CN117208267A - Active landing markers - Google Patents

Abstract

An active landing mark is provided that includes a housing, a cover plate, a marking plate, and an energy source. The cover plate is coupled to the housing, the cover plate being made of a polarized translucent material. The marking plate is positioned within the housing. The sign plate includes a plurality of selectively positionable energy absorbing portions and a plurality of energy transmitting portions. An energy source is included within the housing. The marker plate is positioned between the energy source and the cover plate. Energy radiated from the energy source passes through the energy transmitting portion of the marking plate and through the cover plate, thereby generating an active signal marking having a unique marking pattern. Active signal markers help the vehicle land during varying environmental conditions.

Description

Active landing markers

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from indian provisional application 202211033013 entitled "ACTIVE LANDING MARKER", filed on 6/9 of 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

Background

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for urban air traffic (UAM) operations. Accurate landing is critical for all aircraft including UAM/unmanned/electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. Under VFR, autonomous accurate landing guided by a marker-based landing (MBL) for UAM/drone/eVTOL vehicles requires clear daylight conditions. For MBL, markers with unique patterns are used to identify landing sites and provide guidance references for vehicle landing. An example of a unique pattern is the university of kordoow augmented reality (arucco) pattern.

Typically, printed landing marks of different sizes and patterns are positioned relative to each other at the landing site. Once the camera of the vehicle capturing the image in real time captures an image of the landing mark and the identity is verified, the vehicle uses the MBL algorithm to initiate and control the descent to the landing site or landing zone. The MBL algorithm provides a real-time position estimate that is used by the vehicle to control descent. For example, based on the image of the landing mark, the MBL algorithm may use the euler angle in the Northbound (NED) coordinate system and the Global Positioning Attitude Heading Reference System (GPAHRS) sensor fusion system to enable vertical and horizontal correction of the vehicle when achieving accurate landing of the vehicle.

Accurate landing is critical for all aircraft including UAM/unmanned/eVTOL vehicles. For these types of unmanned vehicles, the ability to perform accurate landing at a designated landing site is hindered by the inability to clearly detect landing indicia. The inability to clearly detect landing indicia may be due to environmental conditions such as dusk, dawn, night, smoke, fog, snow, rain, and the like.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that UAM operations will also be required to operate with Digital Flight Rules (DFR) including VFR and meter flight rules (IFR). The goal of the DFR is to provide all participating vehicle operators with safe and unrestricted access to airspace under all visibility, all weather conditions without incurring the operational flexibility limitations inherent to IFR or even VFR.

For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need for landing marks that can be used during varying environmental conditions.

Disclosure of Invention

The following summary is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. The summary is provided merely to aid the reader in understanding some aspects of the subject matter. Embodiments provide an active landing mark that generates a unique pattern that can be clearly identified during different environmental conditions.

In one embodiment, an active landing mark is provided that includes a housing, a cover plate, a marking plate, and an energy source. The cover plate is coupled to the housing, the cover plate being made of a polarized translucent material. The marking plate is positioned within the housing. The sign plate includes a plurality of selectively positionable energy absorbing portions and a plurality of energy transmitting portions. The energy source is contained within the housing. The marker plate is positioned between the energy source and the cover plate. Energy radiated from the energy source passes through the plurality of energy transmitting portions of the marking plate and through the cover plate, thereby generating an active signal marking having a unique marking pattern. Active signal markers help the vehicle land during varying environmental conditions.

In another embodiment, an active landing mark includes a housing, a cover plate, a marking plate, and at least one energy source. The cover plate is coupled to the housing. The cover plate is made of a polarized translucent material. The marking plate is positioned between the cover plate and the housing. The sign plate includes a plurality of selectively positionable energy absorbing portions and a plurality of energy transmitting portions. At least one energy source is positioned to direct energy to the marking plate. Energy radiated from the energy source is absorbed by the energy absorbing portion of the marking sheet and directed out of the cover sheet by the energy transmitting portion to generate an active signal marking having a unique marking pattern. Active signal markers help the vehicle land.

