Parasail-Assisted Launch for Fixed-Wing Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft require long runways for take-off and landing, limiting their operational locations, and hovering aircraft are wind-susceptible and unsuitable for small ship decks, necessitating a new system for launching and retrieving fixed-wing aircraft without the need for extensive runways.
Innovation Solution
A parasail-assisted system using winches and flexible members to launch and retrieve fixed-wing aircraft, featuring a modular aircraft-launch apparatus that attaches to the aircraft, utilizing a parasail with ballast for stability and controlled winch operations to manage the aircraft's flight and landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional aircraft use long runways for take-off and landing, then their operational capability is improved, but their ability to operate from limited spaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a parasail as an intermediary device between the aircraft and the launch platform. The parasail captures wind energy to provide lift and propulsion, enabling the aircraft to become airborne without requiring a long runway. This mediator allows conventional fixed-wing aircraft to operate from limited spaces while maintaining their operational capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from horizontal ground-based acceleration (runway) to vertical aerial launch (parasail). By utilizing the vertical dimension and wind energy in the atmosphere, the system enables aircraft launch without requiring extensive horizontal space, thus resolving the contradiction between operational capability and space requirements
2Area of stationary object
If hovering aircraft are used for limited space operations, then their ability to operate from small decks is improved, but their wind susceptibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using hovering aircraft with vulnerable rotors, the patent copies the lift-generating capability of hovering aircraft through a parasail that uses wind energy more effectively. The parasail design captures and utilizes wind forces to provide stable lift without the mechanical vulnerability of spinning blades, thus operating from small decks while being less wind-susceptible
3Force
If hovering aircraft with large spinning blades are used, then their lift capability is improved, but their suitability for small ship decks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of lift generation from the hovering aircraft's spinning blades and implements it through a parasail structure. This separates the lift capability from the mechanical rotor system, eliminating the need for large spinning blades while maintaining lift performance, thus enabling operation from small ship decks
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
Enables the launch and retrieval of fixed-wing aircraft from limited spaces, such as ships, without the need for extensive runways, providing a stable and controlled process for both take-off and landing, and allowing for the use of various aircraft types without modifications.
Implementation Method 1
a parasail with ballast for stability and controlled winch operations to manage the aircraft's flight and landing
Implementation Method 2
a parasail-assisted system using winches and flexible members to launch and retrieve fixed-wing aircraft
Implementation Method 3
a parasail with ballast for stability
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a parasail-assisted system for launching a fixed-wing aircraft into free flight and for retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft from free flight.