German researchers have developed a system that uses infrared, optical 2D and 3D cameras and networked radar sensors to continuously scan runways for debris that can damage or even bring down aircraft.
The researchers say their method is better than other radar-based systems because it can detect metallic and non-metallic objects. It also works in all conditions and is mounted along the runway instead of elevated on masts.
Runway debris can pose a serious threat. Air France Flight 4590 crashed on July 25, 2000 after rolling over a strip of metal that slashed its tire. Chunks of rubber hit the wing of the Concorde, rupturing the fuel tank and sparking a fire. The crash killed 113 people.
"Our technology would have prevented the Concorde tragedy," Dr. Helmut Essen, of Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques, said in a statement.
To keep runways clear, crews drive along runways looking for debris -- a time-consuming procedure. Other radar-based systems can only detect metal objects. Essen said the system developed at Fraunhofer Institute can detect items as small as 2 centimeters. Each sensor (pictured) scans up to 700 meters in all directions.
"Devices installed all along the runway continuously scan the surface," he said. "They can detect even the smallest of items, such as screws, but the system will only issue a warning if an object remains on the runway for a longer period of time. A windblown plastic bag or a bird resting briefly will not set off the alarm."
The cameras examine any items detected by the radar, and software developed by the researchers creates a "situational overview" that control tower personnel can review to determine what, if any, threat the debris might present.
Real-world tests of the technology begin this fall at Cologne-Bonn airport.
Photo: Pedro Moura Pinheiro/Flickr. An airliner takes off from a wet runway, its jets blowing water from the tarmac.
