System for automatic or pilot controlled landing of air vehicle

• US 8,608,107 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CybAero AB
• Original Assignee: CybAero AB
• Inventors: Mrtensson, Johan, Segerstrm, Torbjrn, Magnus, Magnus, Gising, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US12/811,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20110006164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 244/114.R, 244/116, 114/261, 114/258, 114/262
• US Class Current: 244/114.R
• 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 an air vehicle with an undercarriage having a substantially plane lower side, at a stationary or mobile landing place, with a substantially plane landing plate, wherein the landing plate is settable via two axes in roll and pitch, by set means controlled in relationship to the air vehicle and a horizontal plane, wherein the air vehicle and the landing plate are provided with a transmitter and a receiver which define and communicate a mutual distance and relative angles between the landing plate and the undercarriage, wherein said set means is arranged to set said two axes such that the landing plate is substantially parallel to the lower side of the undercarriage.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the landing plate and the undercarriage are provided with a locking device, arranged to catch and keep the air vehicle at the landing plate after the air vehicle has landed with the undercarriage at the landing plate.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the locking device is a vacuum device, and the vacuum device comprises openings in the landing plate to provide a pressure lower than an atmospheric pressure.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the locking device comprises a controllable magnetic device, and a corresponding magnetic material at the undercarriage.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the landing plate is mounted at an arm, which is provided to compensate for movements of the air vehicle horizontally and vertically.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein mechanical elements are provided to transfer a landed air vehicle between the landing place to a storage place.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones in an air space in an immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, wherein definition of zones forms a basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the air vehicle is provided with at least two transmitters, arranged at a mutual distance along a normal vector to the plane of the lower plane of the undercarriage, and the landing plate is provided with at least three in the plane separated receivers, wherein the plane of the undercarriage in relationship to the plane of the landing plate is determinable by communication between the transmitters and the receivers.

9. The system according to claim 3, wherein the landing plate is mounted at an arm, which is provided to compensate for movements of the landing vehicle horizontally and vertically.

10. The system according to claim 4, wherein the landing plate is mounted at an arm, which is provided to compensate for movements of the landing vehicle horizontally and vertically.

11. The system according claim 2, wherein mechanical elements are provided to transfer a landed air vehicle between the landing place to a storage place.

12. The system according to claim 3, wherein mechanical elements are provided to transfer a landed air vehicle between the landing place to a storage place.

13. The system according to claim 4, wherein mechanical elements are provided to transfer a landed air vehicle between the landing place to a storage place.

14. The system according to claim 5, wherein mechanical elements are provided to transfer a landed air vehicle between the landing place to a storage place.

15. The system according to claim 2, further comprising comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones in an air space in an immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, wherein a definition of zones forms a basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.

16. The system according to claim 3, further comprising comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones in an air space in an immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, wherein a definition of zones forms a basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.

17. The system according to claim 4, further comprising comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones in an air space in an immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, wherein a definition of zones forms a basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.

18. The system according to claim 5, further comprising comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones in an air space in an immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, wherein a definition of zones forms a basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.

19. The system according to claim 6, further comprising comprises a part system, which defines and maintains safe zones in an air space in an immediate vicinity of the landing place, such that the air vehicle does not risk getting in dangerous vicinity of staff or material, wherein a definition of zones forms a basis for automatic or manual decisions to stop ongoing landing progress.