In yet another embodiment, a method of generating an active landing mark is provided. The method includes forming a unique pattern in a marking plate having a plurality of energy absorbing portions and a plurality of energy transmitting portions; generating energy absorbed by the energy absorbing portion and transmitted from the energy transmitting portion; and polarizing the transmitted energy to define a unique pattern with the transmitted energy that aids in landing the vehicle during varying environmental conditions.

Drawings

The application may be more readily understood and further advantages and uses of the application will become apparent when considered in the light of the detailed description and the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an active landing mark according to an exemplary aspect of the present application;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a marking plate according to an exemplary aspect of the present application;

FIG. 3 illustrates another block diagram of an active landing mark in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present application;

FIG. 4 illustrates yet another block diagram of an active landing mark in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present application;

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another block diagram of an active landing mark in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present application; and is also provided with

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a process for generating active landing indicia in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present application.

In accordance with common practice, the various features described are not necessarily drawn to scale, but are used to emphasize specific features relevant to the present application. Reference characters denote similar elements throughout the figures and text.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the application may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the application, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present application is defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

As described above, the current landing mark uses a print mark. Printed landing marks are passive marks in that they rely on ambient light reflected from the mark to provide identification of the unique identifier of the landing mark. Thus, passive landing marks are typically only available during daytime landing operations when there is sufficient ambient light.

Embodiments provide self-contained active landing markers. Active landing markers enable the use of the MBL system of the vehicle under all visibility conditions without incurring the operational flexibility limitations inherent to IFR and even VFR. In an embodiment, radiant energy from an energy source is used to form a unique marker pattern that is used by the vehicle to identify and perform accurate landing of the vehicle under varying environmental conditions.

In one example, the unique marking pattern is made of a marking sheet that includes an absorbing portion that absorbs energy from an energy source and an energy transmitting portion that radiates energy from the active landing mark. The radiated energy is detected by the system on the vehicle. The pattern produced by the energy identifies the associated landing site and provides a reference for the MBL system of the vehicle to help achieve an accurate landing at the landing site.

Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an active landing mark 100 of an exemplary embodiment. The active landing mark 100 includes a housing 102. The cover plate 104 is used to form a closed cavity 105 with the housing 102. In one example, the cover plate 104 is made of a translucent material that radiates energy 110 from an energy source located within the cavity 105 of the active landing mark 100. In one example, the cover plate 104 is made of a polarized material to radiate energy in only one selected direction to help define and identify the unique pattern generated by the active landing mark 100. In addition, in one example, the cover plate 104 is made of a translucent white polarized material. In yet another example, the cover plate 104 is made of a translucent amber polarizing material. In yet another embodiment, the cover plate 104 is made of a translucent polarized material having Near Infrared (NIR) characteristics that emits NIR light in response to NIR radiant energy from an energy source.

As described above, the cover plate may include a polarizing material. Unwanted reflections captured in the field of view of an image sensor (camera) on the vehicle can create problems when attempting to identify landing marks and implement MBL systems. This may occur, for example, due to bright sunlight reflected from bright areas or light-colored portions of the active landing mark 100. The polarizing material in the cover plate solves this problem. In one example, the polarizing material includes a linear polarizing film 103, such as, but not limited to, a dichroic film. In another example, a wire grid polarizer may be used. The polarizing material absorbs incident light oscillating in all planes except one (its polarization axis), thereby generating linear polarization. The linear polarization of a randomly polarized light source may also reduce the intensity of the light source by fifty percent to sixty-five percent. This allows the polarizing material to effectively homogenize the illumination level in the area of the illuminated area of the active landing mark 100. The cover sheet 104 may further include one of an antiglare coating 107 and a scratch resistant covering 109.

The energy source in the example shown in fig. 1 is an energy generating element such as, but not limited to, a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) 111,112, and 113. In this example, LEDs 111,112, and 113 are positioned within cavity 105 of housing 102. In the LED example, LEDs 111,112, and 113 are coupled to LED driver 114 to regulate power from power source 118 to one or more strings of LEDs 111,112, and 113.

