VTOL Guidance Lighting Layout for Passenger Flow and Pilot Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicles lack advanced lighting schemes to efficiently guide individuals to or away from specific locations, manage visibility needs, and prevent interference with vehicle operators, particularly in environments like vertiports with multiple vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system for VTOL vehicles that includes a controller to manage a plurality of lights, allowing them to turn on/off, change color, and adjust intensity, guiding individuals through customizable lighting schemes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If lighting intensity is increased to guide individuals to locations, then visibility and guidance effectiveness are improved, but operator vision may be impaired or distracted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different lighting intensity levels in different zones of the vehicle. High-intensity lights are positioned to illuminate pathways and locations of interest for passengers, while low-intensity or shielded lights are positioned to avoid the operator's field of view. The controller selectively activates specific lights based on the operational state, ensuring that guidance lighting does not interfere with operator vision.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system dynamically adjusts its operation based on vehicle state. The controller receives signals about vehicle operation mode (e.g., parked, in transit, emergency) and automatically modifies lighting intensity and activation patterns. During operation, the system reduces or shields lights that would interfere with the operator while maintaining guidance functionality for passengers, thus adapting lighting behavior to contextual requirements.
2Ease of operation
If multiple lights are activated to guide passengers and crew, then navigation to locations is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial action by activating only the minimum necessary lights required for current operational needs. The controller evaluates the vehicle state and selectively activates specific light groups - for example, only illuminating the pathway to the current boarding area or emergency exit, rather than illuminating the entire vehicle. This reduces energy consumption while maintaining adequate navigation guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system uses periodic or sequential activation patterns instead of continuous illumination. Lights are activated in sequences or cycles based on passenger flow patterns and operational requirements, creating a time-based optimization where energy-intensive lighting is applied only when and where needed, rather than continuously throughout the vehicle.
3Illumination intensity
If lighting is provided throughout the vehicle for visibility, then aesthetic and practical needs are met, but interference with operator vision occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into distinct functional zones: passenger area lights, operator area lights, and pathway/guidance lights. Each zone can be independently controlled by the controller based on operational context. This segmentation allows the system to provide comprehensive visibility for passengers and crew while isolating the operator's workspace from potentially distracting lighting, as each segment responds to different operational requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for lighting a vehicle. A system includes a plurality of lights disposed on a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle configured to turn on and off, change color, and/or change intensity. The system further includes a controller configured to determine a lighting scheme for the plurality of lights, the lighting scheme including a setting for the plurality of lights, the setting including one or more of turning the plurality of lights on or off, setting a color of the plurality of lights, and setting an intensity of the plurality of lights, determine a location in or associated with the VTOL vehicle, wherein the lighting scheme is configured to guide a person to the location, and transmit a signal to the one or more lights to execute the lighting scheme to guide the person to the determined location.