Kiosk for energy industry logistics
An automated kiosk and related apparatus provide check-in and boarding services to energy sector passengers, such as helicopter passengers. Preferably, the kiosk and related apparatus can take and store a picture of the passenger, calculate and/or measure the weight of the passenger and the passenger's luggage, print luggage tags and boarding printouts, check third parties' databases (such as a no-fly list (NFL)) for approval for the passenger's flight and can transmit data to another location (server, third party employer, pilot).
1. A kiosk apparatus for assisting a passenger preparing to embark on transportation within the energy industry, comprising:
an input device for allowing the passenger to input information;
a display screen for displaying information;
at least one of a TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) card reader for reading a passenger's TWIC card, a driver's license reader for reading a passenger's driver's license, a passport reader for reading a passenger's passport, a fingerprint reader for reading a passenger's fingerprint, a credit card reader, and a barcode reader;
a scale operatively connected to the kiosk for weighing the passenger; and
a printer or printers for printing boarding passes and luggage tags.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger meets an energy company's screening requirements.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk prints boarding passes with the passenger's photo thereon.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk checks third parties' databases (a no-fly list (NFL)) for approval for the passenger's flight.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk transmits data to another location (a server, a third party employer, or a pilot).
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the TWIC card reader for reading the passenger's TWIC card includes a contact reader.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the driver's license reader for reading the passenger's driver's license reads the driver's license optically then performs OCR (optical character recognition) on the image.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic stripe reader for reading magnetic stripes on credit cards, drivers licenses, and passports.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a set of scales operatively connected to the kiosk for weighing the passenger and luggage.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the printer prints the passenger's photo on the boarding pass.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a passport scanner.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a fingerprint scanner.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a camera for photographing the passenger.
14. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger is current in specified qualifications, including HUET.
15. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger is on a no fly list.
16. A kiosk apparatus for assisting a passenger preparing to embark on transportation within the energy industry, comprising:
a touch display screen for allowing the passenger to input information;
a TWIC card reader for reading a passenger's TWIC card;
a driver's license reader for reading a passenger's driver's license;
a scale operatively connected to the kiosk for weighing the passenger; and
a printer or printers for printing boarding passes and luggage tags,
wherein the kiosk queries whether a passenger meets an energy company's screening requirements.
17. A kiosk apparatus for assisting a passenger preparing to embark on transportation within the energy industry, comprising:
a touch display screen for allowing the passenger to input information;
a TWIC card reader for reading a passenger's TWIC card;
a driver's license reader for reading a passenger's driver's license;
a scale operatively connected to the kiosk for weighing the passenger;
a printer or printers for printing boarding passes and luggage tags; and
a second display screen for allowing a representative of a helicopter flight company to observe what is displayed to the passenger on the touch screen.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the representative can override information input by the passenger.
19. A method of using the apparatus of claim 1 to check in a passenger for energy industry transportation.
20. A method of using the apparatus of claim 1 to check in a passenger for a helicopter flight.