In one example, different LEDs 111,112, and 113 transmit different colors of light. For example, LED111 may be configured to transmit white light, LED 112 may be configured to transmit amber light, and LED 113 may be configured to transmit red or green or blue light, or may be a combination of RGB light. Further, in one example, the cover plate 104 may be made of translucent white or amber polycarbonate or another material (e.g., hardened glass).

Also illustrated in fig. 1 is a marker plate 200, which in this example is received within a cavity 105 of the housing 102 adjacent the cover plate 104. As best illustrated in fig. 2, the marker panel 200 defines a unique pattern 202 of active landing markers 100 that is used by the vehicle to identify locations, such as landing sites, and provide a reference for accurate landing. The unique pattern 202 is made up of a plurality of energy transmitting portions 220 and a plurality of energy absorbing portions 240. In the example of fig. 1, the energy transmitting portion 220 is a translucent portion that allows the energy generated from the LEDs 113, 112, and 111 to pass through, and the energy absorbing portion 240 is made of a plurality of opaque portions that block the light from the LEDs 113, 112, and 111 from passing through. The energy transmitted through the energy transmitting part 220 passes through the cover plate 104 including the polarized material.

In one example, the unique pattern 202 is an ArUco pattern. The energy absorbing portion 240 of the tag board 200 provides a binary zero of the ArUco pattern and the energy transmitting portion 220 provides a binary one of the ArUco pattern. In one example, a landing identification point system in a vehicle identifies a desired landing point based on the detected ArUco pattern, and the MBL system of the vehicle uses the unique ArUco pattern of one or more active landing markers 100 to achieve accurate landing of the vehicle.

In one example, the unique pattern 202 of the marker plate 200 of the active landing marker 100 is designed to be altered. In one example, only the current marking plate 200 is replaced with a different marking plate 200 having a different unique pattern 202. In another example, the marker plate 200 may be designed to selectively reconfigure its unique pattern. For example, the marking plate may be made of a plurality of tunable optical glass portions or a liquid crystal panel that selectively block or allow light transmission. In the dimmable glass segment example, a Suspended Particle Device (SPD) comprising rod-shaped nanoscale particles is suspended in a liquid between glass or plastic sheets. The suspended particles are randomly organized in the absence of a voltage. The randomly organized particles block and absorb energy, making the portion opaque. When a voltage is applied, the suspended particles are aligned to let energy pass through. In another example, a mechanical energy absorbing shutter system may be used to modify selected portions of the marker plate to achieve the desired unique pattern 202.

In examples where a variable portion is included in the marking plate, the controller 120 may be used to selectively apply a voltage from the power source 118 to a selected portion to create a desired unique pattern in the marking plate 200. The controller 120 may be in communication with a memory 122 that stores operating instructions implemented by the controller 120. Further, the controller 120 may communicate with the wireless communication unit 124. The wireless communication unit 124 may be used to receive a remote operation signal related to a desired unique pattern in the sign board 200 or broadcast a current unique pattern to a remote location, such as a vehicle seeking a landing site or a ground station.

Generally, the controller 120 may include any one or more of a processor, a microprocessor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or equivalent discrete or integrated logic circuit. In some example embodiments, the controller 120 may include a plurality of components, such as any combination of one or more microprocessors, one or more controllers, one or more DSPs, one or more ASICs, one or more FPGAs, and other discrete or integrated logic circuitry. The functionality attributed to controller 120 herein may be embodied as software, firmware, hardware or any combination thereof. The controller 120 may be part of a system controller or a component controller. The memory 122 may include computer readable operating instructions that, when executed by the controller 120, provide the functionality to create a desired unique pattern in the marking plate 200. Computer readable instructions may be encoded within memory 122. Memory 122 is a suitable non-transitory storage medium including any volatile, non-volatile, magnetic, optical, or electrical medium, such as, but not limited to, random Access Memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, or any other storage medium.

