Background

Current transportation systems are increasingly clogged and polluting, with city centres and urban areas frequently overcrowded with conventionally-powered public transport, delivery lorries (trucks), and privately owned vehicles. These conditions are detrimental to the economy and the environment, in particular with regard to particulate pollution and climate change.

These problems may be alleviated to some extent by the use of small, short-range, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Such aircraft may be electrically-powered, or comprise hybrid power systems which combine different energy sources, and are therefore more “eco-friendly” than conventional fossil-fuelled aircraft.

Such aircraft may be used for transportation of people or goods which may benefit from associated ground infrastructure in urban environments giving the ability to reach large populations rapidly.

The present disclosure aims to address this infrastructure need in an efficient, flexible, robust, and cost-effective manner.

Summary

Against this background, in a first aspect there is provided an aerodrome structure comprising a core and a peripheral portion; wherein the peripheral portion is radially outside the core, wherein the core comprises: an upstanding structure; a platform located within the upstanding structure; a lift mechanism configured to raise and lower the platform between an upper level and a lower level aligned with the peripheral portion; wherein: at the upper level the platform provides a take-off and landing pad for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft; and wherein: the platform comprises a plurality of platform segments and wherein the lift mechanism is configured in a first mode to raise and lower each of the plurality of platform segments independently of each of the other platform segments.

In this way, a plurality of vertical take-off and landing aircraft may be separately handled on the platform. Thus, capacity and flexibility is increased.

The lift mechanism is configured in a second mode to raise and lower combinations of the plurality of platform segments in unison.

In this way, in an event that a vertical take-off and landing aircraft is too large to be accommodated by one segment, it can be accommodated by a plurality of segments acting in unison.

The peripheral portion may comprise a plurality of peripheral segments and the platform may be configured to rotate relative to the upstanding structure in order that at the lower level a position on the platform is rotatable to facilitate access to more than one of the plurality of peripheral segments.

The upstanding structure may have a circular cross sectional shape and the platform of each of the plurality of lift structure modules has a corresponding circular shape.

The peripheral portion further comprises a roof structure.

In this way, the peripheral portion or parts of it may be deployed as a hangar or a passenger facility or a cargo facility.

The aerodrome structure may further comprise a plurality of stabilisation beams that provide lateral stabilisation to the upstanding structure.

The plurality of stabilisation beams may support the roof structure. The roof structure may comprise an outer covering divided into roof segments, each providing a roof for a peripheral portion segment.

One or more of the roof segments may be openable.

An openable roof segment may be hingedly attached at a radially inner end of the roof segment.

The aerodrome structure may further comprise a cargo transit apparatus configured to transfer cargo within the aerodrome structure.

The cargo transit apparatus may be configured to transfer cargo between the platform and one or more of the plurality of peripheral segments.

The aerodrome structure may further comprise one or more of the following: an electric charger for an aircraft; a battery exchange facility; a hydrogen refuelling facility.

The aerodrome structure may further comprise one or more intermediate levels between the upper level and the lower level.

The aerodrome structure may further comprise an access port on an exterior of the aerodrome assembly.

The aerodrome structure may further comprise a locker, wherein the access port provides access to the locker.

The locker may be one of a plurality of lockers each of which is associated with one or more access ports on an exterior of the aerodrome assembly.

Each locker may have: an outer aperture facilitating access to the locker from an exterior fagade of the aerodrome assembly; and an inner aperture facilitating access between the locker and the one or more of the peripheral segments.

The aerodrome structure may further comprise a carousel whereby the carousel is configured to rotate between a first position in which a first location on the carousel is aligned with the access port and a second position in which the first location on the carousel is aligned with one or more of the peripheral segments.

The carousel comprises a plurality of containers, each of which containers is configured to accommodate cargo.

The aerodrome structure may further comprise an electro-voltaic panel on an exterior fagade of the aerodrome assembly.

The electro-voltaic panel may be located on the roof structure.

Each lift structure module may comprise a QR code on an upward facing surface of the platform for identification of the platform by an airborne aircraft approaching the aerodrome assembly.

In a second aspect, there is provided an aerodrome structure comprising a core and a peripheral portion; wherein the peripheral portion is radially outside the core and comprises a plurality of peripheral segments, wherein the core comprises: an upstanding structure; a platform located within the upstanding structure; a lift mechanism configured to raise and lower the platform between an upper level and a lower level aligned with the peripheral portion; wherein: at the upper level the platform provides a take-off and landing pad for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft; and the platform is configured to rotate relative to the upstanding structure in order that at the lower level a position on the platform is rotatable to facilitate access to more than one of the plurality of peripheral segments.

