Method for aligning one end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft

Abstract

A method for aligning one end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft includes sensing a location of a base plate of the doorway of the aircraft, using a sensor that is disposed proximate the one end of the passenger boarding bridge. A current location of the one end of the passenger boarding bridge is then determined relative to the sensed location of the base plate. Based upon a known relationship between the location of the doorway and the sensed location of the base plate, the one end of the passenger boarding bridge is moved from the current location toward the doorway of the aircraft. The method relies upon features of the aircraft itself and does not require additional passive or active targets on the aircraft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for aligning one end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft, comprising:
 identifying the type and sub-type of the aircraft;   positioning the one end of the passenger boarding bridge at a predefined position for the identified type and sub-type of the aircraft;   using an imager disposed proximate the one end of the passenger boarding bridge, capturing image data relating to a portion of a lateral surface of the aircraft, the doorway being defined within said lateral surface;   using an image processor in communication with the imager, comparing the image data to template data for a doorway base plate of the identified type and sub-type of the aircraft;   determining an instruction for moving the one end of the passenger boarding bridge toward the doorway of the aircraft, based on the comparison of the image data with template data; and,   automatically performing the instruction so as to move the one end of the passenger boarding bridge toward the doorway of the aircraft.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the imager is a digital camera and wherein capturing image data comprises providing a signal relating to the captured image data from the digital camera to the image processor. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the template data comprises a plurality of template images of the doorway base plate of the identified type and sub-type of the aircraft. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein some of the plurality of template images include features of a paint pattern proximate the doorway of the aircraft. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising sensing a current orientation of the one end of the passenger boarding bridge relative to the aircraft. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein comparing the image data to template data comprises scaling the template data based on the sensed current orientation. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein sensing the current orientation comprises sensing a distance from the imager to the aircraft. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein sensing the current orientation comprises sensing tilt of the one end relative to a horizontal reference plane. 
     
     
         9 . A method for aligning one end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft, comprising:
 identifying the type and sub-type of the aircraft;   positioning the one end of the passenger boarding bridge at a predefined position for the identified type and sub-type of the aircraft;   sensing a current orientation of the one end of the passenger boarding bridge;   using an imager disposed proximate the one end of the passenger boarding bridge, capturing image data relating to a portion of a lateral surface of the aircraft, the doorway being defined within said lateral surface;   using an image processor in communication with the imager, retrieving template data relating to the base plate of the doorway of the identified type and sub-type of the aircraft;   scaling the retrieved template data based on the sensed current orientation of the one end of the passenger boarding bridge;   determining an instruction for moving the one end of the passenger boarding bridge toward the doorway of the aircraft, based on a comparison of the captured image data to the scaled template data; and,   automatically performing the instruction so as to move the one end of the passenger boarding bridge toward the doorway of the aircraft.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the imager is a digital camera and wherein capturing image data comprises providing a signal relating to the captured image data from the digital camera to the image processor. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the template data comprises a plurality of template images of the doorway base plate of the identified type and sub-type of the aircraft. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein some of the plurality of template images include features of a paint pattern proximate the doorway of the aircraft. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein sensing the current orientation comprises sensing a distance from the imager to the aircraft. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein sensing the current orientation comprises sensing tilt of the one end relative to a horizontal reference plane. 
     
     
         15 . A method for aligning one end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft, comprising:
 sensing a location of a base plate of the doorway of the aircraft using a sensor that is disposed proximate the one end of the passenger boarding bridge;   determining a current location of the one end of the passenger boarding bridge relative to the sensed location of the base plate; and,   moving the one end of the passenger boarding bridge from the current location toward the doorway of the aircraft, based upon a known relationship between the location of the doorway and the sensed location of the base plate.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the sensor comprises a digital camera and wherein sensing a location of the base plate comprises capturing a digital image of the base plate of the doorway. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein determining a current location of the one end of the passenger boarding bridge relative to the sensed location of the base plate comprises comparing the captured digital image with stored template data. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the stored template data comprises a plurality of template images of the doorway base plate. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein some of the plurality of template images include features of a paint pattern proximate the doorway of the aircraft. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17 , comprising scaling the stored template data based on a sensed orientation of the one end relative to the aircraft. 
     
     
         21 . A system for aligning one end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft, the aircraft being parked adjacent to the one end of the passenger boarding bridge during a current alignment operation, the system comprising:
 an imager disposed proximate the one end of the passenger boarding bridge for capturing image data relating to a doorway base plate of the aircraft;   a memory element having template image data stored therein, the template image data relating to the doorway base plate of the aircraft; and   a processor in communication with the imager and with the memory element, for comparing the captured image data with the template image data and for determining an instruction for moving the one end of the passenger boarding bridge along a direction toward the doorway of the aircraft, based on a result of the comparison.   
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the imager is a digital camera. 
     
     
         23 . A system according to  claim 22 , comprising a light source for illuminating the doorway base plate of the aircraft during image capture by the digital camera. 
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 21 , comprising an orientation sensing element for sensing an orientation of the one end of the passenger boarding bridge. 
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein the orientation sensing element is an inclinometer in communication with the processor for sensing an orientation of the one end of the passenger boarding bridge relative to a horizontal reference plane. 
     
     
         26 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein the orientation sensing element is a laser range finder for sensing a distance from the imager to the aircraft.