Aircraft Departure and Landing Site Management System

Abstract

To provide a flying object landing / taking-off area management system capable of improving a use frequency of a flying object such as a drone.SOLUTION: A system is constituted to perform: accepting registration of a drone 12 to be landed / taken-off by a user Ud from a communication terminal 14 which the user Ud uses (S2); identifying the accepted drone 12, so as to acquire information related to at least a size of the drone 12 based on a network 16 and a remote ID or the like of the drone 12 (S3); extracting only a space large enough for the drone to land / take-off among a plurality of landing / taking-off spaces acquired by registration or communication based on the acquired size of the drone 12 (S8, S10); and transmitting information related to the extracted landing / taking-off space to the communication terminal 14 (S11).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aircraft takeoff and landing field management system for managing the takeoff and landing space of an aircraft.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the use of unmanned aircraft (so-called drones) for photography and positioning has increased. In addition, new regulations for unmanned aircraft have been introduced, enabling level 4 flight of unmanned aircraft (flight without visual contact without assistance in populated areas). As a result, it is predicted that in the near future, unmanned aircraft will be widely used for delivering goods and transporting emergency supplies during disasters. In recent years, the development of manned drones and flying cars that can carry people in autonomous driving (without a driver) has been underway and is expected to be a means of free movement. Under such circumstances, for example, as in Patent Document 1 below, there is a system for determining the flight path of each unmanned aircraft.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As described above, unmanned aircraft, manned drones, and flying cars all require a place where they can take off and land as a prerequisite for flight. And most of these drones and the like are of the type that take off and land vertically and do not require a large space (such as a runway) like a normal aircraft. However, since there is no operator, it is essential to secure a takeoff and landing space in advance. At present, even for general drones, the takeoff and landing space is very limited. In addition, since drones and the like come in various sizes, there is a problem that it is difficult to secure a takeoff and landing space according to the model, especially to secure it near the destination. For such reasons, it is still difficult to use drones and the like.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, the present invention has been made, and an object thereof is to provide a flight vehicle takeoff and landing field management system capable of improving the usage frequency of flight vehicles such as drones.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the flight vehicle takeoff and landing field management system disclosed in the present application has the following configuration. (1) A flight vehicle takeoff and landing field management system for managing the takeoff and landing space of a flight vehicle that can take off and land vertically and can fly without a boarding operator, A takeoff and landing space information acquisition unit that acquires information on a plurality of the takeoff and landing spaces where the flight vehicle can take off and land, A reception unit that receives registration of the flight vehicle to be taken off and landed by the user from a communication terminal used by the user, A flight vehicle information acquisition unit that identifies the received flight vehicle and acquires at least information on the size of the flight vehicle, An extraction unit that extracts only spaces of a size that can take off and land from among the plurality of the takeoff and landing spaces acquired by the takeoff and landing space information acquisition unit based on the size of the flight vehicle acquired by the flight vehicle information acquisition unit, A transmission unit that transmits information on the takeoff and landing space extracted by the extraction unit to the communication terminal, An aircraft takeoff and landing site management system equipped with

[0007] The aircraft takeoff and landing site management system disclosed in the present application assumes, as the "aircraft", a type that can take off and land vertically and can fly by remote control or automatic piloting (automatically piloted by a program). Examples of the "aircraft" include unmanned aerial vehicles, drones capable of carrying non-pilots (so-called passenger drones), flying cars, and motorcycles. The aircraft takeoff and landing site management system disclosed in the present application can transmit only information regarding a takeoff and landing space of a size that allows the registered aircraft to take off and land. For example, when disclosure of such information is requested from a user using a mobile terminal, a PC, etc., it is possible to display a list of information regarding the takeoff and landing space or an image with the takeoff and landing space superimposed on a map. It is desirable that the information transmitted to the communication terminal includes information on whether each takeoff and landing space is available or not.

[0008] In the aircraft takeoff and landing site management system disclosed in the present application, the "aircraft information acquisition unit" may, for example, store information regarding the sizes of various aircraft in a storage unit provided in the system and acquire it from the storage unit, or may acquire it using the Internet. The "identification number" for identifying the aircraft is not particularly limited. For example, in the case of an unmanned aerial vehicle, since it is obligatory to install a remote ID as an individual identification number, the identification number included in the remote ID can be used. Also, since the remote ID periodically transmits information regarding itself, it is possible to configure it to acquire information regarding the size of the aircraft using the transmitted information. Specifically, the remote ID includes, in addition to the identification number, a number indicating the type of the aircraft body, and it is possible to acquire information regarding the size of the aircraft using the Internet from that number.

