Systems and methods for aircraft mass determination

US10156469B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Nils Kneuper · Bergkamen, DE
• Ralf Rene Cabos · Großkrotzenburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 24, 2017
• Grant date: Dec 18, 2018
• Expiry date: Mar 18, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01G19/086
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An example methods for aircraft mass determination at pushback includes determining an acceleration of a pushback vehicle while moving an aircraft, determining a pushback force applied by the pushback vehicle while moving the aircraft, and determining a total mass of the aircraft based on the pushback force, the acceleration of the pushback vehicle during pushback, and a coefficient of static friction between tires of the aircraft and a surface on which the aircraft moves. An example system includes a pushback vehicle coupled to an acceleration sensor and a force sensor, and a computing device having one or more processors to determine a total mass of the aircraft based on the pushback force, the acceleration of the pushback vehicle during pushback, and a coefficient of static friction between tires of the aircraft and a surface on which the aircraft moves.