Autonomous Towed Aircraft Fleet for Cargo Capacity and Fuel Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft cargo transport systems are limited by weight constraints and fuel capacity, leading to inefficiencies in cargo transport due to structural weaknesses and the need for refueling, which increases costs and reduces transport efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a tractor aircraft towing one or more autonomous towed aircrafts, equipped with an autopilot system, sensors, and adjustable towing elements, allowing for optimized positioning and energy transfer, enabling efficient cargo transport with reduced fuel consumption and structural load on the tractor aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single aircraft carries all cargo, then structural strength requirements increase, but the aircraft weight and fuel capacity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cargo transport function into multiple separate aircraft units. Instead of one heavy aircraft carrying all cargo, multiple lighter aircraft work together in a fleet, with some acting as tractor aircraft and others as towed aircraft. This segmentation allows the total cargo capacity to be maintained while reducing the weight burden on any single aircraft structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple aircraft into a coordinated fleet operating as a unified system. The tractor aircraft and towed aircraft work together through towing elements, sharing the cargo transport mission. This merging of multiple aircraft units achieves the cargo capacity of a single large aircraft while distributing the structural and weight constraints across multiple smaller units.
2Duration of action of moving object
If aircraft carries maximum fuel capacity, then flight duration increases, but cargo capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel transport function is segmented across multiple aircraft in the fleet. Rather than one aircraft carrying maximum fuel and cargo, the total fuel requirement is distributed among several aircraft units. This allows each aircraft to carry optimized loads of fuel and cargo without being constrained by the fuel-cargo trade-off of a single aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The aircraft in the fleet perform multiple functions: some serve as tractor aircraft providing propulsion, others as towed aircraft carrying cargo and fuel. This multi-functionality allows the system to optimize the fuel-cargo ratio across the entire fleet rather than being limited by the constraints of a single aircraft's fuel capacity versus cargo space.
3Quantity of substance
If tractor aircraft pulls heavier loads, then towing force requirements increase, but the tractor aircraft structural strength is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo load is segmented across multiple towed aircraft rather than concentrated on a single heavy load. The tractor aircraft pulls multiple lighter towed aircraft through towing elements, distributing the total towing force requirement across several connections. This reduces the force demand on any single tractor aircraft while maintaining the total cargo capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses adjustable towing elements with variable cable lengths that can be modified based on flight conditions, wind, and load requirements. This dynamic adjustment allows the tractor aircraft to optimize the towing force required, reducing peak structural demands while maintaining the ability to haul heavy total loads through coordinated effort of multiple aircraft.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an unmanned, autonomous, cargo transport system comprising at least one towed aircraft coupled to a tractor aircraft for inflight towing.