Aerodrome system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11113979-B2
Application number	US-201916429156-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2019
Priority date	Jun 28, 2018
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

An aerodrome system for an aerodrome is provided. The aerodrome system comprises a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light from a surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and manoeuvre; and a controller operatively coupled to each of the light emitting elements so as to selectively control the light emitting elements, wherein the light emitting elements form pixels of a display and the controller is configured to control an image displayed by the display so as to display and demarcate at least one runway for aircraft to take-off or land, wherein the light emitting elements are spaced such that the controller may display the runway with a variable orientation and the controller is further configured to change the image displayed by the display so as to change the orientation of the runway.

First claim

I claim:

1. An aerodrome system for an aerodrome, the aerodrome system comprising:
a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light from a surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and maneuver; and
a controller operatively coupled to each of the light emitting elements so as to selectively control the light emitting elements to emit light of a first color in a first direction along a runway and light of a different color in an opposite direction,
wherein the light emitting elements form pixels of a display,
wherein the controller is configured to control an image displayed by the display so as to display and demarcate a pair of runways for aircraft to take-off or land,
wherein the light emitting elements are spaced and have a density such that the controller may display the runways with a continuously variable orientation,
wherein the controller is further configured to change the image displayed by the display so as to dynamically change the orientation of the runways and to realign the runways in response to a wind direction.

2. The aerodrome system of claim 1 , wherein the aerodrome system further comprises a plurality of tiles, wherein each of the tiles is configured to form the surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and maneuver, and wherein each of the tiles comprises at least one of the light emitting elements.

3. The aerodrome system of claim 2 , wherein each of the tiles comprises a plurality of light emitting elements and the light emitting elements of a particular tile are configured to display different colors.

4. The aerodrome system of claim 2 , wherein each of the tiles is configured to simultaneously display multiple colors or a single color.

5. The aerodrome system of claim 2 , wherein each tile is operatively coupled to a plurality of neighboring tiles so as to form a mesh network of tiles.

6. The aerodrome system of claim 2 , wherein a top surface of each of the tiles is flat.

7. The aerodrome system of claim 1 , wherein the runways are provided either side of a terminal for receiving aircraft.

8. The aerodrome system of claim 1 , wherein the runways are parallel with respect to each other and are spaced from each other.

9. The aerodrome system of claim 1 , wherein the aerodrome is an aerodrome for short take-off and landing aircraft and/or vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

10. The aerodrome system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is operatively coupled to an air traffic control system and the controller is configured to change the orientation of the runways at an appropriate time determined from flight data from the air traffic control system.

11. The aerodrome system of claim 1 , wherein the aerodrome system further comprises a plurality of sensors distributable over the surface of the aerodrome so as to determine the location of aircraft on the aerodrome surface.

12. The aerodrome system of claim 11 , wherein the sensors are operatively coupled to the controller and the controller is configured to provide feedback to an aircraft providing positional data of the aircraft from the sensors during a landing event.

13. An aerodrome comprising the aerodrome system of claim 1 .

14. The aerodrome of claim 13 , wherein the aerodrome is elevated above ground level.

15. The aerodrome of claim 13 , wherein the light emitting elements are arranged so as to form a circular perimeter of the surface.

16. The aerodrome of claim 13 , wherein the light emitting elements are arranged so as to surround a terminal for receiving aircraft.

17. A method of displaying an aerodrome, the method comprising:
displaying and demarcating a pair of runways for aircraft to take-off or land using a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light from a surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and maneuver, the light emitting elements emit light of a first color in a first direction along a runway and light of a different color in an opposite direction, and
wherein the light emitting elements form pixels of a display, the light emitting elements being spaced and having a density such that the runways have a continuously variable orientation; and
controlling the light emitting elements so as to change the image displayed by the display and dynamically change the orientation of the runways and to realign the runways in response to a wind direction.

18. A controller for controlling display of an aerodrome, the controller being configured to:
display and demarcate a pair of runways for aircraft to take-off or land using a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light from a surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and maneuver, the light emitting elements emit light of a first color in a first direction along a runway and light of a different color in an opposite direction, and wherein the light emitting elements form pixels of a display, the light emitting elements being spaced and having a density such that the runways are displayed with a continuously variable orientation; and
control the light emitting elements so as to change the image displayed by the display and dynamically change the orientation of the runways and realign the runways in response to a wind direction.

19. An aerodrome system for an aerodrome, the aerodrome system comprising:
a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light from a surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and maneuver; and
a controller operatively coupled to each of the light emitting elements so as to selectively control the light emitting elements to emit light of a first color in a first direction along a runway and light of a different color in an opposite direction,
wherein the light emitting elements form pixels of a display,
wherein the controller is configured to control an image displayed by the display so as to display and demarcate a pair of runways for aircraft to take-off or land,
wherein the light emitting elements are spaced such that the controller may display the runways with a variable orientation,
wherein the controller is further configured to change the image displayed by the display so as to dynamically change the orientation of the runways and to realign the runways in response to a wind direction, the runways being differently oriented by the light emitting elements illuminating, turning off or changing color, with each of the runways having distinct light emitting elements controlled by the controller.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Plc

Inventors

• Moxon Matthew

Classifications

• G08G5/26

  Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations · CPC title

• G08G5/51

  for control when on the ground, e.g. taxiing or rolling · CPC title

• G08G5/22

  located on the ground · CPC title

• G08G5/54 Primary

  for approach or landing · CPC title

• G08G5/55

  for a single aircraft · CPC title