A Modelling of Digital Marshalling of an Aircraft using Drone

G. Prabhakaran, Rithik Balaji

Aircraft; Drone; Follow-Me Vehicle; Illumination; Marshalling; Ramp; Real-Time

The marshaller is human to control movement of aircraft by signalling, when aircraft moves out and moves in from ramp of an airport. This function is performed mainly on the ramp at an airport, occasionally on a taxiway and on the ramp of an airport. The Marshaller shall insure that they maintained the highest standards of preparedness in the safe ground operations of aircraft of all types and sizes. In our proposed research, we develop a marshalling drone equipped with a light panel piloted by the marshaller. This can be operated from any surrounding of Ramp area. The light panel will be mounted on top of the drone. It will have 3 separate square shaped illumination zones with one in the centre and the other 2 on the left and right side of the panel. These zones can illuminate independent of each other. The aim of this project is to create a symbiotic system for marshalling aircraft that is not entirely manual and not entirely automated either. This will create a highly reliable system. Normally to look at the marshallers, the pilots have to glance down, but with a drone, the pilot will be easily able to receive signals as the drone will be able to fly at eye level. Other applications of this drone could be its usage as a follow-me drone as opposed to the traditionally used follow-me vehicle and replace its operation. This project work is applied in the real time and obtained the results are showing excellent performance compare with real time marshalling. An upgradation regarding the technology and application will be provided to support future development in future research.

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