Auto Levelling Helipad for Naval Operations

Abstract

Helicopter take-offs and landings are essential for many missions in naval operations, such as logistics, search, and rescue. On the other hand, rough waves have the potential to tilt a ship's deck, which increases the risk of helicopter operations. This problem is addressed by the auto-levelling helipad, which makes sure that the helipad surface stays level despite the ship's motions due to turbulence and waves. The system continuously monitors the rolling, pitching movements and orientation of the ship and makes real-time adjustments to the helipad using a combination of sensors, gyroscopic stabilization, and hydraulic or electromechanical actuators. This auto levelling helipad improves the safety and operational effectiveness of naval operations by enabling helicopters to land and take off safely even in difficult sea conditions. This solution offers several advantages over conventional helipads, including a lower accident rate and reduces the landing and take-off duration. This invention provides a flexible and dependable solution for modern naval aviation needs. It can be customized for different vessel configurations and is applicable to navy ships of different sizes

Specification

Description:FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] The invention pertains to the field of marine engineering and naval aviation. It is specifically concerned with the planning and execution of stabilization systems for naval ship helipads. This innovation aims to solve the difficulties caused by rough seas in order to improve the safety and dependability of helicopter operations on ships. It improves operational efficiency and safety in coastal environments by combining the principles of mechanical engineering, control systems, and aerospace technology to provide a stable landing and take-off platform.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
[002] The invention with patent title named "Helicopter self-leveling landing gear" describes a landing gear system for a helicopter which consists of two curved track members positioned in parallel planes, perpendicular to the helicopter's longitudinal axis. Skids are attached to the downwardly extending ends of the curved track members. A base frame within the helicopter is designed to accommodate the curved track members, allowing them to move through the base. This movement ensures that the helicopter remains level, even when one landing skid is higher than the other due to uneven terrain. Once the helicopter is level, the curved track members can be locked in place within the base frame, providing stable support on the uneven surface.
[003] The "Helicopter Landing Pad" patent features a platform equipped with one or more elongated, concave guiding channels designed to align a helicopter upon landing by directing its skids into a precise position. The guiding channels may include lateral rollers or be constructed from a slick material, allowing the helicopter to slide towards the base of the channel using its own weight. Additional crosswise rollers at the bottom of the channels enable the helicopter to be moved forward or backward after landing. A blade-locking arm swings upwards to secure the top rotor. The pad may also feature a foldable enclosure to protect the helicopter after landing and an electronic guidance system that assists the pilot during landing. This system provides instructions or visual cues, such as illuminated signals, indicating wind direction and speed.
[004] The invention titled "Portable Helipad" describes a portable landing platform designed for use on rough terrain and capable of being transported fully assembled by a helicopter. The helipad's deck is supported by legs extending downward from the platform, with leg braces connecting the legs to brackets located in specific attachment zones on the underside of the deck. The helicopter can securely attach to and release the helipad for transport. The legs and their braces are preferably adjustable, allowing the deck to be leveled on uneven surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] The system is an auto-levelling helipad system for use on naval ships that is intended to keep the landing platform steady even when the ship moves around in rough seas. The system continuously monitors the orientation of the ship using sensors, gyroscopes, and accelerometers. It then uses hydraulic or electromechanical actuators to real-time adjust the helipad's position. This improves helicopter operations' safety and effectiveness while handling a range of ship sizes and conditions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS:
[006] The description of the illustrative embodiments is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:
[007] Figure 1 illustrates the conceptual design of auto levelling helipad consists of universal joint at both the ends of the each hydraulic piston and cylinder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[008] The developed prototype of the system comprises three essential components: the 6DOF platform, the Gyro/Accelerometer sensor, and the controller. The 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) platform, also known as the Stewart platform, is renowned for its ability to move in all six degrees of freedom. It consists of three layers: the top layer, the actuating layer, and the bottom layer. The top layer serves as the landing area for the helicopter. The actuating layer, which includes six actuators (electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic), controls the orientation of the top layer and acts as a bridge between the top and bottom layers. In this analysis, servo-based actuators were utilized. The bottom layer is fixed to the base of the ship.