[0009] In the aircraft takeoff and landing site management system disclosed in the present application, the "takeoff and landing space" acquired by the "takeoff and landing space information acquisition unit" is not limited to the takeoff and landing space of drones owned by facility managers, facility operation companies, public organizations, etc. that manage the operation of drones. For example, sites approved for use by individuals or corporations can also be adopted. Then, the "takeoff and landing space information acquisition unit" can be configured to register them in, for example, the storage unit provided in the system and acquire them from the storage unit. Also, for example, as the "takeoff and landing space", as will be described in detail later, a configuration can be adopted in which, in cooperation with a parking lot management system, the parking space managed by the parking lot management system is adopted. That is, in such a configuration, the "takeoff and landing space information acquisition unit" can be configured to acquire the vacancy information of the parking space in the parking lot management system as the takeoff and landing space by means of communication means such as the Internet.

[0010] In the aircraft takeoff and landing site management system disclosed in the present application, users who want to use the takeoff and landing space are generally those who use aircraft, such as individuals, corporations, and operators who perform deliveries by drones. That is, the aircraft takeoff and landing management system disclosed in the present application can be considered to match those users with the providers of the takeoff and landing space, and can improve the usage frequency of aircraft such as drones and the convenience of drones. In addition, when usage fees are generated between users and providers of the takeoff and landing space, by installing a function that enables cashless payment on the communication terminal, even when using a takeoff and landing space far away by an unmanned aircraft, it can be used without problems.

[0011] Also, the aircraft takeoff and landing site management system disclosed in the present application can cooperate with a drone operation management system that manages the flight path of drones, etc., so that the takeoff, flight, and landing of the aircraft can be performed smoothly, and the convenience of drones, etc. can be further improved. Furthermore, when transporting materials by drones, etc. in an emergency such as during a disaster, a configuration can be adopted in which those drones, etc. can take off and land preferentially.

[0012] In addition, in the aircraft takeoff and landing site management system with the above configuration, it is possible to adopt various modes shown below. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following modes, and can be implemented in various modes modified and improved based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0013] (2) The aircraft takeoff and landing site management system is connectable by communication to a parking lot management system that manages the availability information of parking spaces where automobiles can be parked. The takeoff and landing space information acquisition unit acquires the availability information of the parking space in the parking lot management system as the takeoff and landing space. The aircraft takeoff and landing site management system according to item (1).

[0014] The drone takeoff and landing site management system with this configuration can also use the parking lot of automobiles, which exists in many cases, as the takeoff and landing space for drones, can secure a takeoff and landing space at a position closer to the destination, and can improve the usage frequency of drones.

[0015] (3) When the size of the space where the aircraft can take off and land exceeds the size of the parking space for one automobile and there are adjacent parking spaces for a plurality of automobiles, the extraction unit extracts the adjacent parking spaces for a plurality of automobiles as the takeoff and landing space. The aircraft takeoff and landing site management system according to item (2).

[0016] There are various sizes of aircraft, from relatively small ones for imaging and surveying to those that can accommodate people in the future. According to the aircraft takeoff and landing site management system with this configuration, even an aircraft larger than a single parking space can secure adjacent parking spaces together and extract them as the takeoff and landing space for the aircraft, so that the parking lot can be used efficiently.

[0017] (4) The reception unit is configured to receive the input of the identification number individually assigned to the aircraft. The aircraft information acquisition unit acquires information regarding the size of the aircraft based on the identification number. The aircraft departure and arrival field management system according to any one of items (1) to (3).

[0018] The aircraft departure and arrival field management system with this configuration does not require the user to input detailed information about the aircraft, so it is easy for the user to use.

[0019] (5) The aircraft transmits ID information that is information regarding a remote ID including the identification number and an aircraft model number regarding the type of the aircraft body. The aircraft departure and arrival field management system acquires the ID information transmitted by the aircraft and acquires information regarding the size of the aircraft based on the ID information. The aircraft departure and arrival field management system according to item (4).

[0020] The aircraft departure and arrival field management system with this configuration utilizes the remote ID obligatory for unmanned aircraft. As described above, it can easily identify the model of the user's aircraft and easily acquire information regarding the size of the aircraft.

