The invention relates to an
air bridge and an automatic abutting method therefor. The
air bridge comprises an
airplane connector, a lifting mechanism, a travelling mechanism and an automatic abutting device. The automatic abutting device comprises an image
data acquisition unit, a preprocessing unit, a
database, a
visual identification and positioning unit, a
motion control unit and a bridge
control system. When an
airplane parks at a parking position and the
air bridge automatically abuts at an initial position, the automatic abutting device is started; image data of a hatch door of the
airplane, included in the image
data acquisition unit, is preprocessed; an image meeting the features of the hatch door of the airplane is recognized from the processed image data; information about the position of the airplane connector relative to the hatch door is calculated; travel control information is generated according to the information about the relative position; the relative position information and the travel control information are encoded and transmitted to the bridge
control system; finally, the received information is decoded, the travel control information is executed, and the air bridge is driven to move until automatically abutting to the hatch door.