RU2547157C2 - Laser system for aircraft landing on small-size runways - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics, optics.

SUBSTANCE: proposed system comprises two laser radiators located at the left and right nearby runway from the approach side. Beams of said radiators are directed parallel with runway plane towards two optical devices than can turn the laser radiator beams to glide path plane. Generator of aerosols is mounted at runway nearby the laser beams intersection point.

EFFECT: safer landing.

3 dwg

Description

The invention relates to optical navigation systems, in particular to systems using laser and optical radiation sources, and can be used to visually indicate the glide path of descent, as well as the end end of the runway and landing point of landing when landing aircraft (LA) on small landing sites heliports, aircraft carriers and drilling platforms.

Known heliport complex "Sineva" [1] (Basov YG Light-signaling devices. - M., Transport, 1993. - Pages 226-230), consisting of a drive light beacon; four approach lights installed in front of the landing pad on the continuation of its axis; four bounding lights; four landing lights; barrage lights; glide path lights and spotlights.

The disadvantages of the Sineva heliport complex are the lack of an indication of the landing point, the difficulty due to the presence of a relatively large number of components (multicomponent), and high energy consumption. In addition, the system is ineffective when used in difficult weather conditions, and, in addition, there are limitations when installing it on rough terrain, on helidecks and in urban areas.

Known complexes of light-signal equipment for landing helicopters on ships and drilling sites [1] (Basov Yu.G. Light-signaling devices. - M., Transport, 1993. - Pages 265-270), consisting of contour, landing and restrictive lights; light sign "T" as an indicator of the landing point; code pulsed lights; driving pulse lights; in-depth side and axial lights; glide path lights.

The disadvantages of the complex of light-signaling equipment for landing helicopters on ships and drilling sites are the complexity due to the presence of a relatively large number of components, high energy consumption. In addition, the system is ineffective when used in difficult weather conditions.

The closest technical solution is a laser aircraft landing system [2] (RF patent No. 2369532, IPC B64F 1/18) containing at least three laser emitters installed near the runway from the aircraft entry side for landing, two of which - glide paths - are located at the edges of the runway and are designed to form rays defining the plane of the glide path, and the third - course - is located in front of the threshold (end) at the continuation of the runway center line and is designed to form a beam determining the course landing.

The disadvantage of the system [2] is the limited information content due to the lack of a visual indication of the landing point on the runway and the indication of the end end of the runway.

The aim of the invention is to increase the information content and, accordingly, to increase safety when landing aircraft on small landing sites by indicating the landing point and the end end of the runway with low power consumption landing system and structural simplicity, which allows you to quickly equip small-sized runways (runways) with using compact power equipment. The application of the claimed technical solution is especially relevant in emergency situations when the choice of the optimal site is limited by the features of the geographical location and (or) the terrain.

This goal is achieved in that the indication of the landing point on a small landing site is provided by local dispersion of intersecting laser beams by an aerosol cloud created by the aerosol generator in the area of the landing point, and the indication of the glide path and the end of the runway due to the visibility of laser beams in the landing corridor after their rotation into the plane of the glide path by optical devices installed near the end end and the side boundaries of the runway.

The laser system for landing aircraft (LA) on small runways (Runways) differs from the well-known technical solution containing two laser emitters, in that it additionally contains optical devices installed at the end end to the right and left of the runway axis with the ability to rotate the direction of the rays laser emitters in the plane of the glide path toward the approach of the aircraft for landing, and the rays of the left and right laser emitters are located in a plane parallel to the plane of the runway, and are directed accordingly right toward the left and right optical devices, and in addition, an aerosol generator is installed on the runway near the intersection of the laser beams.

The invention is illustrated in figure 1, figure 2 and figure 3. Figure 1 shows the arrangement of laser emitters, optical devices and an aerosol generator when viewed from above on the runway (runway) and shows the direction of propagation of laser beams.

In Fig.2 shows a "side view" on the runway - a projection on a vertical plane with a section aa, and Fig.3 - view of the runway when entering the aircraft for landing.

