Vertiport Condition Messaging for Autonomous Landing Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous aircraft face safety risks during landing operations when communication links with ground control stations become unavailable due to satellite coverage loss or interference, leading to potential unsafe flight deviations and inability to receive critical landing area conditions.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing standardized message protocols like ADS-B to transmit vertiport conditions to aircraft, enabling autonomous diversion to alternative landing sites even in the absence of a functional C2 link, by populating existing message fields with landing area information using computing devices and transceivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standardized message protocols are used to transmit vertiport conditions, then landing safety is improved, but communication infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using standardized message protocols (ADS-B, ACARS) that serve multiple functions: they transmit vertiport conditions, aircraft position, and safety information through existing communication infrastructure, eliminating the need for dedicated communication systems while improving landing safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables aircraft to autonomously receive and process vertiport condition information through onboard computers that automatically interpret standardized messages and make landing decisions without requiring complex ground control intervention, reducing infrastructure complexity while maintaining safety
2Reliability
If real-time vertiport condition information is provided to aircraft, then hazard avoidance capability is improved, but data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential vertiport condition information needed for hazard avoidance (landing area status, hazards, weather) and transmits it through existing message protocol fields, avoiding unnecessary data transmission while maintaining effective hazard avoidance capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of data transmission by encoding vertiport conditions within existing standardized message fields rather than creating new data streams, thereby providing real-time hazard information without increasing overall data transmission requirements
3Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous aircraft divert to alternative landing sites without C2 link, then operational independence is improved, but navigation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring aircraft with alternative landing site information and navigation capabilities before flight, enabling autonomous diversion to alternative sites without C2 link while avoiding complex real-time navigation decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses standardized message protocols as intermediaries to transmit alternative landing site information from ground systems to aircraft, simplifying the navigation complexity by providing pre-processed destination data rather than requiring aircraft to independently calculate alternative routes
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for outputting landing area conditions to aircraft using standardized message protocols are provided. In an example method, a computing device accesses a configuration for generating messages using a predetermined message format for a first air traffic management device located at a first landing area. The computing device updates the configuration with information about a condition at the first landing area using the predetermined message format. The computing device outputs, using the first air traffic management device, a message based on the configuration, including transmitting the message to a second air traffic management device associated with an aircraft within a predetermined distance of the first landing area.