Landing Zone Antenna Lobes for GNSS-Free VTOL Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guidance systems for urban air mobility vehicles, particularly for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, lack sufficient precision for autonomous landing without global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), which are often obscured in urban environments.
Innovation Solution
A landing zone designator system utilizing two sets of antennas to create vertical lobes at known orientations to the landing pad, allowing a VTOL aircraft with dynamically adjustable antennas to align itself with the center of the landing pad.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing guidance systems are used for autonomous landing, then the system complexity is low, but the measurement precision and reliability are insufficient without GNSS
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance system is segmented into two independent antenna sets, each creating a separate vertical lobe. The aircraft tracks each lobe independently using its own antenna, allowing precise positional determination through the intersection of two loci without requiring complex integrated navigation systems
Solution Approach 2:
Vertical lobes serve as intermediary signal patterns that mediate between the ground-based antenna system and the aircraft's position determination. The lobes create measurable signal strength variations that directly indicate the aircraft's lateral position relative to the landing pad center
2Reliability
If GNSS is used for navigation, then the measurement precision is sufficient, but the system becomes unreliable in urban environments with signal obscuration
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the aircraft's own antenna to track vertical lobes emitted by ground-based antennas, creating a self-contained navigation method that does not depend on external satellite signals. The aircraft determines its position by measuring signal strength from the vertical lobes, providing reliable operation in urban environments
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed orientation antennas are used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different aircraft orientations is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft's antenna orientation is made dynamic, allowing it to rotate and track vertical lobes from different ground-based antenna sets. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to accommodate various aircraft orientations and approach angles while maintaining precise alignment capability
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 significantly enhances the precision of autonomous landing for VTOL aircraft by maintaining signal strength maximization and centering the aircraft over the landing pad, even in the absence of GNSS.
Implementation Method 1
two sets of antennas to create vertical lobes at known orientations to the landing pad
Implementation Method 2
A VTOL aircraft including two antennas tracks the vertical lobes to align the aircraft to the center of the landing pad
Data Source
AI summary
A landing zone designator system includes two sets of antennas; the first set of antennas defines a first vertical lobe at a first known orientation to the landing pad and the second set of antennas defines a second vertical lobe at a second known orientation to the landing pad. A VTOL aircraft including two antennas tracks the vertical lobes to align the aircraft to the center of the landing pad. The aircraft antennas can be rotated or repositioned dynamically to accommodate the orientation of the aircraft.