[0021] (6) The aircraft is connected to a satellite positioning system that performs position measurement based on a signal emitted from a satellite. The aircraft departure and arrival field management system acquires the position information of the aircraft included in the ID information. The aircraft departure and arrival field management system according to item (5).

[0022] The aircraft departure and arrival field management system with this configuration can also manage the position information of the aircraft, so it can determine whether it has landed or taken off, determine whether the departure and arrival space is vacant, and improve the rotation rate of the departure and arrival space.

[0023] (7) The transmission unit transmits data for displaying the departure and arrival space extracted by the extraction unit on a map to the communication terminal. The aircraft departure and arrival field management system according to any one of items (1) to (6).

[0024] The aircraft takeoff and landing site management system with this configuration overlays and displays on a map the space where a user's aircraft can take off and land, making it easy for the user to recognize the location of that space and facilitating the reservation and securing of the takeoff and landing space.

Advantages of the Invention

[0025] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an aircraft takeoff and landing site management system capable of improving the usage frequency of aircraft such as drones.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] The drone takeoff and landing site management system 10, which is an embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The drone takeoff and landing site management system 10 is a system that enables a user Ud who uses a drone 12 to search for a takeoff and landing space (drone port) for landing (and taking off) the drone 12 near the destination, and can also be called a drone port search system. As shown in FIG. 1, the user Ud can access the present drone takeoff and landing site management system 10 via a network 16 from a communication terminal 14 such as a smartphone or a personal computer owned by the user. The access from the communication terminal 14 to the present drone takeoff and landing site management system 10 may be in the form of using a dedicated app or software provided by the system 10, or in the form of connecting to a website from a browser. Note that the network 16 is constructed by one or more combinations such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), and the Internet. Also, the network 16 is constructed by either wireless communication such as Wi-Fi or wired communication, or both.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the present drone takeoff and landing site management system 10 is configured to cooperate with various systems via the network 16. Specifically, it includes a drone operation management system 20 that manages the flight path of the drone, a disaster countermeasure system 22 that takes countermeasures in the event of a disaster, and a parking lot management system 24 that manages parking spaces where automobiles such as coin parking can be parked. The cooperation with these systems will be described later.

[0029] First, before explaining the drone departure and landing site management system 10 of the present invention, the drone 12 will be described. The drone 12 includes unmanned aircrafts that perform imaging, surveying, transportation, etc., and drones that can carry persons other than the operator. Note that although the system 10 of the present embodiment manages the departure and landing sites of drones, the aircraft departure and landing management system of the present invention is not limited to drones for symmetrical aircrafts. Any aircraft that can vertically take off and land and can fly by remote control or automatic piloting (in other words, can fly without a boarding operator) may be used. For example, flying cars, motorcycles, etc. can also be adopted. In addition, although drones 12 generally fly using electricity as power, those flying using other power sources may also be used.

[0030] A remote ID including an individually assigned identification number is registered in the drone 12. The drone 12 is connectable to the network 16 by wireless communication and is configured to periodically transmit ID information, which is information regarding the remote ID, to the network 16. In addition, the drone 12 is connected to a satellite positioning system (GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite System) such as GPS, for example, and can grasp its own position information. The above ID information includes an identification number (registration symbol), a manufacturing number (model number) indicating the type of its own aircraft, and position information by GNSS.

[0031] The user Ud who uses the drone 12 is not particularly limited and can be anyone who uses a drone, such as an individual, a corporation, or a business operator who conducts delivery, imaging, surveying, etc. using a drone. When the user Ud uses the drone 12, a place for taking off and landing the drone 12 is required near the target location. Specifically, in order to perform imaging or surveying in a certain area, a place for taking off and landing the drone 12 in the vicinity is needed, or in order for a delivery operator to deliver and receive goods from the consignor, a place for landing and taking off the drone 12 near the desired location of the consignor is required. Note that even if the drone operation management system 20 can determine the flight path for each drone, it cannot ensure a landing-capable location that is the destination of the drone. Currently, the securing of such a drone port is entrusted to each user.

[0032] The drone takeoff / landing site management system 10 of this embodiment is a system for such a user Ud to secure a takeoff / landing space for the drone 12. As shown in FIG. 2, this drone takeoff / landing site management system 10 is mainly composed of a server having a CPU, ROM, RAM, an auxiliary storage device, etc., and has a plurality of functional units that exhibit various functions. Specifically, this drone takeoff / landing site management system 10 includes a reception unit 30, a drone information acquisition unit 32, a port storage unit 34, a port information acquisition unit 36, a corresponding port extraction unit 38, and a port information transmission unit 40. Hereinafter, these functional units will be sequentially described according to the procedure when the user Ud uses the drone port with reference to FIG. 3.

