SAFETY ENGINEERING
Designing collision-warning systems for airport ground equipment
Why low-speed airport operations require a different approach to detection zones, alerts and installation.
Start with the operating task
Different ground vehicles have different blind zones and aircraft approach patterns. Begin with observed movements and a practical hazard map.
Use staged warning zones
Distance stages distinguish awareness, caution and immediate danger. Thresholds should reflect speed, braking and reaction time.
Engineer the installation
Sensor angle, brackets, wiring and power quality affect performance. Calibrate on the actual vehicle with representative obstacles.
Validate with operators
Field trials should record missed detections, nuisance alerts and driver feedback before fleet rollout.