invention is to provide a runway centerline visual support system that enables an aircraft to guide landing safely.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a visualization block body is buried in the surface of the center of the runway, receives a laser beam, creates a visible state representing the runway centerline from the visualization block body, and guides the aircraft to land safely. It is an object of the present invention to provide a runway centerline visual support system that can be used.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a weather information acquisition means for acquiring weather information including at least illuminance, and a laser generator which is installed alternately on one side or both sides of the runway and at predetermined intervals to generate laser light. And a water spray device for spraying water, and when at least the illuminance of the weather information obtained by the weather information obtaining means is equal to or more than a predetermined value, only the water spray device is driven to land at the center of the runway. When spraying water, and also when the illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the laser generator is driven to irradiate a laser beam linearly to the center of the runway, and the water sprayer is also provided as necessary. Driving simultaneously, drive control means for irradiating laser light to spray water that lands on the center of the runway from this water spray device and visualizing it, and controlling so as to form a center line in the center of the runway, Be prepared A runway center line vision assistance system, characterized in that the.
[0014]
According to the first aspect of the present invention , when the illuminance is equal to or more than a predetermined value, it is difficult to visualize the runway center using a laser beam. A center line is formed at the center of the runway by spraying water so as to land on the center. On the other hand, when the illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined value or by driving the laser generator to linearly irradiate the center of the runway with laser light, a runway center line can be formed on the runway by laser light. To clarify the road center line, drive the water spray device at the same time as the laser generator and spray water so that it reaches the center. Lines can be formed.
[0015]
When the weather information is, for example, rain, fog, snow, or night, the water spray device is not driven. This is because it plays a role similar to spray water.
An invention corresponding to claim 2 is a method according to claim 1, wherein when the illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the laser generator is driven to visualize a center line at the center of the runway. An optical element installed at a predetermined interval in the center and reflecting laser light incident from the laser generator upward; and an optical element installed so as to cover an upper part of the optical element and incident through the optical element by diffused reflection of the laser beam is a structure in which a transparent member causing visualization.
[0016]
According to the invention corresponding to claim 2, the laser light generated from the laser generator is reflected by the optical element and radiated upward when the above structure is adopted. As a result, the light is diffused and reflected, so that it is visualized linearly from the transparent member, so that a runway centerline can be formed on the runway.
[0017]
In this system, an optical element is installed on the runway.If the transparent member covering the optical element is made up of a height and width that does not hinder the landing of the aircraft, the aircraft can safely land. Can be guided.
[0018]
The invention corresponding to claim 3 is based on the invention according to claim 1, wherein when the illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the laser generator is driven to visualize a centerline of the center of the runway. A visualization block is provided which is buried at predetermined intervals in the center of the ground and irregularly reflects laser light incident from the laser generator.
[0019]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the racer generator is installed on one or both sides of the runway, the visualization block installed at the center of the runway from the laser generator when the above configuration is adopted. By irradiating the laser beam to the body, the visualization of the visualization block body enables the drawing on the runway at the runway center line.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a runway centerline visual support system according to the present invention. This support system forms a pseudo runway centerline 3 on a runway 2 on which the aircraft 1 lands, and allows a pilot in a cockpit to land safely while visually observing the pseudo runway centerline 3.
[0023]
Specifically, the support system transmits an illuminance meter 4 for measuring the brightness of the surroundings, and an electromagnetic wave such as a microwave, and obtains the weather such as rain, fog and snow from reflected waves from a target such as rain. A weather radar 5 for detecting the situation, an anemometer 6 for measuring the speed and direction of the wind, a central monitoring computer 7 as a drive control means for executing a predetermined program process using the outputs of these measuring devices 4 to 6; And a center line setting device 8 for setting a pseudo runway center line 3 on the runway 2 based on the processing result of the central monitoring computer 4.
[0024]
The illuminometer 4 is used to measure the brightness of the surroundings and, for example, to determine whether or not to use the laser emitting device when the laser emitting device is used as the center line setting device 8. For example, the weather radar 5 uses a laser emitting device in the case of rain, fog, snow, night, and the like, and otherwise forms the pseudo runway centerline 3 using other means without using the laser emitting device. It is used to make a decision. The anemometer 6 is used to set, for example, the runway centerline to be slightly windward from the viewpoint of aircraft safety when the wind speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined wind speed.
[0025]
The acquisition of the weather information is not limited to the illuminometer 4, the weather radar 5, the anemometer 6, and the like, and other weather information measuring devices may be used as necessary. Is also possible.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a pilot operation procedure when the above-described system is used. In this system, based on drive control from the central monitoring computer 4, the center line setting device 8 forms the pseudo runway center line 3 on the runway 2 by various means. The center line 3 is visually checked (ST1), and it is determined whether or not the aircraft 1 is deviated from the pseudo runway center line 3 (ST2). If it is deviated, the trajectory is corrected on the pseudo runway center line 3. (ST3).
