US 12,437,659 B2
Aircraft auto landing system
Hideki Shibata, Cypress, CA (US)
Assigned to Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, Cypress, CA (US)
Filed by Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, Cypress, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/133,190.
Prior Publication US 2022/0198947 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. G08G 5/54 (2025.01); B64D 45/04 (2006.01); B64F 1/16 (2006.01); B64U 10/17 (2023.01); B64U 70/93 (2023.01); B64U 101/40 (2023.01); B64U 101/45 (2023.01)
CPC G08G 5/54 (2025.01) [B64D 45/04 (2013.01); B64F 1/16 (2013.01); B64U 10/17 (2023.01); B64U 70/93 (2023.01); B64U 2101/40 (2023.01); B64U 2101/45 (2023.01); B64U 2201/20 (2023.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft takeoff and landing system, comprising:
a landing platform, comprising:
a takeoff and landing pad having an upper surface configured for supporting an unmanned aircraft during before takeoff and after landing of the unmanned aircraft;
a first general position detection module configured to detect a first general position of the takeoff and landing pad and to output the detected first general position of the takeoff and landing pad to the unmanned aircraft;
a first local relative position detection module configured to detect a plurality of distances relative to a reference point associated with the unmanned aircraft, wherein each individual distance of the plurality of distances corresponds to one of a plurality of local relative position detection devices;
an aircraft configured to takeoff and land from the takeoff and landing pad, the aircraft comprising:
a propulsion system configured to propel the aircraft in powered flight;
a second general position detection module configured to detect a second general position of the unmanned aircraft during flight;
a second local relative position detection module configured to communicate with the first local relative position detection module and to detect a relative position between the aircraft and the takeoff and landing pad based on the detected plurality of distances;
a flight controller connected with the propulsion system and the second local relative position detection module, and configured to control the propulsion system to automatically land the aircraft at a reference point on the takeoff and landing pad based on the communication between the first and second local relative position detection modules; and
a plurality of linear actuators coupled to the upper surface, wherein the plurality of linear actuators are independently actuated for adjusting a pitch angle and a roll angle of the upper surface and for leveling the landing platform to maintain a horizontal orientation of the upper surface;
wherein the aircraft takeoff and landing system initiates a landing mode after the landing platform is level, wherein the landing mode is initiated in response to a confirmation that the landing platform is level.