Innovative Aircraft Docking Solution

Aircraft docking guidance refers to guiding the aircraft to the proper docking position to ensure that the aircraft is parked correctly. General airport berths require a detection system and indication system to inform the pilot and ground personnel of the aircraft’s ground movement status, including aircraft model, ground movement speed, etc. The process of airport docking automation is speeding up as technology advances.

Unsettled issues in the current docking system

The current automatic aircraft docking system requires the system to find the corresponding airframe parameters based on the preset aircraft type, and then guide the aircraft by combining the corresponding airframe parameters and parking position information from various aircraft types via LiDAR laser scanning data. Under normal circumstances, the preset model and the arriving aircraft model are the same, so docking guidance can be performed safely. However, if the arriving aircraft model differs from the preset model, docking guidance based on the preset model will eventually result in a mismatch between the docking position and the model, or even lead to safety accidents caused by collisions. To avoid the aforementioned issues, the automatic airport visual docking guidance system must include a model identification function.

Some automatic aircraft docking guidance systems now include a three-dimensional laser to measure the distance from the aircraft’s nose to the engine in order to identify the aircraft type. Some aircraft can be identified using this method, but others cannot be distinguished due to minor differences in this parameter. Furthermore, the conventionally used docking system has numerous difficulties and pain points.

LiDAR’s strength in airport docking application

Because of LiDAR’s physical characteristics such as three-dimensional scanning, high precision, strong anti-interference ability, and so on, LiDAR is gradually being used in the airport’s docking guidance system to assist the semi-automatic and automatic docking guidance processes in order to improve efficiency and safety. The LiDAR sensor is installed on the parking stand to detect the type of aircraft, the aircraft’s taxiing speed on the ground, and so on. Aircraft docking guidance can be realized through precise LiDAR measurement, algorithm identification, and calculation.

Neuvition LiDAR-based aircraft docking solution

A high-resolution LiDAR with a built-in high-definition camera and a processor is used in Neuvition LiDAR-based visual docking solution. Using artificial intelligence deep learning, and algorithms, the system can recognize and detect the shape of an aircraft entering the apron in real time, as well as perform aircraft type identification, taxiing speed calculation, and aircraft attitude detection using three-dimensional data. The berth controller will convert the processed data into accurate guidance information and display it on the display device to remind and guide the pilot to safely land the aircraft in the correct docking position.

View the customer field test point cloud to learn more about how the Neuvition LiDAR-based aircraft docking solution aids in aircraft visual docking guidance.

The location of the ground berths and the wingspan for different aircraft models are different. To facilitate the pilot to control the braking of the aircraft, Neuvition LiDAR-based aircraft docking solution can detect and inform the pilot of the ground distance from the final stop which is shown on the display, and even color changes can be considered to enhance the visual effect. This solution is much more accurate and safer than man-guided aircraft docking.

About Neuvition

Neuvition Inc. is a global LiDAR sensors and solutions provider, providing customers with advanced LiDAR sensors and customized solutions to meet customers’ business challenges in scenarios including automatic driving, intelligent transportation, 3D mapping, volume measurement, industrial machine vision, etc.

Our customers and partners are in North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions. As a trusted partner, we will continue to work with our customers and partners to develop more and more innovative products and solutions to deliver a seamless converged experience and improve efficiency and productivity, and even save lives.