VTOL Stabilizer Enclosure for Ground Effect Turbulence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (VTOLs) face issues such as air turbulence, noise, safety concerns, and structural damage during takeoff and landing, which hinder their widespread adoption in inhabited areas.
Innovation Solution
The use of vertically-oriented support elements with cooperating stabilizer elements and enclosures to stabilize VTOLs during takeoff and landing, incorporating features like male and female attachment portions and moveable panels to manage air turbulence and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If VTOLs perform vertical takeoff and landing, then they eliminate the need for runways and reduce space requirements, but they generate air turbulence, noise, and safety issues during takeoff and landing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (support element with enclosure) between the VTOL and the ground. This intermediary acts as a mediator that blocks and redirects harmful air turbulence and noise away from the VTOL and surrounding areas during takeoff and landing operations, while still allowing the VTOL to achieve vertical lift-off and landing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful ground effect turbulence into a beneficial stabilizing force. By positioning the VTOL within an enclosure during takeoff and landing, the previously harmful turbulence is redirected to stabilize the vehicle's flight path, transforming a harmful factor into a useful stabilizing mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If VTOLs operate in inhabited areas, then they enable point-to-point delivery and transportation, but they create safety issues and structural damage risks during takeoff and landing
Solution Approach 1:
The support element with enclosure serves as a protective intermediary structure that shields the VTOL from harmful ground effects during takeoff and landing. This intermediary reduces the risk of structural damage to both the vehicle and surrounding structures, thereby improving safety when operating in inhabited areas while maintaining delivery and transportation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure structure provides beforehand cushioning by blocking and dissipating harmful air turbulence and ground effects before they can impact the VTOL. This pre-emptive protection reduces the likelihood of safety issues and structural damage during critical takeoff and landing phases in populated areas.
3Speed
If VTOLs undergo takeoff and landing, then they achieve vertical lift-off and descent, but they experience ground effect turbulence that causes instability and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful ground effect turbulence into a beneficial stabilizing force. By positioning the VTOL within the enclosure during vertical lift-off and descent, the turbulence that would normally cause instability is redirected to provide stabilizing effects, improving flight stability while maintaining vertical mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element with enclosure acts as an intermediary that filters and redirects ground effect turbulence. This intermediary structure allows the VTOL to achieve vertical lift-off and descent while blocking the harmful aspects of ground effect, thereby improving stability during these critical phases.
Data Source
AI summary
Vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (VTOLs) of the type used for the point-to-point delivery and transport of payloads (e.g., packages, equipment, etc.) and personnel, are significantly stabilized at least during takeoff and landing with present aspects significantly ameliorating or significantly eliminating destabilizing effects, including ground effect, during VTOL takeoff and/or landing.