In this way, a vertical take off and landing aircraft on the platform may be reoriented in order to face any of the plurality of peripheral segments.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the disclosure are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a three dimensional view of a first embodiment of an aerodrome structure in accordance with the disclosure;

Figure 2 shows a highly schematic cross sectional representation of an aerodrome structure in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure with the platform at an upper level;

Figure 3 shows a highly schematic plan view of the aerodrome structure of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a highly schematic cross sectional representation of the aerodrome structure of Figures 2 and 3 with the platform at a lower level;

Figure 5 shows a highly schematic cross sectional representation of an aerodrome structure in accordance with a second embodiment of the disclosure comprising a platform split into two segments;

Figure 6 shows a highly schematic plan view of the aerodrome structure of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows the aerodrome structure of Figure 6 with the platforms rotated for alignment with different parts (segments) of the periphery 190; Figure 8 shows a highly schematic plan view of an aerodrome structure in accordance with a third embodiment of the disclosure comprising a platform split into four segments;

Figure 9 shows the aerodrome structure of Figure 8 with the platforms rotated for alignment with different parts (segments) of the periphery 190;

Figure 10 shows a highly schematic plan view of an aerodrome structure in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the disclosure comprising a platform split into two unequal segments; and

Figure 11 shows a highly schematic plan view of an aerodrome structure in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the disclosure comprising a platform split into two segments.

Detailed description

Referring to Figure 1, an aerodrome structure 10 or installation according to the disclosure may have the form of a shallow, truncated cone. The aerodrome structure includes a platform 110 arranged to be raised and lowered within the aerodrome structure 10.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the aerodrome structure 10 comprises a core 180 and a peripheral portion 200. The peripheral portion 200 is radially outside the core 180. (The terms radial, radially and radial direction should not be understood as implying that either the core 180 or the peripheral portion 200 must be circular.)

Referring in particular to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the core 180 comprises an upstanding structure 130 that extends in an axial direction that is substantially perpendicular to the radial direction.

The upstanding structure 130 may be in the form of a tubular frame and may have a substantially annular footprint. The peripheral portion 200 may have an annular footprint coaxial with and outside the upstanding structure 130. Referring in particular to Figure 1, the peripheral portion 200 takes the form of an annular portion of a cone. The core 180 further comprises a lift mechanism 120 configured to raise and lower a platform 110 within the upstanding structure 130 between a lower level 150 (shown in Figure 4) and an upper level 170 (shown in Figure 2). The lower level 150 may be aligned with ground level in the vicinity of the aerodrome 10.

The aerodrome structure 10 may comprise outriggers or stabilisation beams 210 that (a) provide enhanced lateral stabilisation to the upstanding structure 130 and (b) support a roof structure 220 of the peripheral portion 200. The roof structure 220 may define a covered inner volume of the aerodrome structure 10. The roof structure 220 may comprise an outer covering divided into roof segments 225, each providing a roof for a peripheral portion segment. One or more of the roof segments 225 may be openable, in the form of an openable roof segment 225a, to provide access to the inner volume. Openable roof segments 225a may be hingedly attached at a radially inner end of the roof segment 225a, as evident in Figures 1 and 3 from the openable roof segment 225a shown in the open position.

The platform 110 provides a take-off and landing pad for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft 500 when the platform 110 is at the upper level 170, as shown in Figure 2.

Furthermore, the platform 110 functions to move aircraft 500 from the upper level 170 to ground level 150.

The platform 110 may be disc-shaped and may have a diameter or span which is slightly smaller than that of the upstanding structure 130.

While in the schematic figures the lift mechanism 120 is represented by a scissor lift arrangement, the lift mechanism 120 may comprise any appropriate lifting apparatus. For example, the lift mechanism 120 may comprise a link, a column or an integrated lift mechanism. In some embodiments (not illustrated), the lift mechanism 120 may be contained substantially within the annular footprint of the upstanding structure 130 such that a cylindrical volume beneath the disk shaped platform 110 is substantially unoccupied by the lift mechanism 120. The lift mechanism 120 may comprise guide rails (not shown). With reference to Figure 4, the upstanding structure 130, which may be in the form of a tubular frame, may comprise columns such as to provide one or more side openings between the columns. The one or more side openings may provide access to one or more peripheral portion segments. In this way, when the platform is in the lower position, an aircraft 500 may be transferred from a peripheral portion segment onto the platform 110 and transferred from the platform 110 to a peripheral portion segment. One or more side openings may also be provided for movement of passengers and/or cargo.

