Vertiport Operation With Stowable eVTOL Propulsion Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
The large footprint of commercially available aerial vehicles with VTOL capabilities hampers their implementation as a mass passenger transport mode, particularly in urban areas where space is limited, due to the need for significant land area for take-off, landing, and ground operations.
Innovation Solution
A compact aerial vehicle design with stowable propulsion units that can be deployed and stowed via rotation about a vertical axis, allowing for a reduced footprint when not in flight, and a method for operating passenger terminals that includes a wheeled platform for conveying the vehicle, enabling efficient use of space and integration with existing infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If propulsion units are fixed in a deployed position for flight, then flight performance is improved, but ground footprint area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The propulsion units are made dynamically reconfigurable, transitioning from a fixed deployed position during flight to a stowed position during ground operations. The support arms can rotate about vertical axes to move propulsion units between extended flight positions and retracted stowed positions, allowing the vehicle to optimize its footprint for urban ground transportation while maintaining full flight capability.
2Force
If propulsion units are extended for flight operations, then thrust capability is improved, but vehicle width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The propulsion system is segmented into multiple independent propulsion units, each mounted on separate support arms. This segmentation allows individual units to be extended or retracted independently, enabling the vehicle to maintain sufficient thrust capability for flight while reducing overall width during ground operations by retracting non-critical propulsion units.
3Area of stationary object
If propulsion units are stowed above the cabin, then ground footprint is reduced, but access to passenger doors may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms carrying the propulsion units are made dynamically adjustable, allowing them to rotate about vertical axes and position the propulsion units in different locations above the cabin. This dynamic positioning capability enables the system to clear passenger door access paths when needed while maintaining compact stowed configuration for reduced ground footprint during other operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An aerial vehicle has a passenger cabin for receiving at least one passenger, a load-bearing structure beneath the cabin, and a propulsion system including a number of propulsion units, which propel the aerial vehicle for powered flight and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). The propulsion units are preferably carried by support arms attached to the load-bearing structure and extending upwards therefrom so as to support the propulsion units at a level above the cabin. The aerial vehicle is preferably reconfigurable to a compact configuration after landing, with at least some of the propulsion units overlapping the cabin and/or each other, while still allowing passenger transfer in and out of the vehicle, thereby facilitating efficient use of space for implementing a vertiport.