[0027]
Next, FIGS. 3 to 5 are views showing a specific embodiment of the center line setting device 8. FIG. FIG. 3 shows an example of installation of each component constituting the center line setting device 8, FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a laser generator which is one of the components, and FIG. 5 shows one of the components. It is a figure showing composition of a water spray device.
[0028]
The center line setting device 8 includes a laser generator 11 for forming a runway centerline of a surface beam having a predetermined length and a predetermined width on the runway on one or both sides of the runway 2 as shown in FIG. Water spray devices 12 such as sprinklers are alternately provided at substantially equal intervals.
[0029]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the laser generator 11. FIG. 1A is a schematic external view, FIG. 2B is an arrangement diagram of an optical system for irradiating a laser beam in a predetermined direction, and FIG. 1C is a diagram showing a runway center line drawn by a laser generator 11. It is. The laser generator 11 includes a laser light source 111 that generates laser light, a fixed lower mirror 112 that directly receives the laser light emitted from the laser light source 111, and a laser light that is reflected by the lower mirror 112. An upper mirror 113 that reflects the light in a predetermined direction and a semi-cylindrical lens (cylindrical lens) 114 that converts the laser beam from the upper mirror 113 into a linear surface beam having a predetermined width. The semi-cylindrical lens 114 is integrally mounted so as to be swingable about a vertical axis and rotatable in the left-right direction. This means that, based on various weather information, the central monitoring computer 7 swings the upper mirror 113 in either the right or left direction or at the same time by a predetermined angle, so that the center portion of the runway is Center lines can be drawn. Note that the intensity of the laser light is such that the target can be seen even when the laser light is applied to a target 50 m away.
[0030]
On the other hand, as the water spraying device 12, for example, a sprinkler having a biaxial hinge is used as shown in FIG. 5, and the specific configuration thereof is as shown in FIG. The spray unit main body 125 is attached to the intermediate body 123 via a vertical rotation shaft 124. Reference numeral 125a denotes a spray port. The water spray device 12 has two patterns, one of which is a pattern for swinging and rotating the spray unit main body 125 using the vertical rotation shaft 124 as shown in FIG. One pattern is a pattern in which the spray unit main body 125 swings and rotates using the horizontal rotation axis 122 and the vertical rotation axis 124. That is, the water spraying device 12 sprays the water 126 from the spray port 125a of the spraying unit main body 125, calculates the angle and the flow rate of the spraying unit main body 125 so as to land on the center of the runway, and discharges the spray water. It is to be dropped on the runway (see Fig. D).
[0031]
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of drive control of the center line setting device 8 by the central monitoring computer 7.
The central monitoring computer 7 takes in weather information from the illuminometer 4, the weather radar 5, the anemometer 6, and other necessary sensors (ST11), and then drives and controls the center line setting device 8. Specifically, for example, the necessity of laser light generation is determined from the illuminance of the illuminometer 4 (ST12). For example, when the illuminance is large and the runway is in a bright state, it is determined that laser light is not necessary because the laser light is not in a visualized state, and it is subsequently determined whether or not spraying is necessary (ST13). When it is determined that the spray is necessary, only the water spray device 12 is driven (ST14). That is, when the illuminance as the weather information is equal to or more than the predetermined value, only the water spray device 12 is driven. Then, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (ST15). When the predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to step ST12. The reason why the predetermined time is set is that the water spray device 12 only needs to be driven when the aircraft lands, and that the driving control is more appropriately performed by taking in new weather information.
[0032]
Note that, in the spray pattern of spraying water from the water spray device 12, in the daytime or the like when the illuminance is sufficient, water is jetted vertically as in pattern 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram, FIG. 2B is a diagram viewed from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the runway, and FIG. 1C is a diagram viewed from the cockpit side of the aircraft. In this way, when water is injected vertically, the pilot can not only determine the positions of both ends of the runway, but also play a role in indicating the boundaries on both sides of the runway, for example, when snow is piled up and the boundaries are difficult to understand. .
[0033]
For example, when the illuminance becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value in step ST12, the laser generator 11 is driven (ST16). The driving of the laser generator 11 forms a runway center line on the runway by controlling the rotation of the upper mirror 113 so that the laser beam is irradiated to the center of the runway.
[0034]
At this time, it is determined whether or not spraying is necessary (ST17). For example, when the illuminance is not sufficient and the laser beam alone cannot be sufficiently visualized, the water spray device 12 is driven together with the drive of the laser generator 11. When the water spray device 12 is driven, the drive control is performed so that the water has, for example, a pattern 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 1A is a schematic view, FIG. 2B is a view as seen from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the runway, and FIG. 1C is a view as seen from a cockpit.
