US-12617523-B2 - Safe vertical take-off and landing aircraft payload distribution and adjustment

Abstract

Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft can provide opportunities to incorporate aerial transportation into transportation networks for cities and metropolitan areas. However, VTOL aircraft can be sensitive to uneven weight distributions, e.g., the payload of an aircraft is primarily loaded in the front, back, left, or right. When the aircraft is loaded unevenly, the center of mass of the aircraft may shift substantially enough to negatively impact performance of the aircraft. Thus, in turn, there is an opportunity that the VTOL may be loaded unevenly if seating, luggage placement, and/or positions of internal components are not coordinated. This application describes systems and methods for dynamically assigning payloads and adjusting components of the VTOL aircraft.

Inventors

• Mark Moore
• John Conway Badalamenti
• Ian Villa
• Adam Warmoth
• David JOSEPHSON

Assignees

• JOBY AERO, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230629

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising: accessing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft transport request for a payload associated with an individual; accessing a weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual; computing a payload assignment of the payload associated with the individual to a particular VTOL aircraft of a plurality of VTOL aircraft based on the weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual and a weight distribution criteria associated with the particular VTOL aircraft; computing, while the individual is at a transfer hub and using one or more physical weight sensors, a likelihood that the weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual does or does not violate the weight distribution criteria of the particular VTOL aircraft; computing that the likelihood satisfies a threshold; while the individual is at the transfer hub, transmitting data indicative of a flight of the particular VTOL aircraft to a computing device associated with the individual, wherein the flight is not communicated to the individual until after a determination that the likelihood satisfies the threshold; and loading the particular VTOL aircraft with the payload assignment; computing, using one or more sensors of the VTOL aircraft, a total payload and a payload distribution of the particular VTOL aircraft loaded with the payload assignment; computing, based on the total payload, that the VTOL aircraft satisfies a weight threshold; computing, based on the payload distribution, that the VTOL aircraft satisfies a weight distribution threshold; and based on the VTOL aircraft satisfying the weight threshold and satisfying the weight distribution threshold, instructing take-off of the VTOL aircraft, the VTOL aircraft being configured to take-off vertically with the payload assignment.
2. 2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing an updated weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual, wherein the computation that the likelihood satisfies the threshold is based on the updated weight estimate.
3. 3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising automatically updating a designated location of the payload associated with the individual based on the updated weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual and the weight distribution criteria of the particular VTOL aircraft.
4. 4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein loading of the particular VTOL aircraft is based on the updated designated location of the payload.
5. 5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising computing an assignment of the payload associated with the individual to a different seat within the particular VTOL aircraft based on the updated weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual.
6. 6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising computing a payload assignment of another payload associated with another individual to another VTOL aircraft within the plurality of VTOL aircraft based on the updated weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual.
7. 7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the updated weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual is received from the one or more physical weight sensors located at the transfer hub.
8. 8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the updated weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual is received from the individual.
9. 9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual is associated with a profile of the individual.
10. 10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual comprises a weight estimate of a rider and a weight estimate of luggage to accompany the rider.
11. 11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein computing the payload assignment of the payload associated with the individual to the particular VTOL aircraft of the plurality of VTOL aircraft comprises computing a particular seat assignment within the particular VTOL aircraft for the individual.
12. 12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein computing the payload assignment of the payload associated with the individual to the particular VTOL aircraft of the plurality of VTOL aircraft comprises computing a particular location for placement of luggage associated with the individual within the particular VTOL aircraft.
13. 13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the weight distribution criteria comprises the weight distribution threshold, where the threshold corresponds to a likelihood threshold that the weight distribution threshold will or will not be violated.
14. 14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the weight distribution criteria comprises a maximum weight threshold, where the threshold corresponds to a likelihood threshold that the maximum weight threshold will or will not be violated.
