Vertiport and associated method for enhancing stability and attenuating noise during an aircraft landing and takeoff
AssigneeAurora Flight Sciences Corporation
InventorsShekhar Mahadev Sarpotdar, Yahia A. Ismail
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Abstract
A vertiport for an aircraft. The vertiport includes a landing platform that includes a landing surface and a plurality of primary through-openings, wherein the landing platform at least partially defines a primary chamber subjacent to the landing platform, the primary chambering having a primary chamber volume, and wherein the plurality of primary through-openings are in fluid communication with the primary chamber. The disclosed vertiport further includes an air moving unit positioned to withdraw air from the primary chamber.
Claims23
A vertiport for an aircraft, said vertiport comprising:
- a landing platform comprising a landing surface and a plurality of primary through-openings, wherein said landing platform at least partially defines a primary chamber subjacent to said landing platform, said primary chamber having a primary chamber volume, and wherein said plurality of primary through-openings are in fluid communication with said primary chamber;
- an air moving unit positioned to withdraw air from said primary chamber;
- and
- at least one actuator connected to said landing platform to move said landing platform along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to said landing surface of said landing platform, thereby controlling a depth of said primary chamber.
A vertiport for an aircraft, said vertiport comprising:
- a landing platform comprising a landing surface and a plurality of primary through-openings, wherein said landing platform at least partially defines a primary chamber subjacent to said landing platform, said primary chamber having a primary chamber volume, and wherein said plurality of primary through-openings are in fluid communication with said primary chamber;
- a plurality of acoustic resonators received in said primary chamber, each acoustic resonator of said plurality of acoustic resonators comprises a secondary chamber and a secondary through-opening in fluid communication with said secondary chamber;
- and
- a plurality of air moving units positioned at least partially within said primary chamber, wherein said plurality of air moving units establish an airflow that moves vertically downward through said plurality of primary through-openings into said primary chamber and laterally outward from said primary chamber.
A method for enhancing stability of an aircraft, said method comprising:
- establishing an airflow through a landing platform and into a primary chamber subjacent to said landing platform;
- redirecting said airflow outward from said primary chamber;
- and
- selectively controlling a depth of said primary chamber by linearly moving said landing platform along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a landing surface of said landing platform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.