US 11,987,402 B2
Vertical air vehicle takeoff and landing stabilization apparatuses, systems, and methods
Wayne Richard Howe, Irvine, CA (US); and Terrance Mason, Pasadena, CA (US)
Assigned to THE BOEING COMPANY, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/588,438.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/167,199, filed on Mar. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0306284 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64U 70/70 (2023.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 70/30 (2023.01)
CPC B64U 70/70 (2023.01) [B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 70/30 (2023.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for stabilizing takeoff and landing of a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a vertically-oriented support element, said vertically-oriented support element comprising:
a vertically-oriented support element first end proximate to a base; and
a vertically-oriented support element second end located at a distance away from the vertically-oriented support element first end, said vertically-oriented support element extending from the vertically-oriented support element first end to the vertically-oriented support element second end, said vertically-oriented support element further comprising at least one first cooperating stabilizer element proximate to the vertically-oriented support element second end;
an enclosure, said enclosure dimensioned to substantially surround the 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 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 at least one moveable enclosure panel configured to open during the VTOL vehicle landing to mitigate ground effect turbulence within the apparatus; and
wherein the at least one first cooperating stabilizer element comprises at least one of: a male attachment portion and a female attachment portion.