Ground remote control system and method for an aircraft with an electric taxi system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9417629-B2
Application number	US-201414532443-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2014
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

A ground remote control system for an aircraft includes a security pairing device configured to establish a first secure communication link and protocol between a remote control device and a ground remote control system controller; and establish a second secure communication link and protocol, using the first communication link and protocol between the remote control device and the ground remote control system controller. The ground remote control system controller is configured to receive drive command signals, brake command signals, steering command signals, and power command signals, from the remote control device and generate the electronic drive commands, the electronic brake commands, the electronic steering commands, and the electronic power commands.

First claim

We claim:

1. A ground remote control system for an aircraft, comprising:
an electric taxi system to provide motive power to main landing gear wheels for taxiing the aircraft in response to electronic drive commands;
a braking system to slow the aircraft during taxiing with brakes on the main landing gear wheels in response to electronic brake commands;
a steering system to steer the aircraft during taxiing in response to electronic steering commands;
a security pairing device configured to establish a first secure communication link and protocol between a remote control device and a ground remote control system controller located on the aircraft; and establish a second secure communication link and protocol, using the first communication link and protocol between the remote control device and the ground remote control system controller; and
an auxiliary power unit selectively connected to the electric taxi system, the braking system, and the steering system to provide power to the electric taxi system, the braking system, and the steering system; the auxiliary power unit configured to power on and power off in response to electronic power commands,
the ground remote control system controller configured to receive a desired speed and direction, braking input signals, and a desired steering angle, from the remote control device, using the second secure communication link and protocol; and generate the electronic drive commands, the electronic brake commands, and the electronic steering commands, based, at least in part, on the desired speed and direction, the braking input signals, and the desired steering angle,
wherein the ground remote control system controller is further configured to receive auxiliary power unit power on and power off signals from the remote control device, using the second secure communication link and protocol; and generate the electronic power commands, based, at least in part, on the auxiliary power unit power on and power off signals.

2. The remote control system of claim 1 , wherein the ground remote control system controller is configured to generate a random number for encrypting signals transmitted and received through the second secure communication link and protocol.

3. The remote control system of claim 1 ;
further comprising an aircraft remote control user interface including a remote control selector configured to select a remote on first option or a remote off second option; and
wherein the security pairing device is configured to establish the first secure communication link and protocol between the remote control device and the ground remote control system controller when the remote on first option is selected.

4. The remote control system of claim 1 ;
further comprising aircraft remote control lights mounted on the aircraft and configured to power on in response to a remote control lights on command; and
wherein the ground remote control system controller is configured to generate the remote control lights on command in response to receiving a remote control lights on signal from the remote control device.

5. The remote control system of claim 1 , wherein
the security pairing device is configured to establish a third secure communication link and protocol between a second remote control device and the ground remote control system controller; and establish a fourth secure communication link and protocol, using the third communication link and protocol between the second remote control device and the ground remote control system controller; and
the ground remote control system controller is configured to generate drive commands and braking commands to bring the aircraft to a stop in the shortest possible period of time in response to an emergency stop signal sent by the second remote control device using the fourth secure communication link and protocol; and generate and transmit an emergency stop display signal to the first remote control device using the second secure communication link and protocol.

6. The remote control system of claim 1 , further comprising a back-up power supply electrically connected to provide power to the security pairing device, and the ground remote control system controller; and configured to selectively provide power to the auxiliary power unit in response to a power on electronic power command to start the auxiliary power unit.

7. A ground remote control method for an aircraft, comprising:
receiving a request to allow remote control of the aircraft with a remote control device;
inputting a request for a first security code and a second security code to be sent to the remote control device with an input device on the aircraft;
generating the first security code and the second security code with a ground remote control system controller on the aircraft;
displaying the first security code on a first security code display on the aircraft;
transmitting the first security code and the second security code to the remote control device through a first communication link and protocol;
receiving a confirmation security code through the first communication link and protocol;
displaying the third security code on a second security code display on the aircraft;
inputting a remote control on input through a remote control selector on the aircraft if the first security code equals the confirmation security code;
establishing a second secure communication link and protocol, between the remote control device and the ground remote control system using the second security code;
receiving with the ground remote control system controller a desired speed and direction, braking input signals, and a desired steering angle, from the remote control device, using the second secure communication link and protocol; and
generating with the ground remote control system controller electronic drive commands, electronic brake commands, and electronic steering commands, based, at least in part, on the desired speed and direction, the braking input signals, and the desired steering angle.

8. The remote control method of claim 7 , wherein the first security code includes a first random number generated by the ground remote control system controller and the second security code includes a second random number generated by the ground remote control system controller.

9. The remote control method of claim 7 , wherein first communication link and protocol includes a control pilot data link communications communication and protocol.

10. The remote control method of claim 7 ; further comprising
providing motive power to the aircraft with an electric taxi system powered by an auxiliary power unit, in response to the electronic drive commands;
slowing the aircraft with a braking system powered by an auxiliary power unit, in response to the electronic brake commands; and
steering the aircraft with a steering system powered by an auxiliary power unit, in response to the electronic steering commands.

11. The remote control method of claim 7 ; wherein the remote control device is located at an air traffic control tower.

12. A ground remote control system for an aircraft, comprising:
an air conditioning system configured to turn on and turn off in response to electronic air conditioning system power commands;
a heating system configured to turn on and turn off in response to electronic heating system power commands;
an auxiliary power unit selectively connected to the air conditioning system and the heating system to provide power to the air conditioning system and the heating system; the auxiliary power unit configured to power on and power off in response to electronic power commands; and
a security pairing device configured

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Nutaro Joseph
• Cromer William D
• Johnson Daniel P
• Davis Lee
• Fusaro James

Classifications

• B64C25/405 Primary

  Powered wheels, e.g. for taxing · CPC title

• G05D1/0011 Primary

  associated with a remote control arrangement · CPC title

• B64C25/50

  Steerable undercarriages; Shimmy-damping · CPC title

• B64C25/42

  Arrangement or adaptation of brakes · CPC title

• B64D13/06

  the air being conditioned (pressurising B64D13/02) · CPC title