Compact Vertiport Layout for Simultaneous Charging and Passenger Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urban areas with dense populations and heavy road traffic face challenges in finding suitable land for traditional airports, as land is limited and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A compact vertiport system is designed to efficiently utilize space by combining multiple activities such as aircraft movement, battery charging, and passenger exchange within a single space and time period. This system includes a landing zone, a transition zone for recharging and passenger exchange, and a takeoff zone, with transport equipment like carts that can move aircraft and charge batteries simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional airports are built in urban areas, then aviation transportation can be provided, but land area requirements cannot be met due to limited and expensive real estate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple previously separate functions (landing, takeoff, battery charging, passenger exchange) into a single integrated vertiport facility. This merging eliminates the need for separate large-area zones for each function, enabling aviation operations in urban areas with limited land availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertiport is designed as a multi-functional facility where a single space serves multiple purposes: it accommodates aircraft landing, takeoff, battery recharging, and passenger exchange simultaneously or sequentially. This multi-functionality reduces the total land area required compared to traditional airports with dedicated zones for each function.
2Productivity
If multiple activities (landing, takeoff, charging, passenger exchange) are performed in separate spaces and times, then each activity can be optimized, but total space utilization is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple activities that were traditionally performed in separate spaces and times into a single integrated space and time period. The vertiport enables simultaneous or sequential execution of landing, takeoff, battery charging, and passenger exchange in one facility, improving space utilization while maintaining activity optimization through careful zoned design.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertiport design enables continuous operation where aircraft can land, be charged and have passengers exchanged, then take off in a continuous flow. The transition zone allows these activities to overlap in time, ensuring that facilities remain continuously utilized without idle periods between separate operations.
3Ease of operation
If aircraft are moved from landing zone to takeoff zone without simultaneous charging, then movement is simple, but time efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the aircraft movement function with the battery charging function in the transition zone. As aircraft are transported from the landing zone to the takeoff zone, chargers simultaneously electrically charge the aircraft batteries, eliminating the need for separate movement and charging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The transition zone serves as an intermediary space between landing and takeoff zones, equipped with transport equipment and chargers. This intermediary facilitates the simultaneous execution of aircraft transport and battery charging, improving time efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity through automated processes.
4Reliability
If passenger exchange occurs while aircraft is stationary, then safety is maximized, but time efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic passenger exchange system where the aircraft is slowly and steadily moved during passenger exchange rather than remaining completely stationary. This controlled movement allows passengers to board and alight safely while improving time efficiency, as the aircraft continues to progress through the vertiport sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
Passenger exchange is performed continuously during the aircraft's slow movement through the transition zone, rather than requiring the aircraft to stop completely. This continuous operation reduces idle time while maintaining safety through controlled, steady movement and appropriate exchange infrastructure.
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
The compact vertiport system allows for efficient space utilization, enabling the operation of vertiports in smaller areas such as rooftops or car parking spaces, while also improving time efficiency by overlapping activities like recharging and passenger exchange with aircraft movement.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of chargers, wherein each charger is configured to electrically charge a battery of an aircraft from the plurality of aircraft while the aircraft is coupled to the transport equipment and located at the transition zone. Each charger includes a power source and an electrical coupler coupled to the power source, the electrical coupler configured to couple to and supply power to the battery of the aircraft
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide a compact vertiport system. The vertiport system may be efficient and compact by combining, into one space and time period, multiple activities that typically take place in different spaces and different times. For example, when an aircraft is being moved from a landing zone to a takeoff zone, the aircraft may also be charged simultaneously. Also, passenger exchange may take place while the aircraft is being moved. As a result, compact vertiport systems may fit into smaller spaces (e.g., tops of buildings, or smaller plots of land).