Figure 4 shows the platform 110 in the lower level 150, in which configuration an aircraft 500 can be moved laterally onto and off the platform 110.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of an aerodrome structure 10 in accordance with the disclosure.

With reference to Figure 5, in the second embodiment the platform 110 is split into two portions 110a, 110b that are each capable, in a first mode, of independent movement up and down within the upstanding structure 130. In addition, in a second mode, the two portions 110a, 110b may move up and down within the upstanding structure 130 in unison so as to behave as a single platform capable of receiving an aircraft that would not be accommodated on only one of the two portions 110a, 110b.

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, optionally, the platform 110 may be rotatable relative to the peripheral portion 200 such that either part 110a, 110b of the two portions of the platform 110 may be aligned with any of the segments of the peripheral portion 200.

Figures 8 and 9 show a third embodiment of the disclosure in which the platform 110 is split into four portions that are each independently movable up and down within the upstanding structure 130. Again, in the third embodiment, the platform 110 may be rotatable relative to the peripheral portion 200 such that any of the four portions of the platform may be aligned with any of the segments of the peripheral portion 200.

While the four portions are each independently movable up and down within the upstanding structure 130, they may be moved in unison in pairs, triplets or altogether in order to provide a range of different sizes of platform to accommodate different sizes of aircraft, for example. In particular, a passenger aircraft may be significantly larger than an aircraft used for cargo delivery.

Figure 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the disclosure in which the platform 110 is split into two portions 110e, 11 Of of differing size. This embodiment may be particularly appropriate for a setting in which both passenger aircraft and cargo aircraft are expected.

Figure 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the disclosure in which the platform is split into two portions 110a, 110b. The fifth embodiment differs from the other embodiments in that the peripheral portion 200 is square in plan view rather than circular. This may be particularly appropriate in settings where multiple aerodrome structures 10 are to be brought together in a grid. Other shapes are also envisaged, such as triangular, rectangular and hexagonal shapes, that may be arranged in a tessellating configuration. Furthermore, the peripheral portion may not be divided into segments, as shown in the Figure 11 embodiment.

The aerodrome structure 10 or installation of any of the embodiments may comprise its own supply of electrical power, for example by means of wind, solar or hydro, or alternatively may rely on an external supply, for example from the mains grid where the aerodrome structure 10 is located.

Whatever the supply source, the aerodrome structure 10 or installation may be arranged to store electrical power, for example using batteries. Excess stored electricity may be fed into the mains grid, if desired. The electrical energy may be used to recharge electrically- powered aircraft which use the aerodrome structure 10. Furthermore, the aerodrome structure 10 may include storage facilities for fossil fuels or hydrogen, in order to be able to refuel aircraft using those fuels.

Different peripheral portion segments may be deployed for different purposes. For example, one or more may be for aircraft storage, one or more may be for aircraft maintenance, one or more may be for aircraft charging (or refuelling), one or more may be for passengers, one or more may be for cargo.

One or more electric chargers may be located at or adjacent one of more of the peripheral portion segment. The peripheral portion may comprise cargo storage and/or transit apparatus. A cargo storage and/or transit apparatus may comprise a plurality of levels. One or more of the plurality of the levels of the cargo storage and/or transit apparatus may be configured to cooperate with one or more intermediate levels of the lift structure module 100.

The aerodrome structure may comprise one or more photovoltaic panels on an exterior face.

In the illustrated embodiments, all upstanding structures 130 are substantially cylindrical and all platforms 110 are substantially circular. Other shapes would also fall within the scope of the disclosure. For example, the platform may have a substantially polygonal shape (e.g. a hexagon) and the upstanding structure may have a corresponding hexagonal cross sectional shape orthogonal to the axis along which the platform is configured to raise and lower.

As would be well understood by the skilled person, the shape of the peripheral portion, the shape of the platform, the nature of the divided platform and the ability or not o the platform to rotate are all separate aspects of the disclosure and while not all possible permutations of options are described or illustrated, these features may be substituted between one embodiment and another. For example, the non-symmetrical nature of the platform slit in Figure 10 may be equally applicable to the square plan view peripheral portion of Figure 11.