It may also be desirable to change the wavelength of energy transmitted from the active landing mark. This may be due to a change in environmental conditions. In one example, controller 120 may also act as a switch to switch between LEDs 112 or LEDs 111 or LEDs 113 to achieve a desired radiant energy of a selected wavelength. Other systems that change the wavelength of the radiant energy may be used, including but not limited to filtering by a shutter system. The radiant energy 110 from the active landing mark 100 may be set at a selected wavelength for a given environmental condition. A given environmental condition may be determined by one or more sensors 126 or by a remote communication signal received via the wireless communication unit 124. Examples of the types of sensors 126 that may be used include, but are not limited to, light sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, smoke sensors, and the like.

Furthermore, in examples where currently available ambient light and glare are considered, the luminosity of the radiant energy from the active landing mark 100 may be electronically controlled. This may be achieved by the controller 120 using the light flux sensor signal from the at least one sensor 126.

In one example, the active landing mark 100 may be configured to radiate white light based on a light flux sensor input from the at least one sensor 126. In this example, each energy transmitting portion 220 of the unique pattern 202 is optically illuminated with white light. The energy absorbing portion 240 may include a non-reflective black portion. The luminosity of the light can be electronically controlled with respect to ambient light and glare using the luminous flux sensor input. White light may be used for day and night landing during clear visibility ambient conditions or clear visual weather conditions (VMC). The vehicle may use a low-optoelectronic optical camera for the MBL system.

In another example, yellow light may be used with the active landing indicia 100. In one example, filtering techniques may be used for the generated white and amber light to radiate yellow light at a wavelength of 580 nm. Under low visibility landing conditions under instrumented weather conditions (IMC), yellow light may be used during daytime and night landing.

In another example, more than one color of light may be used to generate the unique pattern. In one example, a combination of red, blue, green, or RGB color LEDs is used. For example, the marking plate 200 may form a chroma tag code using portions of the marking plate 200 that are optically illuminated with a particular color light source, which may be accomplished using filtering and/or polarizing techniques or different LEDs 111,112, and 113. This configuration may be used for day and night landing under clear and low visibility landing conditions under VMC. The color code of the active landing mark or set of active landing marks also provides more options for encoding data, which provides an enhanced security element.

In yet another example, the active landing mark 100 is designed to radiate energy in the NIR spectrum. In one example, the unique pattern of energy transmitting portions 220 are optically illuminated with NIR light having a wavelength greater than 850nm using filters and/or coatings and polarization techniques. This configuration works well for night landing under very low visibility landing conditions under instrumented weather conditions (IMC). The vehicle will capture the unique pattern from the active landing mark using a near infrared camera.

Other types of energy sources besides LEDs may be used to create the desired unique pattern with the sign board 200. For example, the heating source may be used to generate far infrared energy, such as hot surface Far Infrared (FIR) energy, that is used to generate the desired unique pattern. This type of active marker-based landing system may be useful when used in severe weather conditions where visible light is difficult to detect.

An example of an active landing mark 300 that includes a heat source 312 to generate FIR energy is illustrated in fig. 3. The active landing indicia 300 includes a housing 302. The cover plate 304 is used to form a closed cavity 305 with the housing 302. In one example, the cover plate 304 is made of a thermally conductive material that radiates thermal energy 310 from a heat source 312 located within the cavity 305 of the active landing mark 300. The cover plate 304 may also include a scratch resistant covering 309.

In one example, the heat source 312 is a ceramic cartridge heater. A controller 320, such as a thermal controller, may control the energy from the energy source 322 to regulate the generated FIR energy from the heat source 312. This example also includes a thermoelectric cooling pad 318 spaced a distance from the heat source 312. The thermoelectric cooling pad 318 transfers heat from the cavity 305 to the frame of the housing 302 to regulate the temperature within the cavity 305 in the housing, thereby preventing overheating of the components and a consistent unique pattern. A controller 324, such as the thermal controller 324, may control the energy from the energy source 322 to regulate the heat transfer provided by the thermal controller 324.

