Mobile Emergency Landing Pad for Hung Gear Aircraft
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vertical landing aircraft, especially military helicopters, face risks during hung gear emergencies due to inadequate landing assistance solutions that can damage sensitive equipment and pose safety hazards, as existing makeshift solutions are not robust enough to handle the weight and protect the aircraft's underside systems.
Innovation Solution
A mobile emergency landing pad system comprising a trailer with resilient capture pads and a towable design, allowing quick deployment and cushioning of the aircraft's underside to protect sensitive equipment, is developed to facilitate safe landing in hung gear situations, featuring a trailer with wheels, adjustable connectors, and high-density foam capture pads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If makeshift structures (tables, chairs, clothes, pillows) are assembled at the landing site to assist aircraft with hung gear, then landing assistance can be provided, but the structures can collapse under aircraft weight and cause serious consequences
Solution Approach 1:
The landing assistance system is divided into modular components: a trailer frame, removable capture pads, and optional cover layers. This segmentation allows the system to be assembled from standardized parts that can be easily transported and deployed, while each component is designed to bear specific loads, preventing catastrophic failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The capture pads are pre-attached to the trailer frame before deployment to the landing site. This preliminary assembly ensures that the structural components are properly positioned and secured in advance, eliminating the need for hurried on-site construction and ensuring the structure is ready to immediately support the aircraft's weight upon arrival.
2Loss of time
If makeshift structures are assembled quickly at the landing site, then rapid deployment is achieved, but the structures may not be robust enough to handle aircraft weight
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate various aircraft types and configurations. The standardized trailer frame with pre-attached capture pads serves multiple functions: providing structural support, enabling rapid deployment, and adapting to different landing scenarios. This multi-functionality ensures reliability across diverse applications without requiring complex custom assemblies.
3Ease of operation
If heavy aircraft land on makeshift structures, then landing assistance is provided, but sensitive equipment on the aircraft underside (antennas, lighting systems, infrared vision systems) can be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
High-density foam capture pads are pre-attached to the trailer frame before deployment. These pads provide cushioning protection for the aircraft's sensitive underside equipment during landing. The foam material is selected to absorb impact forces while distributing the load, preventing direct contact between hard structural elements and vulnerable equipment such as antennas, lighting systems, and infrared vision systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface characteristics of the landing platform are changed by using soft, compliant foam material instead of hard surfaces. This parameter change in surface hardness and compliance reduces the harmful effects of impact on sensitive equipment while maintaining the structural integrity needed to support the aircraft's weight.
4Ease of manufacture
If standardized manufacturing techniques are used for the mobile emergency landing pad, then production cost is reduced, but the device must still be sufficiently strong to accommodate various aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer design incorporates dynamic load distribution through its frame structure and wheel configuration. The frame is engineered to flex and distribute aircraft weight across multiple contact points and support structures, allowing standardized components to handle variable loads from different aircraft types. This dynamic load management enables the use of cost-effective standardized manufacturing while maintaining sufficient strength and adaptability.
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 mobile emergency landing pad system enables rapid and safe landing of aircraft with hung gear, protecting sensitive equipment and reducing the risk of damage and injury by providing a sturdy, easily deployable solution that can accommodate various aircraft without causing costly repairs or safety issues.
Implementation Method 1
At least one resilient capture pad is removably seated on the top of the trailer
Implementation Method 2
The capture pad is made from a high-density foam such as a high-density closed cell foam or other similar resilient material
Data Source
AI summary
An emergency landing pad is used to capture a vertical landing capable aircraft that has a hung gear. The device is trailer based with the trailer having a series of wheels. At least one capture pad sits atop the trailer so that a portion of the aircraft lands atop the capture pad which cushions the fuselage of the aircraft. The capture pad is made from a resilient material, such as high-density foam, a rubber or similar materials. A cover is placed over the capture pad and one or more straps cinches the capture pad and the cover to the trailer. The cover may have markings on an outer surface thereof, which markings may be light reflective. The trailer is towed to the landing site via an ordinary tug and several trailers can be chained together in series in case more than one trailer is needed for aircraft capture.