Researchers from the Purdue Polytechnic Institute in the US have developed a solar-powered surveillance system designed to enhance airport runway safety.
The system, termed Simple, Affordable, Flexible, and Expandable Runway Status Lights (SAFE-RWSL), utilises automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data and computer vision to control runway lights in real-time, signalling the runway status to pilots, pedestrians, and vehicle operators.
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John Mott, a professor, and Luigi Dy, a doctoral student at Purdue University’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology, are the brains behind SAFE-RWSL.
The technology has been disclosed to Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization, which is seeking patent protection for the intellectual property.
Dy said: “Based on the performed study, the use of simplified runway status lights is expected to be effective at reducing runway incursion risk in nontowered, no-traffic environments when a conflicting aircraft is difficult to see.”
SAFE-RWSL is planned to be showcased at the 2025 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington on 8 January 2025.
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By GlobalDataRadar detection systems are the prevailing method for preventing runway incursions. However, their high cost typically restricts their deployment to major airports.
Additionally, the existing systems for runway monitoring can be intricate to install. They frequently necessitate costly infrastructure, including electrical systems, pavement upgrades, or extra equipment fitted in aircraft and vehicles.
Dy added: “ADS-B technology is already mandated for aircraft in most types of US airspace, making it widely available.
“As a result, the SAFE-RWSL system is a low-cost, easy-to-integrate option for airports of varying capacities to improve runway safety and reduce risks of incursions.”
The SAFE-RWSL prototype was tested at Purdue University Airport, which accommodates a variety of aviation operations.
Mott and Dy observed 123 aircraft operations to assess the ADS-B component’s effectiveness.
To evaluate the computer vision component, they used recorded images from aircraft operations. The system detected 94% of operations after analysing nearly 3,400 seconds of ground footage.
Additionally, Mott and Dy conducted economic feasibility projections for the system.
The researchers are now working on a second-generation prototype of SAFE-RWSL, aiming to demonstrate its benefits to stakeholders and potentially revolutionise runway surveillance with a cost-effective and efficient solution.