In one example, a marker plate 330 comprising an energy transmitting portion 332 of a thermally conductive material and an energy absorbing portion 334 of a heat absorbing material is used to generate a unique pattern provided by the active landing marker 300. In another example, the heat sources 312 themselves are arranged in a desired unique pattern and positioned adjacent to the cover plate 304 to create a unique pattern through the cover plate 304.

Fig. 4 illustrates another example of an active landing mark 400. In this example, a unique pattern is created in the marker plate 430 using a cold section. The unique pattern may be read with a thermal image capture device in the vehicle. The active landing mark 400 includes a thermoelectric cooling pad 412 for cooling the material in the selected energy transfer portion 432 of the mark plate 430. The active landing mark 400 includes a housing 402. The cover plate 404 is used to form a closed cavity 405 with the housing 402. In one example, cover 404 is made of a thermally conductive material. Thermoelectric cooling pads 412 are located within the cavity 405 of the active landing mark 400. The cover plate 404 may also include a scratch resistant cover 409.

The tag plate 430 includes an energy transfer portion 432 of thermally conductive material cooled by the thermoelectric cooling pad 412, and an energy absorbing portion 434 of heat absorbing material that thermally insolates (insolates) the thermoelectric cooling pad to create a unique pattern provided by the active landing tag 400.

In one example, a heat source 418 is included in the cavity 405 of the active landing mark 400 to regulate the temperature within the cavity 405 when needed. A controller 420, such as a thermal controller, may control the energy from the energy source 422 to regulate the heat generated by the heat source 418. An additional controller 424, such as a thermal controller, may control the energy from the energy source 422 to regulate the cooling of the thermoelectric cooling pads 412. In another example, a single controller may be used to control both thermoelectric cooling pad 412 and heat source 418.

The above examples of fig. 3 and 4 provide active landing marks 300 and 400 that provide far infrared/thermal radiant energy signals. Each portion 332, 334, 432, and 434 of the respective marking plates 330 and 430 of the active landing marks 300 and 400 is thermally controlled. The heat absorbing material in the energy absorbing portions 334 and 434 is an efficient thermal barrier that is specified in view of ambient temperature and other changes. The active landing marks 300 and 400 may be used in very low visibility conditions during the day or night. The vehicle will include a thermal camera for MBL.

Another example of an active landing mark 500 is shown in fig. 5. In this example, within the housing 502 is a power source 506 and a controller 504. In one example, the controller 504 is a simple switch that selectively provides power to the energy generation source 510. Radiant energy from energy generating source 510 is projected or directed to a uniquely patterned marker panel 530 constructed from an energy absorbing portion 534 and an energy reflecting portion 532. The energy absorbing portion 534 absorbs the radiant energy 514 and the energy reflecting portion 532 reflects the radiant energy 514. The cover 520, which is made of a polarizing material, directs reflected radiant energy 515 from the energy reflective portion 532 to define a unique pattern to be detected by a camera imaging system in the vehicle. In one example, the external energy generation source 510 is positioned at a corner of the active landing mark 500. This type of active landing mark 500 provides good visibility of the unique pattern during night and low visibility conditions.

Referring to fig. 6, an active landing marking flow diagram 600 is illustrated. Flowchart 600 is provided as a series of sequential steps. In other embodiments, the sequences may occur in different orders or even in parallel. Thus, implementations are not limited to the sequential order of the blocks listed in fig. 6.

Flowchart 600 begins with block 602 in which a unique pattern is formed in a marking plate. As described above, the unique pattern is composed of a plurality of energy absorbing portions and a plurality of energy transmitting portions. The material from which the portion is made depends on the type of energy signal used to generate the active unique pattern. The unique patterns are patterns identified by a landing identification system of the vehicle, and the MBL system of the vehicle uses one or more of the unique patterns as a reference to achieve accurate landing of the vehicle.

The active landing indicia may include functionality to alter the energy signal generated based on the current environmental conditions. In this example, environmental conditions are monitored at block 604. This may be accomplished by using one or more sensors and a controller that selects the energy signal based on signals from the one or more sensors. In another embodiment, the current environmental condition is provided from a remote source through a wireless communication unit.

