WO2010049224A2

WO2010049224A2 - Apparatus for lighting the airfield of an airport

Info

Publication number: WO2010049224A2
Application number: PCT/EP2009/062409
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Claude Vandevoorde
Original assignee: Adb Bvba
Priority date: 2008-10-31
Filing date: 2009-09-25
Publication date: 2010-05-06
Also published as: WO2010049224A3; DE102008054203A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for lighting the airfield of an airport, comprising at least one lighting unit (10C, 10S) for emitting an optical signal to a pilot of an aircraft (A), and a monitoring device for verify whether the at least one lighting unit (10C, 10S) functions properly. In order to be able to monitor how much light the lighting unit (10C, 10S) actually emits and thus whether the optical signal emitted to an aircraft pilot is bright enough, the monitoring device comprises at least one video camera (20) for capturing a digital video image (F_i) of the at least one lighting unit (10C, 10S).

Description

description

Apparatus for airfield lighting of an airport

The invention relates to a device for airfield lighting an airport according to the preamble of claim 1.

Airport beacons serve to guide pilots, especially in poor visibility conditions, when their aircraft is approaching the runway or moving on taxiways between the runway and its parking position. As firing units, for example approach, threshold, runway, taxiway and apron fire are known, which can be designed as overground or roll over underfloor fire. The firing units are connected in series or parallel circuits to firing devices powered by constant current or constant voltage sources. International standards, such as Annex 14 of the International Civil Aviation Association (ICAO), prescribe photometric values for the individual types of firing units for their brightness or actual light emission, which must be complied with in the production of the firing unit. These are the color and the light distribution that are tested on a projection screen. But even during operation firing units are constantly to monitor their function in terms of light emission.

From the product brochure "Airfield Lighting Control System

(ALCS): AGL-200 ", Order No. E10001-T95-A151-V1-7600, published by ADB - A Siemens Company, discloses a system for controlling and monitoring an airfield-lighting device. based control solution that supports the control staff in an airport control tower with automated functions to reduce their workload, as well as centralize technical data on status, alarm and event messages of the system to improve maintenance. The system consists of a workstation with a display device operable by touching the screen surface in the control tower with a control and monitoring device, which is connected via a so-called powerline communication up to 16 constant current controller and a computer in a substation. The communication between the individual nodes is typically based on optical fibers. The control and monitoring functions include switching the firing units on and off as well as setting a brightness level. The control can be carried out for individual firing units or groups of firing units. The control and monitoring of taxiway lights and stop line fires takes place via individual circuits. It is possible to monitor the status of constant current controllers. The touchscreen in the airport control tower offers an overview of the entire airport, the current status of the system and current alarm messages via the selection of various window settings.

From the utility model DE 298 23 494 Ul an airport lighting system is known which has a device for monitoring, control and regulation of their light sources or groups of light sources. The light sources each have at least one luminous means unit, which is associated with a transmitter / receiver device with a microcontroller. This device is connected via a power supply line and a router to a control center, which has a transmitting / receiving part and a control computer, connected and acted upon from there with control commands. The microcontrollers of each light-emitting unit are components of a decentralized control device, the application-specific components, e.g. Switching, monitoring and adjustment elements, has.

When a firing unit is installed, the current light distribution can be exceeded by mobile measuring equipment. be checked. However, a technically caused, lower accuracy and reproducibility of the light exit and distribution measurement in comparison to the laboratory measurement must be accepted. During operational flight operations, the functional test is limited to the immediate visual inspection by maintenance personnel during breaks or the indirect determination of the light emission, in which the flow of current through the lighting unit is monitored.

For this purpose, from the published patent application DE 36 35 682 Al a monitoring device for the lamp failure in aerodrome lighting systems is known in which the lamps are fed via series-connected current transformers. The lamps are each located in the secondary winding circuits of the current transformer. In order to be able to report both the disturbance and the location of the lamp of a control panel in the event of failure of a lamp, it is proposed to associate with each lamp a circuit arrangement for detecting the lamp function and this subordinate to a MeI- circuit. The signaling circuit contains an oscillator which feeds characteristic AC voltage signals into the lamp circuit for the lamp position and / or lamp function and into the supply circuit via the current transformer. In a central office, the oscillator signals are decoded and evaluated with regard to lamp position and / or lamp function.

