Adjustable Landing Supports for Uneven Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional landing supports for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft are not capable of safely landing on uneven terrain, limiting their utility and posing risks to the aircraft and its crew and cargo.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes terrain sensors and attitude sensors to detect uneven terrain characteristics, with landing supports that can be adjusted in length or pressure to level the aircraft upon landing, and a support control device to configure the landing supports based on terrain and load characteristics, ensuring safe and stable landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid fixed landing supports are used, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the aircraft cannot safely land on uneven terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The landing supports transition from fixed rigid structures to dynamically adjustable systems that can change their configuration (extend, retract, inflate, or adjust length) based on detected terrain characteristics, enabling the aircraft to adapt to uneven surfaces while maintaining structural reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters of the landing supports (such as length, pressure, or extension state) in response to terrain conditions detected by sensors, allowing the same support structure to function effectively on both level and uneven terrain by adjusting its parameters
2Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable landing supports are added to handle uneven terrain, then terrain adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The landing support system uses sensors to automatically detect terrain characteristics and triggers actuators to adjust the support configuration without pilot intervention, making the system self-regulating and reducing the operational complexity despite the added mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs pneumatic or hydraulic actuators to adjust landing support configuration, providing smooth and controlled adjustments with simple control mechanisms, thereby managing device complexity through the use of well-established actuation technologies
3Reliability
If manual pilot judgment and control are used for uneven terrain landing, then device complexity remains low, but ease of operation deteriorates and landing safety is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates terrain sensors that provide real-time feedback about surface characteristics to the control computer, which automatically adjusts landing support configuration based on this feedback, eliminating the need for manual pilot judgment and significantly improving both ease of operation and landing safety on uneven terrain
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
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AI summary
A system for configuring landing supports of a load to land on uneven terrain includes a terrain sensor configured to detect a terrain characteristic of the uneven terrain. The system further includes landing supports configured to support the load upon landing. The system also includes a support control device operatively coupled to the landing supports, and a landing support control computer that is operatively coupled to the terrain sensor, landing supports, and support control device. The landing support control computer may determine if landing on the uneven terrain is allowable, based on the terrain characteristic and a load characteristic of the load. Upon determining that landing on the uneven terrain is allowable, the support control device configures the landing supports for landing on the uneven terrain.