Vertiport having damping material covering portion of base surface of launching platform
A vertiport is disclosed. The vertiport includes a launching platform having a base surface and a damping material such that the damping material covers at least a portion of the base surface.
1 . A vertiport for an aircraft, the vertiport comprising:
a launching platform comprising a base surface and a damping material, wherein the damping material covers at least a portion of the base surface, and wherein the damping material comprises:
a base material, wherein the base material is a rubber material selected to reduce deformation with use; and
a filling material inserted into the base material such that the base material substantially surrounds or encloses the filling material, wherein the filling material is an acoustically absorbing material.
2 . The vertiport of claim 1 , wherein the base surface has a shape comprising at least one of: a cylindrical shape, a rectangular shape, a cubical shape, a conical-frustum shape, and a trapezoidal shape.
3 . The vertiport of claim 1 , wherein the base surface has a material composition comprising at least one of: clay, concrete, cement, stone, pavement, and metal.
4 . The vertiport of claim 1 , wherein the damping material has an acoustically varying impedance across the length of the base material.
5 . The vertiport of claim 1 , wherein the damping material further comprises a stiffness to damping ratio such that the base material is configured to support passenger ingress to and egress from an aircraft on the vertiport.
6 . The vertiport of claim 1 , wherein the rubber material comprises a natural rubber.
7 . The vertiport of claim 1 , wherein the damping material has a constant thickness across the portion of the base surface covered by the damping material.
8 . The vertiport of claim 1 , wherein the damping material has a variable thickness across the portion of the base surface covered by the damping material.
9 . The vertiport of claim 8 , wherein the variable thickness of the damping material comprises a thickness that is greater towards a radially outward distance from a center of the base surface.
10 . The vertiport of claim 1 , further comprising a supporting structure, wherein the supporting structure supports at least a portion of the launching platform.
11 . The vertiport of claim 10 , wherein one or more damping pads is applied to the supporting structure.
12 . The vertiport of claim 10 , wherein the supporting structure is external to the launching platform.
13 . A method of moving an aircraft with respect to a launching platform of a vertiport, wherein the launching platform comprises a base surface and a damping material, and wherein the damping material covers at least a portion of the base surface, the method comprising:
moving the aircraft with respect to the launching platform, such that the damping material reduces noise from the aircraft, and wherein the damping material comprises:
a base material, wherein the base material is a rubber material selected to reduce deformation with use; and
a filling material inserted into the base material such that the base material substantially surrounds or encloses the filling material, wherein the filling material is an acoustically absorbing material.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the damping material absorbs noise from the aircraft.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the moving the aircraft comprises landing the aircraft on the launching platform, such that the damping material reduces noise from the aircraft during landing.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the moving the aircraft comprises the aircraft taking off from the launching platform, such that the damping material reduces noise from the aircraft during takeoff.
17 . A vertiport for an aircraft, the vertiport comprising:
an infrastructure;
a support surface extending above the infrastructure; and
a launching platform installed on a top of the support surface comprising a base surface and a damping material, wherein the damping material covers at least a portion of the base surface, and wherein the damping material comprises:
a base material, wherein the base material is a rubber material selected to reduce deformation with use; and
a filling material inserted into the base material such that the base material substantially surrounds or encloses the filling material, wherein the filling material is an acoustically absorbing material.
18 . The vertiport of claim 17 , wherein the infrastructure comprises a substantially rounded structure, and wherein the support surface extends upwards from a central portion of the substantially rounded structure of the infrastructure.
19 . The vertiport of claim 17 , wherein the infrastructure comprises a floating structure in a water-based environment.
20 . The vertiport of claim 17 , wherein the infrastructure comprises an elevated structure on a roof of a building in an environment.
21 . The vertiport of claim 1 , wherein the damping material has a thickness between 1 to 5 inches.