Abstract: A system of automatically documenting a plurality of aircraft touchdown events detected by analyzing sensory data received from a plurality of sensors, comprising one or more interfaces for connecting to a plurality of sensors deployed to monitor at least part of a runway in an airport, the sensors comprising one or more image sensors, audio sensors and/or vibration sensors, and one or more processors coupled to the one or more interfaces. The processor(s) is adapted to receive sensory data from said plurality of sensors, the sensory data comprising image data, audio data and/or vibration data, identify a timing and a location of a landing touchdown event of an aircraft on the runway by analyzing the sensory data and classify the landing touchdown event as a normal landing touchdown event or an abnormal landing touchdown event based on the analysis.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described, including a system (100) for automatically ascertaining a height characteristic of a contaminant (104) on a travel surface (102). The system (100) comprises an illumination and imaging device (106). At a first time, when the travel surface (102) is generally free of contaminant, the illumination and imaging device (106) illuminates the travel surface (102) with at least one light beam (119), and images at least one impingement of the at least one light beam (119). At a second time, when the travel surface (102) is covered by a layer of contaminant (104), the illumination and imaging device (106) illuminates the travel surface with a light beam (132), and images an impingement of the light beam on an impingement surface (107). In response to the imaging, a computer (130) calculates the height characteristic of the contaminant. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system of automatically documenting a plurality of aircraft touchdown events detected by analyzing sensory data received from a plurality of sensors, comprising one or more interfaces for connecting to a plurality of sensors deployed to monitor at least part of a runway in an airport, the sensors comprising one or more image sensors, audio sensors and/or vibration sensors, and one or more processors coupled to the one or more interfaces. The processor(s) is adapted to receive sensory data from said plurality of sensors, the sensory data comprising image data, audio data and/or vibration data, identify a timing and a location of a landing touchdown event of an aircraft on the runway by analyzing the sensory data and classify the landing touchdown event as a normal landing touchdown event or an abnormal landing touchdown event based on the analysis.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described, including a system (100) for automatically ascertaining a height characteristic of a contaminant (104) on a travel surface (102). The system (100) comprises an illumination and imaging device (106). At a first time, when the travel surface (102) is generally free of contaminant, the illumination and imaging device (106) illuminates the travel surface (102) with at least one light beam (119), and images at least one impingement of the at least one light beam (119). At a second time, when the travel surface (102) is covered by a layer of contaminant (104), the illumination and imaging device (106) illuminates the travel surface with a light beam (132), and images an impingement of the light beam on an impingement surface (107). In response to the imaging, a computer (130) calculates the height characteristic of the contaminant. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system of automatically documenting a plurality of aircraft touchdown events detected by analyzing sensory data received from a plurality of sensors, comprising one or more interfaces for connecting to a plurality of sensors deployed to monitor at least part of a runway in an airport, the sensors comprising one or more image sensors, audio sensors and/or vibration sensors, and one or more processors coupled to the one or more interfaces. The processor(s) is adapted to receive sensory data from said plurality of sensors, the sensory data comprising image data, audio data and/or vibration data, identify a timing and a location of a landing touchdown event of an aircraft on the runway by analyzing the sensory data and classify the landing touchdown event as a normal landing touchdown event or an abnormal landing touchdown event based on the analysis.

Abstract: An object detection system for use in airports including an airport travel surface light assembly, a rotatable sensor assembly mounted on the airport travel surface light assembly for sensing objects and an omnidirectional illuminator mounted above the rotatable sensor assembly.

Abstract: A system for detection of foreign objects on an aircraft travel surface and ascription of the foreign objects present on the aircraft travel surface to foreign object sources, the system including a foreign object detection subsystem operative to detect foreign objects on an aircraft travel surface, a potential foreign object source identifier subsystem operative to indicate the presence of potential foreign object sources at or near the aircraft travel surface and a foreign object to foreign object source correlator operative to receive inputs from the foreign object detection subsystem and from the foreign object source identifier subsystem indicating at least a time relationship between sensed presence of the potential foreign object sources on the aircraft travel surface and detection of the foreign objects and to provide an ascription output indicating the origin of at least some of the foreign objects detected by the foreign object detection subsystem.