[0033] User Ud first installs the application (software) provided by the drone takeoff and landing site management system 10 on the communication terminal 14 in step 1 (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "S1"). Subsequently, in S2, User Ud inputs his / her own information and usage information regarding the drone 12 from the application. Specifically, as for the information about the drone 12 to be input, an identification number is to be input. Although the case of inputting usage information using the application is exemplified, it is also possible to access a dedicated website using an Internet browser and perform the input. In the drone takeoff and landing site management system 10, the part that accepts this input of usage information is the reception unit 30.

[0034] When the drone takeoff and landing site management system 10 receives the usage information of User Ud by the reception unit 30, in S3, it acquires the manufacturing number from the ID information transmitted by the drone 12 based on the identification number, and identifies the model to be used. Then, using the network 16, information regarding the size of the model is acquired. Alternatively, for example, when the remote ID of the drone 12 is not activated, from the identification of the model to the acquisition of information regarding the size of the model are performed based on the identification number via the network 16. That is, the part that acquires the information about this drone 12 is the drone information acquisition unit 32. And when these information are acquired, in S4, the reception unit 30 registers the information about User Ud including the information.

[0035] Next, the case where the user Ud actually uses the drone port will be described. First, the user Ud starts the application in S5, and in S6, inputs destination information, which is information about the location where the drone 12 is to take off and land, and transmits it to the present drone takeoff / landing site management system 10. When the present drone takeoff / landing site management system 10 receives the destination information, in S7, it searches for a drone port within the defined area and with a size that allows the drone 12 of the registered size to take off and land. The present drone takeoff / landing site management system 10 has a port storage unit 34 in its own ROM, external storage device, etc. First, in S8, it extracts from the port storage unit 34.

[0036] This port storage unit 34 is a part that provides a space available as a drone port or stores the space as a drone port when permission for use is obtained, and stores information including position information and size. Examples of such a drone port include flat ground and the rooftops of buildings. For example, it is a space provided or for which permission has been obtained from administrators such as individuals, corporations, public organizations, facilities, etc., and facility operation companies.

[0037] In addition, as described above, the drone takeoff and landing site management system 10 can also search for parking spaces for parking automobiles as drone ports. Specifically, in S9, it connects to a plurality of parking lot management systems 24 such as coin parking that are registered, and acquires the parking status. Then, the available parking spaces in each parking lot are used as drone ports. However, drones come in various sizes depending on the model, and there may be cases where the size of the space where the drone can take off and land exceeds the size of the parking space Sc for one automobile. Since the drone 12 in this embodiment also has a width of about one automobile, a single parking space Sc is insufficient as the takeoff and landing available space. Therefore, in S10, as shown in FIG. 4, based on the parking status received from the parking lot management system 24, the drone takeoff and landing site management system 10 acquires, for this drone 12, a location where there are two adjacent parking spaces Sc as the drone port P1. For example, the drone 50 of a different model is of a type that can perform delivery of the luggage 52 and is larger in size than the drone 12. For this drone 50, for example, four adjacent parking spaces Sc in the front, rear, left, and right can be acquired as the drone port P2. As described above, the part that extracts the drone port P1, which is the space where the drone 12 can take off and land, is the corresponding port extraction unit 38.

[0038] When a plurality of drone ports P1 are extracted by the corresponding port extraction unit 38, specifically, the port information transmission unit 40, in S11, transmits information regarding those plurality of drone ports P1, specifically, data for displaying those plurality of drone ports P1 on a map, to the communication terminal 14 of the user Ud. Then, in the communication terminal 14, as shown in FIG. 5, the positions available as the drone port P1, including the already used locations, are displayed.

[0039] If there is a location among the displayed available locations that the user Ud wants to use, the user Ud can secure that location or make a reservation for a certain time period. If a usage fee is incurred at the drone port P1, for example, it is possible to accept cashless payment from the communication terminal 14. By using cashless payment, even when using the parking space Sc via the parking lot management system 24, the settlement process can be carried out smoothly. Also, even if the drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle, no on-site settlement process is required, which is suitable for the present drone takeoff and landing site management system 10.

