Tethered Aircraft Phase Control for Stable Payload Lifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft systems, such as helicopters and fixed-wing cargo aircraft, are inefficient for maintaining a stable phase difference between multiple tethered vehicles lifting a payload, especially in forward flight configurations, due to power consumption and weight constraints.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising multiple aircraft controlled by flight computers that measure environmental conditions and apply control laws to maintain a target phase difference by adjusting throttle and trajectory, allowing for efficient lifting and transition to forward flight without excessive power consumption or heavy batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple aircraft fly in a common periodic trajectory to lift a payload, then lifting efficiency is improved, but maintaining a stable phase difference between aircraft becomes difficult due to environmental disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the phase difference between aircraft using sensors and communication systems, then feeds this information back to flight control computers that adjust throttle and trajectory in real-time to maintain the target phase difference despite environmental disturbances
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical coordination between pilots with an automated control system that uses flight computers to calculate and execute phase difference maintenance, substituting human-operated mechanical systems with automated computational control
2Stability of the object's composition
If aircraft use heavy batteries and high power consumption to maintain phase difference, then phase stability is improved, but aircraft weight increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts throttle and trajectory based on real-time phase difference measurements rather than maintaining constant high power output, allowing aircraft to use energy efficiently while still maintaining stable phase difference through controlled adjustments
3Productivity
If aircraft fly in circular pattern to lift payload, then load distribution is optimized, but transition to forward flight becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for forward flight transition by pre-coordinating aircraft positions and phases during the circular lifting pattern, so that when transition is initiated, aircraft are already positioned optimally to minimize the complexity of switching to forward flight configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A system to maintain a phase difference is disclosed. Two or more aircraft fly in a continuous periodic trajectory. The system maintains a phase difference between the two or more aircraft. Telemetry information for a reference aircraft moving in a first periodic trajectory is received. A phase difference between a primary aircraft and the reference aircraft with respect to the first periodic trajectory is determined. A variance in the phase difference between the primary aircraft and the reference aircraft from the target phase difference is determined. A new trajectory for the primary aircraft that decreases the variance in the phase difference with respect to the new periodic trajectory is determined, and the primary aircraft is maneuvered to follow the new trajectory.