Back to results
US 11,993,409 B2Granted
Vertical air vehicle takeoff and landing stabilization apparatuses, systems, and methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsWayne Richard Howe, Terrance Mason
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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. VTOL performance is further improved through the use of increased lift pressure and battery charging during takeoff.
Claims20
An apparatus for stabilizing takeoff and landing of a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one vertically-oriented support element, said at least one vertically-oriented support element comprising:
- a vertically-oriented support element first end, said vertically-oriented support element first end located proximate to a base;
- a vertically-oriented support element second end, said at least one vertically-oriented support element extending from the vertically-oriented support element first end to the vertically-oriented support element second end, said at least one vertically-oriented support element further comprising at least one first cooperating stabilizer element located proximate to the vertically-oriented support element second end;
- an enclosure comprising at least one moveable enclosure panel, said at least one moveable enclosure panel positioned proximate to the vertically-oriented support element first end, said enclosure further comprising an enclosure inner surface, said enclosure dimensioned to substantially surround the at least one vertically-oriented support element, said enclosure further dimensioned to completely surround the VTOL vehicle during at least one of VTOL vehicle takeoff and VTOL vehicle landing, said at least one moveable enclosure panel configured to open during the VTOL vehicle vertical takeoff and landing to mitigate ground effect turbulence within the apparatus;
- an electric charging element, said electric charging element in communication with a power supply, said electric charging element comprising at least one charging element charging contact, said at least one charging element charging contact in communication with at least one of a charging base, the at least one vertically-oriented support element, and the enclosure inner surface;
- and
- wherein the at least one first cooperating stabilizer element comprises at least one of a male attachment portion and a female attachment portion.
4 more elements
An apparatus for assisting a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle takeoff, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one vertically-oriented support element, said at least one vertically-oriented support element-having a vertically-oriented support element first end and a vertically-oriented support element second end, said vertically-oriented support element first end located proximate to a base, said vertically-oriented support element extending from the vertically-oriented support element first end to the vertically-oriented support element second end, said at least one vertically-oriented support element comprising a first cooperating stabilizer element, said first cooperating stabilizer element located proximate to the vertically-oriented support element second end;
- an enclosure, said enclosure comprising at least one moveable enclosure panel, said at least one moveable enclosure panel positioned proximate to the vertically-oriented support element first end, said enclosure dimensioned to substantially surround the at least one vertically-oriented support element, said enclosure comprising a conductive enclosure inner surface, said enclosure further dimensioned to completely surround the VTOL vehicle during at least one of VTOL vehicle takeoff and VTOL vehicle landing, said at least one moveable enclosure panel configured to open during the VTOL vehicle vertical takeoff and landing to mitigate ground effect turbulence within the apparatus;
- an electric charging element, said electric charging element in communication with a power supply, said electric charging element comprising at least one charging element charging contact, said at least one charging element charging contact in communication with at least one of a charging base, the at least one vertically-oriented support element, and the conductive enclosure inner surface;
- and
- a pressure detector;
- a controller in communication with the pressure detector;
- and
- a release mechanism in communication with the controller, said release mechanism configured to release the VTOL vehicle from a substantially stationary position within the enclosure.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.