Landing a fighter plane on an aircraft carrier has always been highly dangerous as the ship is constantly moving on a heaving ocean. The task of guiding the approach and landing the aircraft would be made easier with a computer aided system. However, the signals between the ship and plane are subject to interference and jamming.
James Waid and colleagues from Honeywell International (US) have just patented a new system which employs GPS satellites to plot the relative velocity and position of both the aircraft and the ship. An additional feature of the system includes the ability to extrapolate the data forward in time to predict if the pilot can safely land his plane or whether he should abort the landing.
Here's the patent.
Automated Aircraft Carrier Landings
When Will Robots Completely Take Over?
Trend Themes
1. Computer-aided Aircraft Landing - Opportunity to develop advanced computer systems that can aid in guiding and landing aircraft on moving aircraft carriers.
2. Gps-based Tracking Systems - Potential for creating innovative GPS technologies that can accurately track and predict the position and velocity of aircraft and ships.
3. Predictive Landing Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity to develop systems that can accurately predict if a pilot can safely land or should abort the landing.
Industry Implications
1. Aviation - Aviation industry can explore the use of computer-aided landing systems to improve safety and efficiency in aircraft carrier operations.
2. GPS Technology - Opportunity for GPS technology companies to develop advanced tracking systems tailored for aircraft carrier operations.
3. Aerospace Defense - Aerospace defense industry can benefit from predictive landing technology, enhancing the capabilities of fighter planes for carrier-based operations.