[0035]
In other words, the water sprayed from the water spray device 12 has a trace that it soars in a parabolic shape toward the sky and reaches the center of the runway. At this time, if the laser generator 11 is being driven at the same time, the laser beam from the laser generator 11 hits the spray water, and is visualized so as to draw a runway center line at the center of the runway. A road center line can be formed.
[0036]
In order to make the laser light collide with the spray water to make it visible, it is necessary to adjust the speed and angle of the water by the water spray device 12. Now, assuming that the distance x, the angle is θ, the initial velocity of water is v ₀ , and the gravitational acceleration is g, the relationship between the angle θ and the initial velocity of water v ₀ is as shown in FIG.
x = v ₀ ² sin 2θ / g
It is represented by
[0037]
Note that under weather conditions such as rain, fog, snow, and night, a runway centerline is drawn on the runway using only laser light to guide landing of an aircraft.
Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, the laser generator 11 is disposed at a predetermined interval on one side or both sides of the runway 2, and a laser beam is emitted from the laser generator 11 to the center of the runway. Since the runway centerline is drawn in a pseudo manner, the runway centerline 3 can be formed without placing any obstacles in the center of the runway, and the pilot can safely fly the aircraft using the centerline 3 as a clue. You can be guided to the center of the road.
[0038]
In addition, if the water spray device 12 is arranged at a predetermined interval on one side or both sides of the runway 2 and water 126 is vertically sprayed from the water spray device 12, the pilot can easily determine the position of the line on both sides of the runway. In addition, when snow is slightly accumulated, a function of indicating the boundary of the runway can be provided. If the water is sprayed from the water spray device 12 so as to land on the central portion of the runway 2, In addition, the spray water landing line can be used as a center line on the runway, and the pilot can use the center line as a clue to guide the aircraft safely to the center of the runway.
[0039]
Further, a laser generator 11 and a water spray device 12 are alternately arranged at a predetermined interval on one side or both sides of the runway 2, and when the weather information, for example, the illuminance is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the water spray device 12 is used. If the position or the runway center line 3 can be formed, and the illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the runway center line 3 can be formed on the runway by using the laser generator 11 and the water spray device 12 is simultaneously driven. The runway centerline 3 that is in a visualized state on the runway when the laser light is applied to the spray water can be reliably formed.
(Second embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the runway centerline visual support system according to the present invention.
[0040]
This embodiment is different from the system according to FIGS. 1 to 9 in that a reflecting mirror or a prism is installed at the center of the runway 2 and a laser is output from a laser generator 11 installed on one or both sides of the runway through a prism or the like. This is an embodiment in which a runway centerline 3 is formed on a runway by irradiating light to the sky and performing diffuse reflection.
[0041]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10A, laser generators 11,... Are arranged at predetermined intervals on one side or both sides of runway 2, and there is no hindrance to aircraft landing at the center of runway 2. When a raised portion 20 having a height and a width of about 20 mm is provided, and the raised portion 20 is formed of a transparent member, a laser beam emitted from the laser generator 11 is provided inside the raised portion 20. An optical element 21 such as a reflecting mirror or a prism that receives the light and reflects it upward is installed. At this time, the laser light from the optical element 21 is visualized by irregular reflection by forming a large number of bubbles inside the light transmitting member which is the rising portion 20 or by forming the surface portion in a pear-like shape. Has become.
[0042]
When the raised portion 20 is formed of an opaque member, an optical element 21 such as a reflecting mirror or a prism is installed at the outer base of the raised portion 20 as shown in an enlarged view of FIG. Then, the laser beam emitted from the laser generator 11 is received and reflected upward. When the optical element 21 is installed outside the raised part 20 in this manner, in order to prevent the optical element 21 from being damaged, a transparent member that protects the optical element 21 by, for example, being parallel or inclined from the upper part of the raised part 20. Provided so as to be covered by the cover 22. The cover 22 also has a configuration in which a large number of air bubbles are formed inside, or an outer surface portion serving as a transmission path of the laser light is formed in a satin shape, so that when the laser light hits, it is visualized by irregular reflection of light. ing.
[0043]
Instead of installing an optical element 21 such as a reflection mirror or a prism, a paint in which prism-like particles are scattered is applied to form a triangular prism 23, and a transparent solidifying material is poured into the prism 23, for example, as shown in FIG. By forming the block body 24 having a long cross section as shown in FIG. 11, laser light entering horizontally is irregularly reflected by the prism 23 to be in a visualized state.
