Transport Safety System

Abstract

A transport safety system ( 400 ) for use in airports comprising a status monitor ( 300 ) for an airside dolly ( 200 ) used to improve airport safety. The status monitor ( 300 ) comprises a sensor ( 303 ) configured to sense a safety variable of the airside dolly and an output ( 301 ) in communication with the sensor ( 303 ). The output ( 303 ) is configured to provide a status signal in dependence on the sensed safety variable of the airside dolly ( 200 ).

1 . A status monitor for an airside dolly, the status monitor comprising:
 a sensor, the sensor configured to sense a safety variable of the airside dolly; and   an output, the output being in communication with the sensor and configured to provide a status signal in dependence on the sensed safety variable of the airside dolly.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A status monitor according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor comprises a clamp sensor, wherein the clamp sensor is configured to sense whether a ULD or other container is correctly clamped to the airside dolly, and wherein the safety variable is whether a ULD or other container is correctly clamped to the airside dolly. 
     
     
         4 . A status monitor according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor comprises a weight sensor, wherein the weight sensor is configured to sense a weight, or change in weight, of cargo being transported by the airside dolly, and wherein the safety variable is whether there is a change in weight of the cargo during transportation. 
     
     
         5 . A status monitor according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor comprises a coupling sensor, wherein the coupling sensor is configured to sense whether a further dolly is coupled to the airside dolly, and wherein the safety variable is whether the further dolly has become decoupled from the airside dolly. 
     
     
         6 . A status monitor according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to sense whether an object, person or obstacle is proximal to the airside dolly, and wherein the safety variable is whether an object, person or obstacle is in a position at which it might be struck by the airside dolly. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A status monitor according to  claim 1 , wherein the status monitor further comprises a communication input, and wherein the communication input is configured to receive a status signal from the output of a further status monitor. 
     
     
         9 . A status monitor according to  claim 8 , wherein the status monitor is configured to generate and output a concatenated status signal, wherein the concatenated status signal comprises the status signal of the status monitor and the status signal of the further status monitor. 
     
     
         10 . A status monitor according to  claim 1  wherein the status signal is configured to trigger a shutdown or immobilisation of a driven vehicle in dependence on the safety status of the airside dolly. 
     
     
         11 . A status monitor according to  claim 10  claim wherein the driven vehicle is one of:
 a towing vehicle, such as a tug, towing the airside dolly; or 
 the airside dolly itself. 
 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An airside dolly comprising the status monitor of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A vehicle train comprising an airside dolly according to  claim 13 , wherein the status signal is output to a tug and/or a further dolly comprised within the vehicle train. 
     
     
         15 . A transport safety system comprising the status monitor of  claim 1  and a terminal, wherein the terminal is configured to receive the status signal, and preferably wherein the terminal is located in at least one of: a tug cabin, a control room, and a mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . A transport safety system according to  claim 15 , the transport safety system comprising a plurality of status monitors, wherein each status monitor is associated with a respective airside dolly. 
     
     
         17 . A transport safety system according to  claim 15 , wherein the terminal comprises a status alert system. 
     
     
         18 . A transport safety system according to  claim 17  wherein the status alert system is configured to provide an indicator in dependence on the or each status signal, wherein the indicator is at least one of: a visual indicator, and an audible indicator, and wherein the indicator is preferably provided to a driver of a tug, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator in the form of a display, and wherein the display comprises a sub-display or status light indicative of the status of a dolly for each dolly comprised within a train. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A transport safety system according to  claim 15 , wherein the status signal is configured to trigger a shutdown or immobilisation of a driven vehicle in dependence on the safety status of the airside dolly, further comprising an override means, wherein the override means is configured to allow an authorised user to at least partially override the shut-down or immobilisation of the driven vehicle. 
     
     
         21 . A transport safety system according to  claim 15  wherein the terminal is configured to output an overall status signal, wherein the overall status signal is indicative of the or each status signal received at the terminal. 
     
     
         22 . A transport safety system according to  claim 21 , wherein the terminal is located in a tug and the overall status signal is output to a master controller, wherein the master controller is at a location remote to the terminal and the overall status signal further comprises a status of the tug. 
     
     
         23 . A method of monitoring the status of an airside dolly, the method comprising:
 sensing a safety variable of the airside dolly; and   outputting a status signal in dependence on the sensed safety variable.   
     
     
         24 . A method of retro-fitting an airside dolly to improve its operational safety, the method comprising:
 fitting a sensor configured to sense a safety variable of the airside dolly; and   fitting an output configured to be in communication with the sensor and further configured to provide a status signal in dependence on the sensed safety variable of the airside dolly.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled)