Design and Implementation of a Servo Motor-Based Canopy Drive System for a Passenger Boarding Bridge
Abstract
A Passenger Boarding Bridge (PBB) provides a safe and convenient connection between the airport terminal and an aircraft, while its canopy serves as a protective component that minimizes the gap between the bridge and the aircraft fuselage during boarding and deboarding operations. Accurate canopy positioning is essential to accommodate different aircraft types and ensure safe passenger access. However, the canopy mechanism in the existing boarding bridge mock-up is manually operated, resulting in limited positioning accuracy, inconsistent operation, and reduced simulation realism. This study aims to design and implement an automated canopy drive system using a servo motor to improve positioning precision and operational efficiency. The system utilizes an Arduino Mega 2560 as the primary controller and a Raspberry Pi-based Human–Machine Interface (HMI) to provide intuitive user control and real-time system monitoring. A Research and Development (R&D) methodology was employed, consisting of system requirement analysis, mechanical and electrical design, prototype fabrication, hardware and software integration, functional testing, and performance evaluation. The developed prototype incorporates a high-torque servo motor as the main actuator and limit switches to define safe movement boundaries and prevent overtravel. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system achieves stable, accurate, and repeatable canopy movement with responsive control and reliable operation throughout repeated testing. The integration of the HMI further enhances system usability by enabling convenient operation and monitoring. Overall, the developed system demonstrates the feasibility of servo motor-based automation for passenger boarding bridge canopy operation and provides an effective educational prototype that supports practical learning while contributing to the development of airport equipment automation technologies.