On the other hand, from the translation DE 38 52 701 T2 of the European patent specification EP 0 364 577 B1, a device for indicating the failure of incandescent lamps for use in each of a plurality of incandescent lamps is known. The device comprises a mounted on a light bulb power line transformer device, which is connected via a coil core, a first winding which is wound on the coil core and connected in series with the corresponding lamp, and a second winding, which on the incandescent power line through the Spool core is wound, has. Furthermore, the device comprises a vibration generator, which operates from the output voltage of the second winding and generates a predetermined frequency to provide the vibrator with an output signal of the predetermined frequency to the incandescent power line. The vibrator provides, via a third winding wound on the spool core, an output signal to the filament power line, whereby a large number of electric lamps can be accurately detected and monitored from a central location.

However, this does not allow any statement about the actual light emission from the firing units and thus about the actual brightness of the optical signal. In exceptional cases, short circuits can lead to the same measurement result as the current flow through an intact light source, and thus to a wrong conclusion. In addition, the functionality of the light source is just one of several factors that affects the actual light brightness emitted by a firing unit. Likewise, broken or soiled optical components such as lenses, prisms or filters, the abrasion of aircraft tires deposited on the outer surface of the firing unit, the prisms or lenses glued by de-icing or chemical products, as well as hydrocatalytic degradation of external optical surfaces can be significant Distinguish perceptibility of a light emitted from a firing light signal.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide an aircraft field-firing device of the type mentioned, whose firing units can be monitored for their actual light emission and thus on the sufficient brightness of the emitted to an aircraft pilot optical signal.

The object is achieved by an airfield lighting device of the type mentioned above with the features indicated in the characterizing part of claim 1 feature. to paint. In that the monitoring device has at least one video camera for receiving a digital video image of the at least one firing unit, a low-cost, high-availability and high-performance detection system is proposed for the function control, which captures the optical signal currently emitted by the firing unit. By recording a firing unit is detected at any time, if ever a signal, and if so, in what brightness and / or color it is actually issued. The recording of the externally perceptible actual

Condition is the basis for the functional control according to the invention, without having to know the cause of a possible false display. Video cameras are suitable for recording digitally evaluable video images of light signals, be it overhead lights or underfloor fires, but also from billboards under a wide range of recording conditions - for example in the sun, in precipitation or at night. The monitoring device according to the invention can be used in addition to or instead of known fault detection circuits in order to provide a redundant system for fault detection in one case and a more cost-effective one in the other case. Finally, the monitoring device according to the invention has a modular design, since video cameras can be installed successively on the airfield; for example, high-security airfield segments such as approach lighting, runway lighting and stop line lighting could initially be monitored in order to monitor other airfield segments such as the taxiways, the apron and other ground motion areas in a later expansion phase.

In an advantageous embodiment of the airfield lighting device according to the invention, the at least one video camera is arranged and aligned such that the recorded video image has a group of several firing units. By monitoring a group of multiple firing units, the number of video cameras used can be kept small. In addition, this is an over- It can be obtained from a group of functionally related firing units, such as the entire approach lighting or the entire firing of a stop line.

In a preferred embodiment of the airfield-lighting device according to the invention, the at least one video camera is arranged and aligned such that the video image of the one or more firing units can be received approximately from the direction of the aircraft driver. Thus, the recorded video image forms a pilot's view of firing units which should give optical signals to them. The function control thus takes place from the point of view of the observer for whom the light signals are intended.

In an advantageous embodiment of the firing device according to the invention, the at least one video camera is designed for the periodic recording of video images. As a result, cyclical monitoring is possible at predeterminable time intervals, so that a permanent image acquisition and the associated data volume which is to be processed are dispensed with. By automatically triggering the periodic recordings, the monitoring instants can be stored in advance in the system, whereby nobody has to be active for monitoring during system operation.

In a preferred embodiment of the firing device according to the invention, the at least one video camera is mounted above the floor at a soil holder having a predetermined breaking point. The above-ground arrangement better simulates the angle of view of a pilot, while the predetermined breaking point of the ground support, for example in the event of an emergency landing, provides defined breaking properties of the mount. The video cameras of the monitoring device thus represent calculable obstacles. In a further advantageous embodiment of the firing device according to the invention, the monitoring device has an evaluation device for evaluating a recorded video image with regard to an externally perceivable brightness level of an imaged firing unit. The brightness and / or color of the optical signal emitted by a firing unit can be recognized by suitable evaluation algorithms based on pattern recognition by assigning color and / or gray scale levels to the individual pixels. For example, a larger expansion of brighter pixels around the firing unit may indicate a higher brightness level.