[009] Helicopter landing and take-off are conducted on helipad platforms. It offers a level playing surface for safer helicopter operations. The main component that keeps the helipad in place is called the support structure. It is a strong, rigid platform made to mount the helipad firmly. The forces produced by the weight of the helicopter and the changes made to the hydraulic actuators are absorbed and distributed by the support structure. Precise levelling movements are made possible by the structure's efficient transfer of actuation to the helipad. The support structure also ensures steadiness by damping shocks and vibrations.
[010] Universal joint allows for flexible angular and rotational movement. It connects the hydraulic actuator and the base plate, as well as to the support structure of the helipad. This configuration ensures that the hydraulic actuators can smoothly transmit their force to change the helipad's position while maintaining a high degree of flexibility in all directions.
[011] Hydraulic Actuator is the main moving parts of the system. The control unit sends impulses to these actuators, which change the helipad's position. They supply the necessary power to enable fast and precise changes, maintaining the helipad's stability.
[012] The Gyro/Accelerometer sensor detects even the slightest tilt or movement and converts it into electrical signals. The gyroscope measures rotational movements along the x, y, and z axes, while the accelerometer measures linear movements along these same axes. The controller's role is to interpret the data provided by the Gyro/Accelerometer and generate the appropriate signals to control all six actuators, ensuring the system responds accurately to maintain stability.
[013] The ship's motion is monitored by sensors like gyroscopes and accelerometers, which detect changes in pitch and roll. The sensor data is processed by a control system that calculates adjustments to maintain the helipad level. The hydraulic actuators, which receive commands, extend, or retract as needed, allowing for smooth adjustments. The support structure responds to the helipad's movement, ensuring a stable landing surface. The system operates in real-time, continuously adjusting to maintain the helipad level, even in rough sea conditions, ensuring safe helicopter landings and take-offs. This system ensures safe landings and take-offs even in rough sea conditions. , C , Claims:1. A self-levelling helipad system comprising:
• A six-degree-of-freedom platform (6DOF) with a top layer, an actuating layer, and a bottom layer; the actuating layer has six actuators to control the top layer's orientation, and the top layer acts as a landing pad for a helicopter;
• A structural support structure that provides stability and evenly distributes stresses produced by the weight of the helicopter and the operation of the hydraulic actuators, thereby holding the helipad firmly in position;
• Universal joints, which are found at each actuator's ends and provide rotation and angular movement to provide flexible actuation force transmission;
• A set of hydraulic actuators that are managed by a control unit to adjust the position of the helipad in real-time;
• A Gyro/Accelerometer sensor, which gives the controller information to keep the landing surface level by detecting changes in the helipad's pitch, roll, and linear movement.
2. The helipad system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic actuators are set up to maintain the top layer of the platform level in real-time by extending or retracting in response to sensor inputs.
3. The helipad system of claim 1, wherein the universal joints' multidirectional flexibility enables smooth helipad position adjustment without placing undue strain on the actuators or support structure.
4. The helipad system of claim 1, wherein the support structure is designed to dampen shocks and vibrations, providing a safe landing and takeoff platform for helicopters even in challenging weather circumstances, as those at sea.
5. The helipad system of claim 1, wherein the Gyro/Accelerometer sensor offers real-time feedback on the helipad's orientation and movement, allowing the control system to precisely adjust the hydraulic actuators for continuous stability under dynamic environmental conditions.
6. The helipad system of claim 1, wherein the actuating layer is made up of servo-based actuators that allow for quick and accurate motions to change the position of the top layer.
7. A method for levelling a helicopter landing platform, comprising:
• Monitoring the motion of the platform using a Gyro/Accelerometer sensor to detect pitch, roll, and linear movements;
• Processing sensor data with a controller to calculate necessary adjustments to maintain a level surface;
• Sending control signals to hydraulic actuators, causing them to extend or retract as needed to level the platform in response to detected movements;
• Using universal joints to allow angular and rotational flexibility during adjustments, ensuring smooth and accurate positioning of the helipad;
• Continuously adjusting the position of the platform in real-time to ensure safe landings and take-offs, even in challenging conditions such as rough seas.

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