Borealis Technical Limited

Rodney Thomas Cox

Isaiah Watas Cox

Jonathan Sidney Edelson

Joseph J Cox

Joseph Goldman

Jan Vana

Avto Tavkhelidze

Hans Juergen Walitzki

Robert M Sweet

Neal Gilleran

Zaza Taliashvili

Aaron Z Sichel

Nechama Cox

Leri Tsakadze

Joseph Jeremiah Cox

Amiran Bibilashvili

Larissa Jangidze

David A Palmer

Lasha Vardosanidze

A method is provided for adding available takeoff and landing slots when aircraft designed for long haul flight are moved quietly and efficiently on the ground without operation of aircraft engines at airports with slot controls and airports that are constrained from operation at certain times by curfews that limit operating hours for these long haul aircraft. Long haul aircraft are powered and driven by onboard non-engine drive means or moved manually or automatically by tugs, tow vehicles, or other transfer apparatus to arrive at a runway before expiration of a morning curfew and to be ready for takeoff as soon as curfew is lifted. Long haul aircraft may land immediately before an evening curfew starts and to move without engines to an airport arrival location after evening curfew starts, effectively expanding and increasing the number of available takeoff and landing slots for long haul aircraft.

Method for adding value to operation of long haul aircraft

A method for maintaining a supply of available aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means for autonomous ground movement is provided that enables an air carrier, particularly a low cost carrier, to operate reliably, efficiently, and economically to provide substantially uninterrupted air transport service. The present method is designed to enable airlines with fleets of older aircraft retrofitted with non-engine drive means for autonomous ground movement to operate economically and efficiently through a cooperative arrangement with a maintenance, repair, and overhaul provider that maintains and ensures an available supply network of spare and backup aircraft. The supply network may be global in geographic scope and may provide spare or backup aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means to one or more airlines.

Method for maintaining a supply of available aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means for use by airlines

A training system and method for operating aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means during independent ground travel is provided. The system and method of the present invention is designed specifically to train pilots, ground personnel, and air traffic control to move an aircraft safely and efficiently on the ground during taxi and pushback using the aircraft's non-engine drive means to propel the aircraft independently during ground travel. Simulations and procedures for training pilots and ramp personnel in the conduct of pushback operations and forward taxi with an aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means are also provided.

Training system and simulation method for ground travel in aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means

A method for reducing aircraft turnaround time by improving airport ramp safety is provided. The method minimizes the time interval between an aircraft's landing and takeoff by independently moving the aircraft on the ground without the aircraft's engines by eliminating hazards from jet blast, the possibility of engine ingestion, and the time previously required to wait in the gate area upon arrival or at departure until jet blast or engine ingestion did not pose a danger. Turnaround time is further reduced by providing an onboard driver controllable to drive at least one of the aircraft's wheels between landing and takeoff, thereby eliminating the need for a tow vehicle and the time required to move the aircraft with a tow vehicle.

Method for reducing aircraft turnaround time by improving ramp safety

A surface travel system for military aircraft is provided that enables efficient, quiet, and safe ground operations of one or more aircraft in a wide range of military missions and operations. The surface travel system includes controllable onboard drive means that effectively drives one or more of the aircraft's wheels to move the aircraft autonomously, efficiently, quietly, and safely on any travel surface required for a military mission. The present invention allows the rapid safe deployment of multiple aircraft from tight spaces and enhances the readiness and availability of aircraft for a wide range of military operations.

Surface travel system for military aircraft

A method for increasing and optimizing the value of airport terminal exterior advertising is provided that significantly increases exposure of exterior advertising displays on the airside or non-public side of an airport terminal to passengers on arriving, parked, and departing aircraft. The movement of aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means on landing gear wheels for autonomous ground movement is controlled within an airport ramp area so that the aircraft moves in only a forward direction toward and away from a terminal parking place and parks in an orientation parallel to the terminal. The direction and orientation of aircraft ground travel and parking parallel to a terminal enhances and improves the visibility of exterior advertising displays to a maximum percentage of the passengers in the aircraft as the aircraft travels within the ramp area and parks between arrival and departure.

Method for increasing value of airport terminal exterior advertising

An improved monitoring and control system capable of providing automatic control of ground movement in an aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means for autonomous ground movement to enhance airport ground safety and efficient ground travel is provided. The monitoring and control system is installed on aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means controllable to move the aircraft autonomously on the ground and includes monitoring means positioned in locations on the aircraft selected to obtain a maximum amount of information relating to an aircraft's ground position and operation, processor means, data transmission means, and manual or automatic control means to control and direct operation of an aircraft's non-engine drive means to move the aircraft autonomously, safely and efficiently on the ground. The improved monitoring and control system can be employed with one or a number of aircraft simultaneously to increase safety and efficiency of airport ground operations.

