Systems and methods for an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft braking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12214868-B2
Application number	US-202318203857-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2023
Priority date	Apr 28, 2022
Publication date	Feb 4, 2025
Grant date	Feb 4, 2025

Abstract

Braking systems and methods for an electrical vertical takeoff and landing aircraft are provided. A braking system may contain a pilot control device, brakes, wheels, sensors, and a controller. Pilot controls the pilot control device to transmit information to the controller such that the aircraft will slow down.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a braking system, the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft comprising:
a wheel configured to allow rolling motion of the aircraft on a ground;
a brake configured to resist rotation of the wheel, wherein the brake comprises a caliper that is configured to resist a rotation of the wheel;
a pilot control device, the pilot control device configured to:
detect a measured pilot input, the measured pilot input comprising selective braking by the brake to steer the aircraft while the aircraft is in motion on the ground; and
generate a pilot datum as a function of the measured pilot input;

a controller communicatively connected to the aircraft and the pilot control device, the controller configured to:
receive the pilot datum from the pilot control device;
generate an action command based on the pilot datum; and
transmit the action command to a control surface.

2. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the control surface further comprises at least an actuator.

3. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the control surface further comprises a flight component.

4. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the pilot control device comprises of a brake pedal.

5. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the pilot control device comprises a rudder pedal.

6. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the pilot control device comprises a sensor configured to detect a position of a pedal.

7. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a geospatial location of the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

8. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 7 , wherein the sensor is further configured to determine an orientation of the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft relative to a landing surface.

9. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 8 , wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

10. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the wheel comprises a plurality of wheels.

11. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the brake allows for steering of the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft through the selective braking of the wheels.

12. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the brake includes a regenerative brake configured to generate electrical energy.

13. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the controller activates braking when a forward rolling motion above a predetermined threshold is detected.

14. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the controller activates braking when a backward rolling motion above a predetermined threshold is detected.

15. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the wheel comprises an elastomeric material.

16. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the wheel comprises:
an inboard wheel rim;
an outboard wheel rim; and
an O-ring, wherein the O-ring is positioned between the inboard wheel rim and the outboard wheel rim to create a sealed connection.

17. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the brake comprises a brake pad configured to interact with the caliper to resist motion of the wheel.

18. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 17 , wherein the wheel further comprises a pressure sensor configured to determine a force applied by the caliper to the brake pad.

19. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 17 , wherein the brake pad is positioned by an inner surface of the wheel.

20. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the measured pilot input comprises a plurality of maneuver data of the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

Assignees

• Beta Air Llc

Inventors

• Ferrier Lochie
• Griffin Riley Clinton

Classifications

• B64C25/48 Primary

  differentially operated for steering purposes · CPC title

• B60T8/1703 Primary

  for aircrafts · CPC title

• B64C25/52

  Skis or runners · CPC title

• Y02T50/80

  Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management · CPC title

• B64C25/50

  Steerable undercarriages; Shimmy-damping · CPC title