Solar Aircraft Stationkeeping via Dynamic Flight Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-altitude aircraft used as communication relay platforms face challenges in maintaining a tight station in varying wind speeds and weather conditions, with limited airspeed ranges, and require enhanced bandwidth, redundancy, and power handling capabilities while being cost-effective and pollution-free.
Innovation Solution
A communication system utilizing multiple aircraft with limited beamwidth antennas and a control system that employs specific flight patterns to maintain stationkeeping, including in-place-loiter, zigzag, and repeatedly turning patterns, along with alternating high-power-generation flight patterns to maximize energy efficiency and redundancy, and using offset flight stations for cost-effective ground antenna installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If aircraft are used as high-altitude communication platforms with limited airspeed ranges, then they can sustain long-duration flight, but they have difficulty adapting to changing wind-speeds and weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the aircraft operation into multiple discrete flight patterns (stationkeeping patterns and high-power-generation flight patterns). Each pattern is optimized for specific conditions, allowing the aircraft to segment its operational modes based on weather conditions and power needs, thereby maintaining both long duration and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically switches between different flight patterns based on real-time conditions. The aircraft transitions from stationkeeping patterns when power generation is sufficient to high-power-generation patterns when additional power is needed, enabling adaptation to changing weather conditions while maintaining long-duration operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If aircraft are designed to handle larger payloads and power demands, then they can perform broader functions, but resources are drained that could otherwise be directed toward tight stationkeeping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the operational requirements into stationkeeping functions and power generation functions. By using multiple aircraft assigned to the same flight station, the system can allocate specific aircraft to maintain the station while others perform high-power-generation flights, thereby supporting larger payloads without compromising stationkeeping precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Each aircraft is designed with multi-functionality, capable of performing both stationkeeping duties and high-power-generation flights. This universality allows the same aircraft to switch between maintaining communication coverage and generating additional power, optimizing resource utilization while supporting broader functions.
3Reliability
If multiple aircraft are used to provide redundancy and frequency reuse, then communication bandwidth and reliability improve, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple aircraft into a coordinated system where each aircraft is assigned to a specific flight station. By combining the capabilities of multiple aircraft while managing them through a unified control system that coordinates flight patterns and power generation, the system achieves improved reliability and bandwidth without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system for supporting communications with a target market area. The system includes one or more solar-powered aircraft maintained in, or successively passing through, flight stations or flight patterns around the market area. Each of the aircraft targets limited beamwidth communication antennas on a substantial portion of the target market area. The control system is configured to fly selective flight patterns depending on the aircraft characteristics and the flight conditions. The flight patterns may emphasize high-power-generation patterns such as flying away from the sun for aircraft with wing-mounted solar cells.