Aircraft Free-Space Optical Data Shuttle for High-Capacity Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems for aircraft, such as LiFi and asymmetric free-space-optical links, are inefficient for transferring large amounts of data between parked aircraft and ground stations, particularly in terms of bandwidth and data capacity.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle equipped with free-space-optical transceivers moves between parked aircraft, receiving and storing data via infrared or laser beams, and transfers accumulated data to a base or cloud using optical or wired connections, enabling high-speed data exchange and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If existing communication systems (LiFi, asymmetric free-space-optical links) are used for data transfer between parked aircraft and ground stations, then data transfer can be performed, but the bandwidth and data capacity are insufficient for transferring large amounts of data efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional electrical/wired communication systems with optical communication systems using free-space optical beams (infrared or visible light) to transmit data between aircraft and ground vehicles. This substitution enables significantly higher bandwidth and data capacity, resolving the contradiction between data capacity and transfer efficiency by using photons instead of electrons for data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs steerable optical beams that can dynamically adjust their direction and focus. The ground vehicle's optical receiver can track and follow the aircraft's optical transmitter as the vehicle moves between different aircraft positions. This dynamic beam steering capability maintains optimal line-of-sight communication throughout the data transfer process, enabling efficient bulk data transfer without affecting aircraft turnaround times.
2Speed
If high-speed data transfer is implemented using free-space-optical communication, then data transfer rate increases beyond 0.5 terabits per second, but system complexity increases due to requirements for precise beam alignment and tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical tracking and alignment system that mediates between the moving aircraft and the ground vehicle. This intermediary system uses optical sensors and steerable mirrors or lens arrays to automatically detect, track, and maintain precise alignment of the optical communication beams. This intermediary mechanism enables high-speed data transfer by automatically managing the complexity of beam alignment, making the system robust against positional variations without requiring manual intervention.
3Quantity of substance
If a vehicle moves between multiple parked aircraft to collect and transfer data, then data accumulation from multiple aircraft is possible, but the time required for moving between aircraft and performing data transfers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous data transfer operations as the vehicle moves between aircraft. The optical communication system maintains uninterrupted data flow by dynamically tracking the aircraft positions and adjusting beam directions in real-time. This continuous operation eliminates idle time between data transfers, allowing the vehicle to efficiently accumulate large volumes of data from multiple aircraft during a single operational sequence without significant time loss.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
High-capacity data transfer is achieved with rates exceeding 0.5 terabits per second, allowing efficient data accumulation and transmission without affecting aircraft turnaround times, using steered beams with low divergence for clear line-of-sight communication.
Implementation Method 1
Free space optical communication with aircraft... communicating with a parked aircraft by free-space-optical communication... receiving incoming light and sensing the incoming light, the incoming light carrying aircraft-to-ground data
Implementation Method 2
A laser transmitter is provided in the vehicle configured to generate an outgoing laser beam, the outgoing laser beam carrying ground-to-aircraft data
Implementation Method 3
A optical receiver is provided in the vehicle configured to receive incoming light and sense the incoming light, the incoming light carrying aircraft-to-ground data
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprising moving a vehicle between a plurality of parked aircraft; at each aircraft, receiving aircraft-to-ground data from the aircraft at the vehicle by free-space-optical communication and storing the aircraft-to-ground data at the vehicle; and transferring the stored aircraft-to-ground data from the vehicle, wherein stored aircraft-to-ground data from two or more of the aircraft accumulates at the vehicle before it is transferred from the vehicle. Also a vehicle used in such a method.