Energy is generated at block 606. In one example, the type of energy depends on the environmental conditions. The type of energy may be selected based on the wavelength most suitable for transmitting the unique pattern for the current environmental conditions. This may be done, for example, by switching between energy sources or between different LEDs or by filtering techniques as described above. Also as described above, at block (607), energy passes through or is reflected from the energy transmitting portion and through the covering of polarizing material, thereby radiating energy in a unique pattern.

At block 608, a determination is made as to whether a new unique pattern is desired. This may be achieved based on remote instructions received at the controller via the wireless communication unit. If a new pattern is not required, the process continues to monitor environmental conditions at block 604. If a new pattern is desired, a new unique pattern is formed in the marking plate at block 602.

Exemplary embodiments

Embodiment 1 is an active landing mark comprising a housing, a cover plate, a marking plate, and an energy source. The cover plate is coupled to the housing, the cover plate being made of a polarized translucent material. The marker plate is positioned within the housing. The sign plate includes a plurality of selectively positionable energy absorbing portions and a plurality of energy transmitting portions. The energy source is contained within the housing. The marker plate is positioned between the energy source and the cover plate. Energy radiated from the energy source passes through the plurality of energy transmitting portions of the marking plate and through the cover plate, thereby generating an active signal marking having a unique marking pattern. The active signal markers assist in marker-based landing of vehicles during varying environmental conditions.

Embodiment 2 includes the active landing mark of embodiment 1, wherein the active signal mark is an ArUco mark, the plurality of energy absorbing portions of the mark plate provide binary zeros of the ArUco mark, and the plurality of energy transmitting portions provide binary ones of the ArUco mark.

Embodiment 3 includes the active landing mark of embodiment 2, wherein the plurality of energy absorbing portions and the plurality of energy transmitting portions of the marking plate form an ArUco marking pattern.

Embodiment 4 includes an active landing mark according to any one of embodiments 1-3, wherein the plurality of energy absorbing portions of the marking plate are non-reflective black portions.

Embodiment 5 includes the active landing mark of any of embodiments 1-3, wherein the polarized translucent material of the cover plate is a translucent white polarized material configured to emit white light in response to radiant energy of the energy source.

Embodiment 6 includes the active landing mark of any of embodiments 1-3, wherein the polarized translucent material of the cover plate is a translucent amber polarized material configured to emit amber light in response to radiant energy from the energy source.

Embodiment 7 includes the active landing mark of any of embodiments 1-3, wherein the polarized translucent material of the cover plate is a translucent NIR polarized material configured to emit NIR light in response to radiant energy from the energy source.

Embodiment 8 includes the active landing marking of any one of embodiments 1-7, wherein the energy source includes a light source from one of a NIR light source and an LED light source.

Embodiment 9 includes the active landing indicia of any of embodiments 1-8, wherein the cover sheet further includes at least one of an antiglare coating and a scratch resistant coating.

Embodiment 10 includes the active landing marking of any one of embodiments 1-4, wherein the cover plate includes a thermally conductive and insulating material, and wherein the energy source includes a heat source from one of a heating source and a cooling source.

Embodiment 11 includes the active landing mark of any of embodiment 10, wherein the energy source comprises at least one of a thermal energy source that generates a Far Infrared (FIR) energy signal through the cover plate and a thermoelectric cooling pad.

Embodiment 12 includes the active landing mark of any one of embodiments 1-11, wherein the mark plate is reconfigurable to change the unique pattern of the active signal mark.

Embodiment 13 includes an active landing mark comprising a housing, a cover plate, a marking plate, and at least one energy source. The cover plate is coupled to the housing. The cover plate is made of a polarized translucent material. The marking plate is positioned between the cover plate and the housing. The sign plate includes a plurality of selectively positionable energy absorbing portions and a plurality of energy transmitting portions. The at least one energy source is positioned to direct energy to the marker plate. Energy radiated from the at least one energy source is absorbed by the plurality of energy absorbing portions of the marking sheet and directed out of the cover sheet by the plurality of energy transmitting portions to generate an active signal marking having a unique marking pattern. The active signal markers assist in landing the vehicle.