[0044]
When such a prism 23 is used, the approach angle of the aircraft, the course direction, the position (height) of the pilot's driver's seat, and the like differ depending on the model, but a triangular prism-like shape formed by applying a paint in which prism-like particles are dispersed. By using the prism 23, it can be visualized by diffuse reflection from any direction, a center line can be drawn on the runway, and the aircraft can be guided safely.
[0045]
In addition, as the simplest embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, for example, a groove is formed in a central portion on a runway, and an acrylic or the like is poured into the groove to form a translucent visualization block body 26. The runway centerline 3 can be drawn on the runway by irradiating the translucent visualization block body 26 with laser light. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the laser generator 11 and the optical element 21 or the block 26 as shown in FIG. 10B or FIG. 11 are embedded under the runway, and the laser generator 11 passes through the optical path 27 from the laser generator 11. A configuration in which the light enters the optical element 21 or the block body 26 and is visualized by the block body 24 or the block body 26 may be used.
[0046]
Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, an optical element 21 is installed by providing a raised portion 20 having a height and a width that does not hinder the landing of an aircraft on a runway, or the block body 26 is provided. The runway centerline 3 can be easily formed on the runway because the laser light is diffused and visualized while being installed or embedded in the runway .
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the following various effects can be obtained.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the laser generator and the water spray device are used together, when the weather information, for example, the illuminance is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the water spray device can be used to form both sides of the runway or the center line. When the illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined value , a center line can be formed on the runway by using a laser generator, and simultaneously, when the water spray device is simultaneously driven, the center line is visualized on the runway by irradiating the spray water with laser light. Can be reliably formed.
[0053]
According to the invention of claim 2, an optical element is installed in the central European part of the runway so as to protect the aircraft at a height and width that does not hinder the landing of the aircraft, and the laser element generated by the laser generator is used for the optical element. Since it is configured to be visualized through the center, a visualized center line can be formed on the runway, and the aircraft can be guided safely.
[0054]
Further, the invention of claim 3, with embedded visualization block body diffused reflection in the central portion of the runway, a laser beam emitted from the laser generator runway sides, of letting visualized by diffuse through visualization block body The center line can be formed without any obstacles on the runway, and the aircraft can be guided safely.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a runway centerline visual support system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an operation procedure of a pilot when the basic system shown in FIG. 1 is used.
FIG. 3 is a layout example diagram of each device constituting the center line setting device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a laser generator that is one of the devices shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a water spray device that is another one of the devices shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the center line setting device.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a spray pattern for spraying water from a water spray device.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another spray pattern example of spraying water from a water spray device.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the spray angle of water and the initial velocity of water.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for creating a visualized state of laser light when a swelling portion is provided in a center portion of a runway in a range where there is no obstacle to landing of an aircraft.
FIG. 11 is a diagram in which a block body having a built-in visible prism is installed at the center of the runway.
FIG. 12 is a diagram in which a visualization block body is installed underground on a runway.
FIG. 13 is a diagram in which a laser generator and a visualization block are installed underground on a runway.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Aircraft, 2 ... Runway, 3 ... Runway center line, 4 ... Illuminometer, 5 ... Weather radar, 6 ... Anemometer, 7 ... Central monitoring computer, 8 ... Center line setting device, 11 ... Laser generator, 12 ... water spray device.

Claims (3)

Weather information acquisition means for acquiring weather information including at least illuminance,
A water spray device that sprays water with a laser generator that generates laser light and is installed at predetermined intervals alternately on one or both sides of the runway,
When at least the illuminance of the weather information obtained by the weather information obtaining means is equal to or more than a predetermined value, only the water spray device is driven to spray water so as to land on the center of the runway, and the illuminance Is less than or equal to a predetermined value, while driving the laser generator to irradiate a laser beam linearly to the center of the runway, and simultaneously driving the water spraying device as necessary, and from the water spraying device, Drive control means for irradiating laser light to spray water arriving at the center of the runway to visualize the spray water, and controlling the center of the runway to form a center line. Center line visual support system. The runway centerline visual support system according to claim 1,
As means for driving the laser generator when the illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined value to visualize the center of the runway, the laser generator is installed at a predetermined interval in the center of the runway and is incident from the laser generator. An optical element that reflects the laser light upward, and a transparent member that is installed so as to cover the upper part of the optical element and diffusely reflects and visualizes the laser light incident through the optical element. Characteristic runway centerline visual support system. The runway centerline visual support system according to claim 1,
As means for driving the laser generator when the illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined value to visualize the center of the runway, the laser generator may be embedded at predetermined intervals in the ground at the center of the runway. A runway centerline visual support system, comprising: a visualization block for irregularly reflecting laser light incident from the runway.

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