Dynamic Runway Orientation via Light Emitting Tiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerodromes face challenges in accommodating slower aircraft due to increased susceptibility to cross-winds, requiring greater slip angles for alignment, which complicates operations and passenger comfort, especially with single or limited runway orientations.
Innovation Solution
An aerodrome system with a network of light-emitting tiles that can dynamically change runway orientation based on wind direction, using sensors and a controller to adjust the orientation of runways and provide real-time positional data, reducing the need for ground radar and enhancing safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a single or limited number of hardened runways are provided in fixed orientations, then the aerodrome can support faster aircraft with higher tyre pressures, but slower aircraft become increasingly susceptible to cross-winds requiring greater slip angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the runway orientation changeable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts runway alignment based on wind direction, allowing the aerodrome to adapt to varying cross-wind conditions. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the runway to be reoriented for slower aircraft when cross-winds are present, while maintaining fixed orientation capabilities for faster aircraft when conditions permit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the runway dynamically. By adjusting the runway's alignment angle according to wind conditions, the system optimizes performance for different aircraft types and weather scenarios. This parameter change allows the same physical infrastructure to serve both fast and slow aircraft effectively under varying conditions.
2Reliability
If multiple differently aligned runways are provided to accommodate headwind requirements, then aircraft can take-off into headwinds, but the system complexity and ground radar requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than providing multiple fixed runways, the patent implements a single runway that can dynamically change its orientation. This dynamic approach achieves the same safety benefit of headwind alignment while reducing the complexity of maintaining multiple separate runway infrastructures and their associated ground radar systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The single changeable runway serves multiple functions that would traditionally require multiple dedicated runways. By being able to reorient, one runway becomes universal, handling various wind directions and aircraft types, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining safety.
3Device complexity
If slower aircraft operate from fixed orientation runways, then infrastructure requirements are simplified, but tyre skidding and wear increase due to incorrect alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic orientation adjustment allows the runway to be properly aligned with the wind and aircraft direction of travel, preventing tyre skidding and wear that would occur with fixed misaligned runways. This maintains infrastructure simplicity while eliminating the harmful tyre wear effect.
4Productivity
If runway orientation is changed dynamically based on wind direction, then cross-wind requirements are minimized and operational efficiency improves, but the system requires sensors, controllers, and real-time data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by using sensors to continuously monitor wind direction and aircraft position, then using this information to dynamically adjust runway orientation. This feedback loop enables automatic optimization of runway alignment, improving operational efficiency while the automation reduces the need for complex manual control procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerodrome system serves itself by automatically detecting wind conditions and adjusting runway orientation without requiring complex external control interventions. The integrated sensors and controllers enable the system to self-regulate, improving efficiency while keeping control complexity manageable through automation.
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 system minimizes cross-wind requirements, improves operational efficiency, and enhances safety by allowing runways to be aligned with prevailing winds, reducing tire wear and passenger discomfort, while enabling efficient ground operations and aircraft navigation.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of light emitting elements form pixels of a display. The light emitting elements may comprise at least one light emitting diode.
Data Source
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AI summary
An aerodrome system for an aerodrome (4) is provided. The aerodrome system comprises a plurality of light emitting elements (6) configured to emit light from a surface of the aerodrome (4) upon which aircraft may take-off, land and manoeuvre; and a controller (8) operatively coupled to each of the light emitting elements so as to selectively control the light emitting elements (6), wherein the light emitting elements (6) form pixels of a display (10) and the controller (8) is configured to control an image displayed by the display (10) so as to display and demarcate at least one runway (12a, 12b) for aircraft to take-off or land, wherein the light emitting elements (6) are spaced such that the controller (8) may display the runway (12a, 12b) with a variable orientation and the controller (8) is further configured to change the image displayed by the display (10) so as to change the orientation of the runway (12a, 12b).