Embodiment 14 includes the active landing indicia of embodiment 13, wherein the at least one energy source is positioned in one of the housing and the housing exterior.

Embodiment 15 includes the active landing mark of any of embodiments 13-14, wherein the plurality of energy transmitting portions is one of a plurality of energy transmitting portions that allow energy to pass through and a plurality of energy reflecting portions that reflect energy.

Embodiment 16 includes an active landing marker according to any of embodiments 13-15, further comprising a power source and a controller. The power source is configured to power the energy source to generate the energy. The controller is to selectively couple the power source to the at least one energy source to selectively generate the energy.

Embodiment 17 includes the active landing indicia of embodiment 16 further comprising a memory, a wireless communication unit, and at least one sensor. The memory is used for storing operation instructions realized by the controller. The wireless communication unit communicates with the controller. The at least one sensor is for sensing an environmental condition. The controller is configured to control the energy source based on at least sensor data from the at least one sensor and stored operating instructions.

Embodiment 18 includes a method of generating an active landing mark. The method includes forming a unique pattern in a marking plate having a plurality of energy absorbing portions and a plurality of energy transmitting portions; generating energy absorbed by the energy absorbing portion and transmitted from the energy transmitting portion; and polarizing the transmitted energy to define the unique pattern with the transmitted energy, the unique pattern aiding in landing of the vehicle during varying environmental conditions.

Embodiment 19 includes the method of embodiment 18, further comprising varying the generated energy based on current environmental conditions.

Embodiment 20 includes the method of any of embodiments 18-19, further comprising altering the unique pattern in the marking plate.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the application. It is manifestly therefore intended that this application be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims (3)

1. An active landing mark (100, 300, 400), the active landing mark comprising:

a housing (102, 302, 402);

-a cover plate (104,304,404) coupled to the housing (102, 302, 402), the cover plate (104,304,404) being made of a polarized translucent material;

a marker plate (200,330,430) positioned within the housing (102, 302, 402), the marker plate (200,330,430) including a plurality of selectively positioned energy absorbing portions (240,334,434) and a plurality of energy transmitting portions (220,332,432); and

an energy source (111,112,113,312,412) included within the housing (102, 302, 402), the marker panel (200,330,430) positioned between the energy source (111,112,113,312,412) and the cover panel (104,304,404), energy radiated from the energy source (111,112,113,312,412) passing through the energy transmitting portion of the marker panel (200,330,430) and through the cover panel (104,304,404) to generate an active signal marker having a unique marker pattern that aids in vehicle landing during varying environmental conditions.

2. An active landing mark (100,300,400,500), the active landing mark comprising:

housing (102,302,402,502):

a cover plate (104,304,404,520) coupled to the housing, the cover plate being made of a polarized translucent material;

a marker plate (200,330,430,530) positioned between the cover plate (104,304,404,520) and the housing (102,302,402,502), the marker plate (200,330,430,530) comprising a plurality of selectively positioned energy absorbing portions (240,334,434,534) and a plurality of energy transmitting portions (220,332,432,532); and

at least one energy source (111,112,113,312,412,510) positioned to direct energy to the marker panel (200,330,430,530), energy radiated from the at least one energy source (111,112,113,312,412,510) being absorbed by the energy absorbing portion (240,334,434,534) of the marker panel (200,330,430,530) and directed out of the cover panel (104,304,404,520) by the energy transmitting portion (220,332,432,532) to generate an active signal marker having a unique marker pattern that aids in vehicle landing.

3. A method of generating an active landing mark (100,300,400,500), the method comprising:

forming a unique pattern in a marker plate (200,330,430,530) having a plurality of energy absorbing portions (240,334,434,534) and a plurality of energy transmitting portions (220,332,432,532);

generating energy absorbed by the energy absorbing portion and transmitted from the energy transmitting portion (220,332,432,532); and

the transmitted energy is polarized to define the unique pattern with the transmitted energy that aids in landing the vehicle during varying environmental conditions.