Development of Human Machine Interface (HMI) Based Control System for Passenger Boarding Bridge Lift Column

Abstract

The lift column is a critical component of a Passenger Boarding Bridge (PBB) that adjusts the bridge elevation to align with various aircraft door heights. Conventional lift column control systems commonly rely on manual push-button operation, which provides limited monitoring capability and may reduce operational efficiency. This study aims to develop a Human Machine Interface (HMI)-based control system to improve the operation and real-time monitoring of a Passenger Boarding Bridge lift column. The research employed a Research and Development (R&D) approach involving system design, hardware and software integration, prototype fabrication, testing, and performance evaluation. The developed system integrates an Arduino Mega as the main controller, a Raspberry Pi for the HMI interface, an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor for height measurement, a TB6600 motor driver, a NEMA 17 stepper motor, and limit switches for operational safety. The HMI was designed to provide an interactive interface for lift column control and real-time elevation monitoring. Experimental results demonstrated that the developed system successfully controlled the vertical movement of the lift column with stable operation and accurate height monitoring. The HMI enabled operators to execute movement commands while simultaneously observing system status, resulting in improved usability and reduced dependence on conventional manual controls. The integration of control and monitoring functions into a single interface also enhanced system efficiency and operational convenience. This study demonstrates that an HMI-based lift column control system is a practical solution for modernizing Passenger Boarding Bridge operation and serves as an effective educational platform for airport engineering and automation systems.