Wireless tracking and ranging for cargo systems

Abstract

A cargo handling system may utilize a leaky feeder antenna grid to determine the location of a ULD, a mobile cargo controller, or both within a cargo compartment. This location determination may be used for any appropriate purpose. For instance, the noted location determinations may be used to alert an operator of an approaching ULD, to terminate motion of an approaching ULD, or both.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cargo handling system, comprising:
 a cargo compartment;   a leaky feeder antenna grid within said cargo compartment; and   a location determination module configured to determine an object location, when within said cargo compartment, within a first dimension based upon a signal received by said leaky feeder antenna grid at each of two different locations that are spaced in a second dimension that is orthogonal to said first dimension, and is further configured to determine the object location, when within said cargo compartment, within said second dimension based upon a signal received by said leaky feeder antenna grid at each of two different locations that are spaced in said first dimension, wherein said location determination module comprises a processor.   
     
     
         2 . The cargo handling system of  claim 1 , wherein said leaky feeder antenna grid comprises:
 a first longitudinal antenna extending longitudinally in said first dimension;   a second longitudinal antenna extending longitudinally in said first dimension and parallel to said first longitudinal antenna;   a third longitudinal antenna extending longitudinally in a second dimension;   a fourth longitudinal antenna extending in said second dimension and parallel to said third longitudinal antenna;   a first module operatively interconnected with said first longitudinal antenna;   a second module operatively interconnected with said second longitudinal antenna;   a third module operatively interconnected with said third longitudinal antenna;   a fourth module operatively interconnected with said fourth longitudinal antenna;   wherein said location determination module is configured to determine the object location, when within said cargo compartment, based upon a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) input received from each of said first module, said second module, said third module, and said fourth module, a spacing between said first longitudinal antenna and said second longitudinal antenna, and a spacing between said third longitudinal antenna and said fourth longitudinal antenna.   
     
     
         3 . The cargo handling system of  claim 2 , wherein each of said first longitudinal antenna, said second longitudinal antenna, said third longitudinal antenna, and said fourth longitudinal antenna comprises a leaky feeder antenna. 
     
     
         4 . The cargo handling system of  claim 2 , wherein said location determination module is configured to separately determine the object location, when within said cargo compartment, within each of said first dimension and said second dimension. 
     
     
         5 . The cargo handling system of  claim 2 , wherein each of said first module, said second module, said third module, and said fourth module is configured to determine a received signal strength indicator value of a signal received from said first longitudinal antenna, said second longitudinal antenna, said third longitudinal antenna, and said fourth longitudinal antenna, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The cargo handling system of  claim 2 , wherein each of said first module, said second module, said third module, and said fourth module comprises a remote control panel. 
     
     
         7 . An aircraft comprising the cargo handling system of  claim 1 .