SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC OR PILOT CONTROLLED LANDING OF AIR VEHICLE

• US 20110006164A1
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CybAero AB
• Original Assignee: CybAero AB
• Inventors: Martensson, Johan, Segerstrom, Torbjorn, Magnus, Magnus, Gising, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 8,608,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/183
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/50 Vessels or floating structures for aircraft aircraft carriers B63G11/00; flying-boat hulls, other flotation means for aircraft B64
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0684 on a moving platform, e.g. aircraft carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0858 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft

Abstract

A system for automatic or auto pilot controlled landing of air vehicle (2) with an undercarriage (10) with a substantially plane lower side, at a stationary or mobile landing place is described. The system is primarily characterized in that the landing plate is settable after two axes in roll and pitch, by a set mean controlled in relationship to the air vehicle and the horizontal plane. The air vehicle (2) and the landing plate (3) are provided with transmitter and receiver which define and communicate the mutual distance and the relative angles between the landing plate (3) and the undercarriage (10). Said set means is arranged to set said two axes such that the landing plate (3) will be substantially parallel to the lower side of the undercarriage (10).

Claims

1. A system for automatic or auto pilot controlled landing of air vehicle (2) with an undercarriage (10) with a substantially plane lower side, at a stationary or mobile landing place, with a substantially plane landing plate (3) characterized in that the landing plate is settable after two axes (6,7) in roll and pitch, by a set mean controlled in relationship to the air vehicle and the horizontal plane, whereas the air vehicle (2) and the landing plate (3) are provided with transmitter and receiver which define and communicate the mutual distance and the relative angles between the landing plate (3) and the undercarriage (10), whereas said set means is arranged to set said two axes (6,7) such that the landing plate (3) will be substantially parallel to the lower side of the undercarriage (10).

2. A system according to claim 1 characterized in that the landing plate (3) and the undercarriage (10) are provided with cooperating means, arranged to catch and keep the air vehicle (2) after this has landed with the undercarriage (10) at the landing plate (3).

3. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the cooperating means comprise openings (11) in the landing plate (3) in which there prevails subpressure, and the surface of the undercarriage (10) which may be connected thereto.

4. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the cooperating means comprise a controllable magnetic device, and corresponding magnetic material at the undercarriage.

5. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the landing plate (4) is mounted at an arm, which is provided to compensate for the movements of the landing vehicle horizontally and vertically.

6. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that mechanical elements are provided to transfer a landed air vehicle from the landing place to a storage place and reversed.

7. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones (28) in the air space in the immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle (2) does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, whereas the definition of zones also may form the basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.

8. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the air vehicle (2) is provided with at least two transmitters, arranged at mutual distance along a normal vector to the plane of the lower plane of the undercarriage (10) and the landing plate (3) is provided with at least three in the plane separated receivers, whereas the plane of the undercarriage (10) in relationship to the plane of the landing plate (3) is determinable by communication between transmitters and receivers.

11. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that the landing plate (4) is mounted at an arm, which is provided to compensate for the movements of the landing vehicle horizontally and vertically.

12. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the landing plate (4) is mounted at an arm, which is provided to compensate for the movements of the landing vehicle horizontally and vertically.

13. A system according claim 2, characterized in that mechanical elements are provided to transfer a landed air vehicle from the landing place to a storage place and reversed.

14. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that mechanical elements are provided to transfer a landed air vehicle from the landing place to a storage place and reversed.

15. A system according to claims 4, characterized in that mechanical elements are provided to transfer a landed air vehicle from the landing place to a storage place and reversed.

16. A system according to claims 5, characterized in that mechanical elements are provided to transfer a landed air vehicle from the landing place to a storage place and reversed.

17. A system according to claim 2-6, characterized in that the system comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones (28) in the air space in the immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle (2) does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, whereas the definition of zones also may form the basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.

18. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the system comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones (28) in the air space in the immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle (2) does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, whereas the definition of zones also may form the basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.

19. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that the system comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones (28) in the air space in the immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle (2) does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, whereas the definition of zones also may form the basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.

20. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the system comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones (28) in the air space in the immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle (2) does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, whereas the definition of zones also may form the basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.

21. A system according to claim 5, characterized in that the system comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones (28) in the air space in the immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle (2) does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, whereas the definition of zones also may form the basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.

22. A system according to claim 6, characterized in that the system comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones (28) in the air space in the immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle (2) does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, whereas the definition of zones also may form the basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)