Autonomous Aircraft Vortex Positioning for Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial aircraft face challenges in reducing drag due to safety regulations that prevent them from flying in formation, which could significantly reduce fuel consumption and operational costs, especially in adverse weather conditions or when circling runways for landing.
Innovation Solution
Deploying autonomous aircraft to fly ahead of commercial planes and position themselves in a way that their vortices create an optimal updraft for the following aircraft, using sensors and computational fluid dynamics to determine and maintain the optimal position, thereby reducing drag and improving fuel efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If commercial aircraft fly in formation to reduce drag, then fuel consumption decreases, but safety regulations prevent this formation flying
Solution Approach 1:
An autonomous drone acts as an intermediary between the formation flying concept and safety regulations. The drone positions itself ahead of the commercial aircraft to generate beneficial vortices and updrafts, providing drag reduction without requiring the commercial aircraft to violate safety regulations by flying in prohibited formation patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The formation flying function is segmented into two independent components: the autonomous drone that generates aerodynamic benefits, and the commercial aircraft that maintains regulatory compliance. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently within its own safety envelope while achieving the combined benefit of drag reduction.
2Loss of energy
If autonomous aircraft are deployed to create optimal vortices, then drag reduction is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous drone employs self-service through automated flight control systems that independently calculate optimal positioning, generate appropriate vortices, and maintain the desired aerodynamic configuration without human intervention. The system uses onboard sensors and computational algorithms to self-regulate its position and orientation for maximum drag reduction efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes multiple parameters including the drone's position, altitude, speed, and orientation to optimize vortex generation. By continuously adjusting these parameters based on real-time atmospheric conditions and aircraft position, the system achieves effective drag reduction while managing complexity through automated parameter optimization.
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
This approach decreases fuel consumption and operational costs by allowing aircraft to fly more efficiently, even in adverse conditions, and enables less sophisticated planes to utilize advanced landing aids like ILS systems, enhancing safety and visibility during landing.
Implementation Method 1
vortices created by the autonomous aircraft interact with the aircraft to reduce drag on the aircraft
Implementation Method 2
their vortices create an optimal updraft for the following aircraft
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft assistance method for reducing drag on the aircraft. The method includes flying an autonomous aircraft near the aircraft. An optimal position where vortices created by the autonomous aircraft or the aircraft interact with the other aircraft and/or autonomous aircraft to reduce drag and/or increase lift on the aircraft is determined. The autonomous aircraft is positioned in the optimal position. The method may include a landing assistance system with at least one autonomous aircraft configured to provide the aircraft with information regarding a desired position relative to a runway. The at least one autonomous aircraft may be configured to communicate with the aircraft through a processor and/or a display in the aircraft. The autonomous aircraft may be subject to a drone control system for a plurality of drones configured to position the plurality of drones in a formation.