Patent ID: 7869305

Claim:
A ground vehicle collision prevention system, comprising: an aircraft-based proximity detection unit positioned at least proximate to a stationary aircraft and coupled to at least one aircraft-based transducer proximate to at least one selected structural portion of the stationary aircraft, the aircraft-based proximity detection unit being operable to emit ranging signals through the at least one aircraft-based transducer and to receive reflected signals through the at least one aircraft-based transducer, the aircraft-based proximity detection unit being operable to generate a first proximity alarm signal when a moving ground vehicle is detected within a ranging area, the first proximity alarm signal being communicated to at least one aircraft-based alarm device; and a vehicle-based proximity detection unit positioned on the moving ground vehicle and coupled to at least one vehicle-based transducer positioned on the moving ground vehicle, the vehicle-based proximity detection unit being operable to emit ranging signals through the at least one vehicle-based transducer positioned on the moving ground vehicle and to receive reflected signals through the at least one vehicle-based transducer, the vehicle-based proximity detection unit being operable to generate a second proximity alarm signal when the moving ground vehicle is within the ranging area, the second proximity alarm signal being communicated to at least one vehicle-based alarm device, at least one of the aircraft-based proximity detection unit and the vehicle-based proximity detection unit comprising an ultrasonic detection and ranging apparatus.