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.
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