Preferably, the evaluation device of the inventive firing device has storage means in which reference images with illumination units adjustable brightness levels are stored, and comparison means, by means of which the currently perceptible brightness level of each recorded firing unit can be determined by comparing a recorded video image with the reference images. Each video camera is assigned to the firing units which can be received by it in on or off state as well as in differently adjustable brightness levels in the form of reference images in the storage means. This comparison basis is recorded, for example, after a maintenance procedure, so that it is ensured that the respective optimal target state is displayed on the reference images. The brightness of the recorded firing units set at the time of recording is transmitted to the evaluation device, so that the appropriate reference image is used there as a basis for comparison. The currently recorded video image of the firing units is now compared firing unit for firing unit to match the brightness and / or color of the emitted light signal.

In this case, the comparison means of the firing device according to the invention are designed such that in a first step image areas of interest can be determined, in which firing units are mapped, and in a second step, a brightness level can be assigned to each image area of interest by pixel comparisons. By limiting the pixel-by-pixel comparison of video image and reference image to image areas of interest, considerable time is saved in computing. As a result, the monitoring result can be provided faster. The location of the image areas of interest is predetermined by the imaging area of the video camera set by the arrangement and orientation as well as the arrangement of the individual firing units in this respect.

In another advantageous refinement of the firing device according to the invention, the monitoring device has a display device for reproducing recorded video images, which is connected to the evaluation device in such a way that a currently recorded video image is automatically reproduced as soon as a determined brightness level for a firing unit is set from the setpoint brightness. differs from the brightness level. The display device can be arranged, for example, centrally, for example in the control tower or in a maintenance station of the airport. A video image is then automatically reproduced by the display device and thus made known to the control or maintenance personnel when at least one of the recorded firing units does not emit an optical signal or an optical signal which does not correspond in color and / or brightness to the brightness state set by a control unit ,

Preferably, the display device of the firing device according to the invention is designed to reproduce a composite of a plurality of video images recorded by different video cameras overall picture. Thus, both the chronological course of the same firing excerpt and, in an overall representation, a plurality of simultaneously recorded video images can be reproduced by means of the central display device. Due to the temporal development The brightness of a particular firing unit can be used to obtain important maintenance information. In addition, the overall overview of a large number of firing units forms an important basis for decision making for possible switching interventions by the control personnel.

In another preferred embodiment of the firing device according to the invention, the display device is designed to reproduce a switching recommendation and / or a maintenance instruction for the firing units. If, for example, it is determined by the evaluation device that the brightness emitted by the recorded firing units falls below a certain threshold overall, the display means can automatically reproduce a corresponding maintenance instruction for these firing units with their installation locations. Alternatively or in parallel, a switching recommendation, for example switching a higher brightness level, can be reproduced.

Further properties and advantages of the firing device according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing, in the single figure of a monitoring device of a firing device according to the invention is shown schematically.

An aircraft A taxiing along a taxiway T of an airport along its centerline C moves toward a runway R according to the single figure. From the direction of view V of a pilot of the aircraft A can see this along the center line C underfloor arranged taxiway centerline fire IOC. The brightness level B ₀ for this centerline fire IOC is set by the control center 40 in the control tower of the airport according to the visibility conditions. Before entering the runway R, a stop line S is arranged on the taxiway T, at which the aircraft A must hold until it receives an enable signal to continue driving. The stop line S is formed by a series of underfloor taxiway stop line lights 1OS. The A- Position of the brightness level B _{3 of} the stop line fire 1OS is again via the control center 40 according to the prevailing visibility conditions.

In order to check the function of the firing units IOC and / or 1OS, a monitoring device is provided according to the invention, which has a video camera 20 arranged laterally of the taxiway T and oriented approximately in the direction of view V of the pilot. On the digital video images F ₁ , which are recorded by the video camera 20, the firing units IOC or 1OS are thus recorded approximately from the direction of view V of the pilot. In this case, the firing units IOC or 1OS with the brightness levels b _c and b _{s are} imaged on the recorded video images F ₁ , as they are currently actually perceived by the pilot. For example, stop line fire 1OS, shown in the figure as black filled out from the direction of view V of the pilot at the left edge of taxiway T, has failed, while all the remaining fire stations 1OS and IOC are intact, represented by three bars representing light beams in the figure.