In figure 1, figure 2 and figure 3 the following notation:

1p, 1 l - right and left laser emitters; 2p, 2l - rays of the right and left laser emitters; 3p, 3l - right and left optical rotary devices; 4p, 4l - right and left glide path rays; 5 - aircraft (LA); 6 - aerosol generator; 7 - end end (threshold) of the runway; 8 - the longitudinal axis of the runway; 9 - the longitudinal boundaries of the runway; 10 - input threshold of the runway; 11 - aerosol cloud; γ _p , γ _l - angles between projections onto the plane of the runway, respectively, of the right and left glide paths and the longitudinal axis of the runway;

Additional notation in figure 2 and figure 3:

h is the height of the aircraft hovering above the touchdown point; φ is the angle of inclination of the glide path plane to the runway plane, b is the hovering point of the aircraft (the point of the glide path above the landing point), "a", "b" and "c" are options for the positions of the glide paths 4p and 4l visible by the pilot when the aircraft approaches

In the proposed technical solution, laser emitters 1p, 1l (Fig. 1, Fig. 2) are installed in front of the runway entrance threshold (10) near the right and left longitudinal side borders (9) (heliport or landing deck) at a height of not more than 0.25 m (in in accordance with the ICAO recommendations [3]) and form collimated right 2p and left 2l laser beams located in one plane parallel to the plane of the runway. The rays are directed to the end end of the runway (7) diagonally, respectively, towards the left optical device 3L and the right optical device 3p, intersecting above the landing site. An aerosol generator 6 is installed at the landing point, creating an aerosol cloud in which intense local scattering of laser radiation occurs and thereby the rays passing through the cloud become visible as short intersecting segments when observed at any angle.

The right (2p) and left (2l) laser beams intersecting above the landing site of the aircraft fall respectively on the left (3l) and right (3p) optical rotary devices that rotate the direction of the laser emitters into the glide plane (rays 4p, 4l) toward the approaching aircraft, and the location of the optical devices becomes visible due to the dispersion of part of the laser radiation energy from the boundaries of the output optics. Glissade rays (4l) and (4p) are formed using optical rotary devices at an angle φ to the plane of the runway, and can be either parallel or separated at small equal angles γ _n = γ _l relative to the longitudinal axis of the runway (8).

The described arrangement of laser emitters, optical rotary devices and the formed direction of the rays provide:

- indication of the landing point in the form of intersecting segments of rays at the installation site of the aerosol generator 6.

- indication of the glide path of descent (rays 4p, 4l) and the end end of the runway (7) with visible segments of rays 4p, 4l, the beginning of which coincides with the locations of the optical devices (illuminated aperture of the optics).

Orientation relative to the glide path of reduction is carried out by the pilot of the aircraft in the form of rays 4p and 4l (the position of the rays "a", "b" and "c" in figure 3). When the aircraft is in the plane of the glide path, the rays 4p and 4l are located horizontally (the position of the rays "b"). When the aircraft is displaced relative to the glide path up or down, the position of the rays visible by the pilot relative to the horizontal changes and corresponds to the positions of the rays in variants "a" and "b". Thus, the pilot of the aircraft unambiguously determines the offset of the aircraft relative to a given glide path and performs control actions to return the aircraft to a given path, i.e. on the trajectory at which the segments of rays 4p and 4l will be located horizontally (rays "b").

When the aircraft reaches point b (Fig. 2), located above the intersection of the visible segments of the rays 2l, 2p (Fig. 3), the pilot reduces the speed of the aircraft to zero, while the aircraft hangs above the landing point at a height h, after which the pilot lands.

The claimed technical solution in practice can be implemented based on laser emitters of the visible spectral range and optical devices. Optical devices are placed on standard fittings, and optical elements of devices can be made in the form of optical mirrors, wedges or prisms with devices for their adjustment. As aerosol generators, ultrasonic generators or liquid dispersants can be used.

Information sources

1. Basov Yu.G. Lighting devices. - M., Transport, 1993 .-- 309 p.

2. RF patent No. 2369532, IPC B64F 1/18.

3. Annex 14 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Airfields. - Volume II - Heliports. Second Edition. - M .: ICAO, 1995 .-- 68 p.

Claims (1)

A laser system for landing aircraft (LA) on small runways (Runway), containing two laser emitters (left and right) installed near the runway from the approach side of the aircraft, characterized in that at the end end on the right and left optical devices are installed from the runway axis with the ability to rotate the direction of the rays of the laser emitters into the plane of the glide path toward the approach of the aircraft for landing, and the rays of the left and right laser emitters are located in a plane parallel to the plane ti runway, and right and respectively directed towards the left of the optical device, besides the runway close to the intersection point of the laser beams is set aerosol generator.

Images