Multi-Level VTOL Landing Facility Layout for Urban Capacity Limits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Landing and storing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft in densely populated urban areas poses challenges due to limited infrastructure capacity and space constraints.
Innovation Solution
A computing system is implemented to manage the landing and storage of VTOL aircraft using a multi-level aircraft landing facility. The system determines optimal landing pad locations and storage areas based on aircraft, passenger, and environmental data, enhancing efficiency and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If VTOL aircraft land on existing infrastructure such as rooftops, then the aircraft can be accommodated in urban areas, but the capacity for landing and storing multiple aircraft is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional rooftop landing surfaces to three-dimensional multi-level facilities with vertical stacking. Aircraft can be stored on multiple levels (upper and lower decks) and in vertical positions (suspended, ground-level, underground), dramatically increasing storage capacity within the same footprint area.
Solution Approach 2:
The facility design nests multiple storage functions within a single structure: upper landing areas are positioned over lower storage areas, which in turn are positioned over ground-level and underground storage areas. This nested arrangement allows smaller storage units to be contained within larger structural envelopes, maximizing space utilization.
2Productivity
If multi-level landing facilities with dynamic landing pad designation are implemented, then the capacity and efficiency of VTOL operations increase, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The landing pad locations are dynamically designated rather than fixed, allowing the system to adapt to varying operational requirements. The computing system can reconfigure which areas serve as active landing pads based on real-time conditions, optimizing throughput and efficiency while managing complexity through software-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
The facility design allows areas to serve multiple functions: landing areas can become storage areas, and storage areas can become landing areas as needed. The upper level serves both as a landing area and provides overhead coverage for lower storage areas, reducing the need for separate dedicated structures and simplifying the overall system.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing system for landing and storing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft can be configured to receive aircraft data, passenger data, or environment data associated with a VTOL aircraft and determine a landing pad location within a landing facility based on the aircraft data, passenger data, and/or environment data. The landing facility can include a lower level and an upper level. The lower level can include a lower landing area and a lower storage area. The upper level can include an upper landing area. At least a portion of the upper level can be arranged over the lower storage area. The landing pad location can include a location within the lower landing area or the upper landing area of the landing facility. The computing system can communicate the landing pad location to an operator or a navigation system of the VTOL aircraft.