Enhanced systems, apparatus, and methods for improved automated and autonomous operation of logistics ground support equipment

US11157011B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Reuben F. Burch, V · Rossville, US
• Sherif Abelwahed · Starkville, US
• John E. Ball · Starkville, US
• Matt Doude · Starkville, US
• James R. Gafford · Charlotte, US
• Tyler J. Hannis · Starkville, US
• Yucheng Liu · Fremont, US
• Michael S. Mazzola · Ocean Springs, US
• Howard McKinney · Bartlett, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 29, 2019
• Grant date: Oct 26, 2021
• Expiry date: Dec 13, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06V20/58
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An improved retrofit assembly for ground support equipment providing autonomous operation of the logistics ground support equipment (GSE). The assembly has a refit control system attached to the GSE (with a vehicle dynamics control processor and a data preprocessing control processor), retrofitted proprioceptive sensors coupled to the vehicle dynamics control processor monitoring operating parameters and characteristics of the GSE, retrofitted exteroceptive sensors coupled to the data preprocessing control processor that monitor an exterior environment of the GSE, and refit actuators for different control elements on the GSE and to autonomously alter motion of the GSE. The refit control system programmatically receives sensor data from the proprioceptive sensors and exteroceptive sensors; optimizes a path for the GSE based upon the different sensor data; and activates at least one of the actuators according to the optimized path for the GSE.