Monitoring and control system for enhancing ground movement safety in aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means

A system and method for setting, controlling, or maintaining a selected taxi speed and route for one or more aircraft equipped with an onboard non-engine powered drive means powering one or more aircraft wheels to move the aircraft during taxi is provided. Taxi speed and/or route can be set, maintained, or controlled by the aircraft pilot or ground traffic control in conjunction with taxi speed and travel of other aircraft and ground vehicles. A pilot activates a speed control to set and control taxi speed. The aircraft will automatically travel on the ground at that speed without input from the pilot until it is necessary to change the speed manually or automatically. Airport ground traffic control can generate taxi profiles for all non-engine driven aircraft to automatically control, subject to pilot capability to override, the taxi of multiple aircraft at an airport in conjunction with ground vehicle movement.

System and method for maintaining aircraft ground travel speed and direction

A controllable aircraft taxi system is provided that enables the simultaneous control of aircraft autonomous ground movement and direction of aircraft autonomous ground movement. Independently controlled non-engine drive means capable of driving an aircraft landing gear wheel to move an aircraft autonomously on the ground without reliance on the aircraft's main engines are mounted to provide driving torque to aircraft a selected number of main landing gear wheels. The aircraft nose landing gear steering system is provided with steering angle detection and measurement means adapted to communicate with main landing gear wheel non-engine drive means, enabling simultaneous control over both autonomous aircraft ground travel and direction of autonomous aircraft ground travel. The present invention overcomes steering challenges presented by using non-engine drive means on main landing gear wheels to drive aircraft autonomously during taxi.

Control of ground travel and steering in an aircraft with powered main gear drive wheels

A method for improving ground movement capability and enhancing stealth in unmanned aerial vehicles is provided. The present method comprises providing, in an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with wheels, one or more onboard drive means capable of translating torque through the vehicle wheels and controllable to move the unmanned aerial vehicle on the ground without reliance on the unmanned aerial vehicle main motive power source. The onboard drive means is controllably powered by a power source with substantially no acoustic signature to move the unmanned aerial vehicle quietly on the ground with only a minimal audible or visible footprint. This method provides a significant expansion of ground movement capability and expands the potential ground uses of unmanned aerial vehicles, particularly in military applications. The present method can also be applied to move any manned aerial vehicle or aircraft on the ground with only minimal audible or visible footprints.

Method for improving ground travel capability and enhancing stealth in unmanned aerial vehicles

A system and method are provided for defining, optimizing, and controlling taxi profiles for aircraft equipped with onboard non-engine drive means controllable to drive one or more nose or main landing gear wheels to drive an aircraft autonomously during taxi. An onboard taxi profile control system may employ smart software to determine selected taxi operational data at an airport and use this data to control and maintain torque of the drive means at desired selected levels that move the aircraft during taxi in response to determined taxi data or predetermined programmed taxi parameters. The system is designed to set default taxi profiles for each taxi cycle to achieve efficient aircraft taxi and to extend operational life of drive means components. Taxi profiles are modified and updated at periodic intervals or in real time in response to actual taxi conditions to optimize aircraft taxi at a specific airport.

Method for defining and controlling aircraft taxi profile

A system is provided for dissipating heat in an onboard non-engine powered aircraft wheel drive assembly with drive means that power one or more aircraft wheels to drive the aircraft autonomously on the ground without directly using the aircraft engines. The heat dissipation system is integral with a wheel drive assembly mounted substantially completely within a nose or main landing gear wheel. A reservoir mounted outboard or inboard of the wheel drive assembly increases thermal distribution mass and fluidically communicates with wheel drive assembly components to automatically circulate heat transfer fluid between the wheel drive assembly and the reservoir when the operating temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum temperature during aircraft ground travel. The heat dissipating system can be retrofitted in an existing aircraft to improve thermal distribution and prolong wheel drive assembly and drive means operation and useful life.

Heat dissipation system for aircraft drive wheel drive assembly

An improved aircraft gate parking and servicing method is provided, wherein an aircraft is maneuvered into an airport terminal gate and parked in an optimum orientation at an angle that facilitates maximum access to aircraft front and rear doors. Boarding bridges are designed to facilitate connection to doors located rear of an aircraft wing without extending over the aircraft wing to maximize efficiency of passenger transfer. Passenger transfer and servicing of the aircraft may occur concurrently before the aircraft is maneuvered out of its optimum orientation in the parking space and driven to a takeoff runway for departure. Required safety margins are maintained at all times during aircraft maneuvers into and out of the optimum parking orientation. Stairs may be provided to simultaneously access aircraft doors not connected to boarding bridges. In a preferred embodiment, aircraft are moved to an optimum parking location by engines-off electric taxi systems.

Aircraft gate parking and servicing method

A traction control system and method are provided for an aircraft equipped with a ground travel drive system with drive wheels powered by onboard wheel drive means that are capable of translating torque through the aircraft drive wheels and that are automatically controllable to control traction without reliance on the aircraft's brakes to keep the aircraft moving efficiently and autonomously on the ground under a range of environmental conditions.

Growing community of inventors

North Plains, OR, United States of America

Rodney Thomas Cox