Dynamic Skylane Network for eVTOL Aircraft Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft routing techniques lack the computational flexibility to properly allocate airspace for dynamic operating conditions of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in dense urban environments, particularly in terms of noise and maneuverability constraints, and fail to efficiently update skylane networks in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A computing system dynamically updates a network of skylanes for eVTOL aircraft by accessing and evaluating operating constraints and parameter data, such as noise levels, weather, and demand patterns, to activate or deactivate skylanes and assign aircraft to optimal routes, ensuring compliance with operating constraints and maximizing transportation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current aircraft routing techniques are used, then routing simplicity is maintained, but computational flexibility and real-time updates for dynamic operating conditions are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic skylane networks that can be activated or deactivated in real-time based on current operating conditions such as weather, noise constraints, and air traffic demand. This allows the routing system to adapt flexibly to changing conditions without requiring complete reconfiguration, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes multiple potential skylanes with defined parameters and constraints before operation. During real-time operation, the system simply selects from these pre-configured options based on current conditions, avoiding the complexity of creating routes dynamically while maintaining high adaptability.
2Productivity
If more skylanes are activated to accommodate demand, then aircraft throughput increases, but noise impacts and operating constraint violations may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes operational parameters by dynamically activating or deactivating specific skylanes based on real-time assessment of noise constraints and operating conditions. This allows the system to maximize aircraft throughput while maintaining compliance with noise limits by selecting only those skylanes that meet current environmental constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors operating conditions including noise levels, weather, and air traffic patterns, and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust which skylanes are active. This closed-loop control ensures that throughput is maximized while automatically preventing noise constraint violations by deactivating problematic skylanes when conditions require it.
3Productivity
If real-time updates are implemented, then operational efficiency improves, but computational resources and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial real-time updates by selectively reassessing only those skylanes that may be affected by current operating conditions, rather than completely re-evaluating the entire skylane network. This reduces computational resource requirements while maintaining operational efficiency through targeted updates.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of providing improved solutions for aviation transport networks, particularly for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, are provided. For example, a method for generating a network of skylanes for eVTOL aircraft travel in a particular geographic area includes accessing airspace data (e.g., aircraft track data and/or restricted zone data) defining an available portion of the particular geographic area for the eVTOL aircraft travel. The airspace data is used to compute skylane route data for a particular skylane defined by a plurality of waypoints in three-dimensional space between a first vertiport location and a second vertiport location for the eVTOL aircraft in the particular geographic area. The skylane route data can be added to a network of available skylanes and selected for deployment of a particular eVTOL aircraft.