Wing tip docking system for aircraft
View Patent ↗A system and method for docking various types of aircraft is disclosed. An aerodynamic lifting structure docking mechanism for docking two or more aircraft is provided comprising an aerodynamic lifting structure. The aerodynamic lifting structure includes a first and second airflow adjustment mechanism. The aerodynamic lifting structure further includes a first hard docking mechanism, and a second hard docking mechanism, and still further includes a soft docking mechanism. The first and second airflow adjustment mechanisms are configured to substantially remove any aerodynamic lifting structure vortices around each of the aerodynamic lifting structure tip areas. The soft docking mechanism is configured to soft dock a first aerodynamic lifting structure with a second aerodynamic lifting structure. The first hard docking mechanism is configured to hard dock with the second hard docking mechanism, thereby temporarily attaching the first aerodynamic lifting structure with the second aerodynamic lifting structure.
1. An aerodynamic lifting structure docking mechanism for docking together two or more aircraft, comprising:
an aerodynamic lifting structure, wherein the aerodynamic lifting structure includes
a first end area and a second end area,
a first airflow adjustment mechanism and a second airflow adjustment mechanism, wherein
the first airflow adjustment mechanism is located at the first end area of the aerodynamic lifting structure, and
the second airflow adjustment mechanism is located at the second end area of the aerodynamic lifting structure,
a first hard docking mechanism, wherein
the first hard docking mechanism is located at a tip area of the first end area of the aerodynamic lifting structure, and
a second hard docking mechanism, wherein
the second hard docking mechanism is located at a tip of the second end area of the aerodynamic lifting structure, and wherein,
the first airflow adjustment mechanism and the second airflow adjustment mechanism are configured to substantially move any aerodynamic lifting structure air vortices existing around each of the aerodynamic lifting structure tip areas away from each respective aerodynamic lifting structure tip area, and further wherein
the first hard docking mechanism and the second hard docking mechanism are configured to hard dock with each other, thereby docking a first aerodynamic lifting structure of a first aircraft with a second aerodynamic lifting structure of a second aircraft.
2. The aerodynamic lifting structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a soft docking mechanism, wherein
the soft docking mechanism is located at the first hard docking mechanism, and further wherein
the soft docking mechanism is configured to soft dock the first aerodynamic lifting structure with the second aerodynamic lifting structure when the first aerodynamic lifting structure and the second aerodynamic lifting structure are within a predetermined distance of each other.
3. The aerodynamic lifting structure according to claim 2 , wherein the soft docking mechanism is further configured to be extendable and retractable.
4. The aerodynamic lifting structure according to claim 2 , wherein the soft docking mechanism comprises a boom assembly.
5. The aerodynamic lifting structure according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined distance is less than or about the length of the first aircraft.
6. The aerodynamic lifting structure according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined distance is less than or about the length of the first aerodynamic lifting structure of the first aircraft.
7. The aerodynamic lifting structure according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined distance is less than or about half the length of the first aerodynamic lifting structure of the first aircraft.
8. The aerodynamic lifting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the aerodynamic lifting structure comprises:
a first wing on a first side of a fuselage of the first aircraft; and
a second wing on a second side of the fuselage.
9. The aerodynamic lifting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the aerodynamic lifting structure comprises a mono wing aircraft, with no fuselage separating the wing structure.
10. The aerodynamic lifting structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first airflow adjustment mechanism is configured to alter a surface configuration of the first end area of the aerodynamic lifting structure, and is thereby further configured to alter airflow over the first end area, and
the second airflow adjustment mechanism is configured to alter a surface configuration of the second end area of the aerodynamic lifting structure, and is thereby further configured to alter airflow over the second end area.
11. The aerodynamic lifting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the aircraft is a solar powered aircraft.
12. The aerodynamic lifting structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first hard docking mechanism includes a gripper portion, and
the second hard docking mechanism includes a controllable piston portion and a flexible rod, and wherein,
the controllable piston portion is configured to extend the flexible rod from the first aerodynamic lifting structure towards the gripper portion, and
the gripper portion is configured to grip the flexible rod, and
the controllable piston portion is further configured to retract the gripped flexible rod, thereby hard docking the first aircraft with the second aircraft.