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US 11,378,986 B2Granted
Systems and methods for landing and takeoff guidance
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsByron Birkedahl, Marc M. Pos
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques for allowing a vehicle equipped with at least one radar to take-off and land using radar return images of a landing site. The at least one radar generates radar return image(s) of the landing site, specifically of reflective symbols attached to the landing site, allowing the vehicle to orient itself to the landing site and providing information specific to the landing site. Position and velocity in relation to a landing site can be determined using at least one radar and a guidance and landing system. Using the position and velocity information, the guidance and landing system can guide the vehicle to and from the landing site and/or determine whether an obstacle requires the use of an alternate landing site.
Claims14
A method of landing and taking off a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle, the method comprising:
- emitting, from the VTOL vehicle, at least one radar signal towards a landing site;
- receiving, at the VTOL vehicle, at least one radar return signal reflected from a reflective symbol at the landing site;
- determining a guidance vector, a distance, and a velocity of the VTOL vehicle with respect to the landing site using the at least one radar return signal of the reflective symbol;
- guiding the VTOL vehicle to vertically land on or vertically take off from the landing site using the guidance vector, the distance, and the velocity;
- receiving, at the VTOL vehicle, at least one radar return signal reflected from a data symbol at the landing site;
- comparing the at least one radar return signal of the data symbol to a symbol database;
- and
- from an entry in the symbol database corresponding to the data symbol, obtaining, from the symbol database, at least one of:
- dimensions of the reflective symbol, landing instructions, and takeoff instructions;
- wherein guiding the VTOL vehicle further comprises guiding the VTOL vehicle using the at least one of:
- the dimensions of the reflective symbol, the landing instructions, and the takeoff instructions, wherein the takeoff instructions are configured to be used to guide the VTOL vehicle to vertically take off from the landing site, and wherein the landing instructions are configured to be used to guide the VTOL vehicle to vertically land at the landing site.
8 more elements
A system, comprising:
- at least one radar system, configured to be affixed to a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle and configured to emit radar signals and receive at least one radar return signal from a reflective symbol at a landing site;
- processing circuitry configured to be affixed to the VTOL vehicle and configured to process the at least one radar return signal to generate at least one radar return image, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine a guidance vector, a distance, and a velocity of the VTOL vehicle with respect to the landing site based upon the at least one radar return image, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to be used to guide the VTOL vehicle to vertically land on or vertically take off from the landing site using the guidance vector, the distance, and the velocity;
- and
- wherein the processing circuitry further comprises a symbol database comprising entries wherein each entry corresponds to a data symbol at a specific landing site, wherein each entry comprises information of at least one of:
- dimensions of the reflective symbol, an identification of the landing site, takeoff instructions, and landing instructions, wherein the takeoff instructions are configured to be used to guide the VTOL vehicle to vertically take off from the landing site, and wherein the landing instructions are configured to be used to guide the VTOL vehicle to vertically land at the landing site;
- wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to guide the VTOL vehicle using the at least one of:
- the dimensions of the reflective symbol, and the takeoff instructions, and the landing instructions.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- a landing site for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle;
- a reflective symbol on the landing site, wherein the reflective symbol comprises a radar reflective material in a pattern and is configured to be used guide the VTOL vehicle to vertically land on or vertically take off from the landing site;
- and
- a data symbol on the landing site, wherein the data symbol comprises the radar reflective material and is configured to identify the landing site;
- wherein the data symbol corresponds to an entry in a symbol database comprising at least one of:
- dimensions of the reflective symbol, takeoff instructions, and landing instructions, wherein the takeoff instructions are configured to be used to guide the VTOL vehicle to vertically take off from the landing site, and wherein the landing instructions are configured to be used to guide the VTOL vehicle to vertically land at the landing site.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.