Abstract: An object detection system for use in airports including an airport travel surface light assembly, a rotatable sensor assembly mounted on the airport travel surface light assembly for sensing objects and an omnidirectional illuminator mounted above the rotatable sensor assembly.

Abstract: A system for detection of foreign objects on an aircraft travel surface and ascription of the foreign objects present on the aircraft travel surface to foreign object sources, the system including a foreign object detection subsystem operative to detect foreign objects on an aircraft travel surface, a potential foreign object source identifier subsystem operative to indicate the presence of potential foreign object sources at or near the aircraft travel surface and a foreign object to foreign object source correlator operative to receive inputs from the foreign object detection subsystem and from the foreign object source identifier subsystem indicating at least a time relationship between sensed presence of the potential foreign object sources on the aircraft travel surface and detection of the foreign objects and to provide an ascription output indicating the origin of at least some of the foreign objects detected by the foreign object detection subsystem.

Abstract: A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces including a plurality of foreign object detector modules mounted on a corresponding plurality of existing aircraft travel surface lighting supports, the plurality of foreign object detector modules providing a corresponding plurality of detection outputs and a high speed detection output analyzer operative to receive at least one of the plurality of detection outputs and to provide a high speed output indication of foreign object presence.

Abstract: A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces including a plurality of foreign object detector modules mounted on a corresponding plurality of existing aircraft travel surface lighting supports, the plurality of foreign object detector modules providing a corresponding plurality of detection outputs and a high speed detection output analyzer operative to receive at least one of the plurality of detection outputs and to provide a high speed output indication of foreign object presence.

Abstract: A system for detection of foreign objects on an aircraft travel surface and ascription of the foreign objects present on the aircraft travel surface to foreign object sources, the system including a foreign object detection subsystem operative to detect foreign objects on an aircraft travel surface, a potential foreign object source identifier subsystem operative to indicate the presence of potential foreign object sources at or near the aircraft travel surface and a foreign object to foreign object source correlator operative to receive inputs from the foreign object detection subsystem and from the foreign object source identifier subsystem indicating at least a time relationship between sensed presence of the potential foreign object sources on the aircraft travel surface and detection of the foreign objects and to provide an ascription output indicating the origin of at least some of the foreign objects detected by the foreign object detection subsystem.

Abstract: A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces including a plurality of foreign object detector modules mounted on a corresponding plurality of existing aircraft travel surface lighting supports, the plurality of foreign object detector modules providing a corresponding plurality of detection outputs and a high speed detection output analyzer operative to receive at least one of the plurality of detection outputs and to provide a high speed output indication of foreign object presence.

Abstract: A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces including a plurality of foreign object detector modules mounted on a corresponding plurality of existing aircraft travel surface lighting supports, the plurality of foreign object detector modules providing a corresponding plurality of detection outputs and a high speed detection output analyzer operative to receive at least one of the plurality of detection outputs and to provide a high speed output indication of foreign object presence.

Abstract: A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces including a plurality of foreign object detector modules mounted on a corresponding plurality of existing aircraft travel surface lighting supports, the plurality of foreign object detector modules providing a corresponding plurality of detection outputs and a high speed detection output analyzer operative to receive at least one of the plurality of detection outputs and to provide a high speed output indication of foreign object presence.

Abstract: A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces including a plurality of foreign object detector modules mounted on a corresponding plurality of existing aircraft travel surface lighting supports, the plurality of foreign object detector modules providing a corresponding plurality of detection outputs and a high speed detection output analyzer operative to receive at least one of the plurality of detection outputs and to provide a high speed output indication of foreign object presence.

Abstract: A system for detection of foreign objects on airport travel surfaces including a plurality of foreign object detector modules mounted on a corresponding plurality of existing aircraft travel surface lighting supports, the plurality of foreign object detector modules providing a corresponding plurality of detection outputs and a high speed detection output analyzer operative to receive at least one of the plurality of detection outputs and to provide a high speed output indication of foreign object presence.