An aerodrome maintenance apparatus (1, figure 5) for monitoring runway and taxiway conditions and remotely reporting the status of the runway or taxiway. The apparatus comprises: a drive unit 10 arranged to mount one or more rails (2, figure 5) to provide movement of the apparatus along the one or more rails; a detection unit 20 comprising one or more sensors 21-23 configured to detect one or more parameters of the runway or taxiway; and a communications unit 30 arranged to transfer data derived from the detection unit from the apparatus to a remote server. The apparatus is arranged to advance along the one or more rails (2, figure 5) and transfer data representative of one or more parameters of the surface to a remote server. Additional disclosed is a rail 2 for mounting a runway maintenance apparatus, the rail comprising a mount arranged to engage a drive unit of a runway apparatus; and a support from to fix the rail in place on or near a runway or taxiway surface
Runway maintenance apparatus
2022-03-23
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B64F GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT , Boden- oder Flugzeugträgerdeckeinrichtungen besonders ausgebildet für die Verwendung in Verbindung mit Luftfahrzeugen / B61B RAILWAY SYSTEMS , Eisenbahnanlagen / E01B PERMANENT WAY , Gleisoberbau |