[0040] In addition, the present drone takeoff and landing site management system 10 is configured to periodically acquire ID information from the drone 12 during the time period when the use of the drone port P1 is requested and before and after that time period, and to grasp the position information of the drone 12. Thereby, it is possible to grasp the position of the drone 12 and use it for determining whether the drone 12 has landed at the drone port P1 or not.

[0041] The present drone takeoff and landing site management system 10 is a system that can be used in the event of a disaster. Specifically, in the event of a disaster, when there is a need to urgently transport relief supplies, etc., for example, in a situation where it is difficult to transport by vehicle, it is predicted that drones will be used in the future. By registering the identification numbers of the drones to be used in that disaster and configuring the system to prioritize securing the takeoff and landing space of the drones when requested by the disaster prevention system 22, etc., it is possible to smoothly transport relief supplies, etc. during the disaster.

[0042] As described above, the drone takeoff and landing site management system 10 matches the drone user with the provider of the space available as a drone port, and it is considered that the usage frequency of the drone can be improved. Further, according to the drone takeoff and landing site management system 10, only the drone ports of appropriate sizes can be disclosed for drones of various sizes, and since the user can easily prepare a drone port, the usage frequency of the drone can be improved. Furthermore, the drone takeoff and landing site management system 10 cooperates with many parking lot management systems 24 and also uses the vacant space in the parking lot as a drone port, so that the usage frequency of the drone can be further improved. As described above, the aircraft parking lot management system of the present invention can treat drones (so-called passenger drones) and flying cars that non-pilot persons to be developed in the future can board in the same manner as unmanned aircraft, and can provide appropriate takeoff and landing spaces.

Explanation of Signs

[0043] 10…drone takeoff and landing site management system [aircraft takeoff and landing site management system], Ud…user, 12…drone [aircraft], 14…communication terminal, 16…network, 24…parking lot management system, 30…reception unit, 32…drone information acquisition unit [aircraft information acquisition unit], 36…port information acquisition unit [takeoff and landing space information acquisition unit], 38…corresponding port extraction unit [extraction unit], 40…port information transmission unit [transmission unit], P1, P2…drone port [takeoff and landing space], Sc…parking space

Claims

1. An aircraft takeoff and landing space management system for managing the takeoff and landing space of an aircraft that can take off and land vertically and fly without a pilot on board, comprising: a takeoff and landing space information acquisition unit that acquires information on a plurality of the takeoff and landing spaces where the aircraft can take off and land; a reception unit that receives registration of the aircraft to be taken off and landed by the user from a communication terminal used by the user; an aircraft information acquisition unit that identifies the received aircraft and acquires information on at least the size of the aircraft; an extraction unit that extracts only spaces of a size that allows takeoff and landing from among the plurality of the takeoff and landing spaces acquired by the takeoff and landing space information acquisition unit, based on the size of the aircraft acquired by the aircraft information acquisition unit; a transmission unit that transmits information on the takeoff and landing space extracted by the extraction unit to the communication terminal; and the aircraft takeoff and landing space management system is connectable by communication to a parking lot management system that manages vacancy information for a parking space where an automobile can be parked, the takeoff and landing space information acquisition unit acquires the vacancy information of the parking space in the parking lot management system as the takeoff and landing space, and the extraction unit extracts, as the takeoff and landing space, a plurality of adjacent parking spaces when the size of the space where the aircraft can take off and land exceeds the size of a parking space for one automobile and a plurality of adjacent parking spaces exist. An aircraft takeoff and landing space management system.

2. The reception unit is configured to receive an input of an identification number individually assigned to the aircraft, and the aircraft information acquisition unit acquires information on the size of the aircraft based on the identification number. The aircraft takeoff and landing space management system according to claim 1.

3. The aircraft transmits ID information, which is information on a remote ID including the identification number and an aircraft type number related to the type of the aircraft body, and the aircraft takeoff and landing space management system acquires the ID information transmitted by the aircraft and acquires information on the size of the aircraft based on the ID information. The aircraft takeoff and landing space management system according to claim 2.

4. The aircraft is connected to a satellite positioning system that performs position measurement based on a signal emitted from a satellite, The aircraft departure and arrival field management system according to claim 3, which acquires the position information of the aircraft included in the ID information.

5. The aircraft departure and arrival field management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transmission unit transmits data for displaying the departure and arrival space extracted by the extraction unit on a map to the communication terminal.

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