According to the invention, the monitoring device has an evaluation device 30 in which the recorded video images F _{1 have} firing units IOC and / or 1OS imaged with respect to a brightness level b _c or b _{s that} can be perceived from the outside. For this purpose, the evaluation device 30 comprises memory means 31, in which reference images R ₃ are stored with firing units IOC or 1OS of different adjustable brightness levels B ₀ and B ₃ , respectively. Furthermore, the evaluation device 30 comprises comparison means 32 for the digital comparison of recorded video images F ₁ with a reference image R _j . The selection of the correct reference image R _D is effected by the recording time of the video image F ₁ supplied by the video camera 20, since the recording time specifies which brightness level B _c or B _{3 was} preset or switched by the control center 40. The image comparison relies on known pattern recognition algorithms and takes place in two steps. In a first step, the image areas of interest are determined on the recorded video image F ₁ , in which the illumination units IOC and / or 1OS are mapped. This saves computing time. In a second calculation step, it is now determined pixel-by-pixel on the basis of predefined color and / or gray-scale levels whether the currently recorded brightness levels b _c or b _s correspond to the set brightness levels B _c or B ₃ stored on the reference image R _D. In the illustrated case, it is recognized that the stop line firing 1OS arranged at the left edge of the taxiway T has no or a lower brightness value than that stored in the reference image R _D.

In such a case, the captured image F _{1 is} automatically transmitted to the control center 40 and reproduced on a display device 41 of the monitoring device. Thus, the control or maintenance staff can convince themselves visually that that stop line fire 1OS has failed or emits a light signal with too low a brightness. Optionally, the evaluation device 30 sends a switching recommendation c and / or a maintenance instruction m to the control center 40 for display on the display device 41. Such a switching recommendation c may, for example, include switching to a lower brightness level as soon as the status of the firing units IOC or 1OS no longer meets the minimum standard. The maintenance instruction m can cause the replacement of the defective lighting unit 1OS before the brightness threshold reaches the minimum standard. Thus, no system intervention is required for monitoring the airfield lighting device, but only maintenance and repair measures, such as the cleaning of an installed lighting unit.

Claims

claims

1. An airport airfield firing device comprising at least one firing unit (IOC, 10S) for delivering an optical signal to a pilot of an aircraft (A) and having a monitoring device for controlling the operation of the at least one firing unit (IOC, 10S), characterized in that the monitoring device has at least one video camera (20) for recording a digital video image (F ₁ ) of the at least one firing unit (IOC, 10S).

2. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one video camera (20) is arranged and oriented such that the captured video image (F ₁ ) comprises a group of a plurality of firing units (IOC, 10S).

3. A lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one video camera (20) is arranged and aligned such that the video image (F ₁ ) of the one or more firing units (IOC, 10S) approximately from the viewing direction (V) of Aircraft Guide is receivable.

4. A lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one video camera (20) for periodic

Recording of video images (F ₁ ) is formed.

5. Lighting device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one video camera (20) is fixed via a corridor at a predetermined breaking point having ground support.

6. Lighting device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the monitoring device has an evaluation device (30) for evaluating a recorded video image (F ₁ ) with respect to an externally perceptible brightness level (b _c , b _s ) of an imaged firing unit (IOC, 10S) ,

7. A firing device according to claim 6, wherein the evaluation device (30) storing means (31) in which reference images (R _D ) with firing units (IOC, 10S) adjustable brightness levels (B ₀ , B ₃ ) are stored, and comparison means (32 ), by means of which by comparison of a recorded video image (F ₁ ) with the reference images (R _D ), the currently perceptible brightness level (b _c , b _s ) of each recorded firing unit (10c, 10s) can be determined.

8. A lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the comparison means (32) are formed such that in a first step image areas of interest can be determined, in which firing units (10c, 10s) are mapped, and in a second step by pixel comparisons each image area of interest one Brightness level (b _c , b _s ) is assigned.

9. A firing device according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the monitoring device has a display device (41) for reproducing recorded video images (F ₁ ) which is connected to the evaluation device (30) such that the reproduction of a currently recorded video image (F ₁ ) automatically takes place as soon as a determined brightness level (b _c , b _s ) for a firing unit (IOC, 10S) deviates from the set brightness level (B ₀ , B ₃ ).

10. A lighting device according to claim 9, wherein the display device (41) for reproducing a composite of a plurality of video cameras (20) video images (F ₁ ) composite overall image is formed.

11. Lighting device according to one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the display device (41) for reproducing a switching recommendation (c) and / or a maintenance notice (m) for the firing units (IOC, 10S) is formed.