15. 15 . A computing system, comprising: at least one processor; and a memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform operations, comprising: accessing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft transport request for a payload associated with an individual; accessing a weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual; computing a payload assignment of the payload associated with the individual to a particular VTOL aircraft of a plurality of VTOL aircraft based on the weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual and a weight distribution criteria associated with the particular VTOL aircraft; computing, while the individual is at a transfer hub and using one or more physical weight sensors, a likelihood that the weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual does or does not violate the weight distribution criteria of the particular VTOL aircraft; computing that the likelihood satisfies a threshold; while the individual is at the transfer hub, transmitting data indicative of a flight of the particular VTOL aircraft to a computing device associated with the individual, wherein the flight is not communicated to the individual until after a determination that the likelihood satisfies the threshold; loading the particular VTOL aircraft with the payload assignment; computing, using one or more sensors of the VTOL aircraft, a total payload and a payload distribution of the particular VTOL aircraft loaded with the payload assignment; computing, based on the total payload, that the VTOL aircraft satisfies a weight threshold; computing, based on the payload distribution, that the VTOL aircraft satisfies a weight distribution threshold; and based on the VTOL aircraft satisfying the weight threshold and satisfying the weight distribution threshold, instructing take-off of the VTOL aircraft, the VTOL aircraft being configured to take-off vertically with the payload assignment.
16. 16 . The computing system of claim 15 , the operations further comprising accessing an updated weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual, wherein the computation that the likelihood satisfies the threshold is based on the updated weight estimate.
17. 17 . The computing system of claim 16 , wherein the updated weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual is received from the one or more physical weight sensors located at the transfer hub.
18. 18 . The computing system of claim 16 , wherein the updated weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual is received from the individual.
19. 19 . The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual comprises a weight estimate of a rider and a weight estimate of luggage to accompany the rider.
20. 20 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium configured to store instructions for execution by at least one processor to perform operations, comprising: accessing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft transport request for a payload associated with an individual; accessing a weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual; computing a payload assignment of the payload associated with the individual to a particular VTOL aircraft of a plurality of VTOL aircraft based on the weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual and a weight distribution criteria associated with the particular VTOL aircraft; computing, while the individual is at a transfer hub and using one or more physical weight sensors, a likelihood that the weight estimate of the payload associated with the individual does or does not violate the weight distribution criteria of the particular VTOL aircraft; computing that the likelihood satisfies a threshold; while the individual is at the transfer hub, transmitting data indicative of a flight of the particular VTOL aircraft to a computing device associated with the individual, wherein the flight is not communicated to the individual until after a determination that the likelihood satisfies the threshold; and loading the particular VTOL aircraft with the payload assignment; computing, using one or more sensors of the VTOL aircraft, a total payload and a payload distribution of the particular VTOL aircraft loaded with the payload assignment; computing, based on the total payload, that the VTOL aircraft satisfies a weight threshold; computing, based on the payload distribution, that the VTOL aircraft satisfies a weight distribution threshold; and based on the VTOL aircraft satisfying the weight threshold and satisfying the weight distribution threshold, instructing take-off of the VTOL aircraft, the VTOL aircraft being configured to take-off vertically with the payload assignment.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/344,420 having a filing date of Jun. 29. 2023, which claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/125,409 having a filing date of Dec. 17. 2020 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,724,798), which claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/272,999 titled “Safe Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft Payload Distribution and Adjustment,” filed Feb. 11, 2019 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,913,528), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/178,506 titled “Safe Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft Payload Assignment,” filed Nov. 1, 2018 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,752,363), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/581,627, titled “VTOL Passenger Aircraft,” filed Nov. 3, 2017. Applicant claims priority to and the benefit of each of such applications and incorporates all such applications herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates to aviation transport, and specifically, to dynamic vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft payload assignment. There is generally a wide variety of modes of transport available within cities. People may walk, ride a bike, drive a car, take public transit, use a ride sharing service, and the like. However, as population densities and demand for land increase, many cities are increasingly experiencing problems with traffic congestion and the associated pollution. Consequently, there is a need to expand the available modes of transport in ways that may reduce the amount of traffic without requiring the use of large amounts of land. Air travel within cities has been limited compared to ground travel. Air travel can have a number of requirements making intra-city air travel difficult. For instance, aircraft can require significant resources such as fuel and infrastructure (e.g., runways), produce significant noise, and require significant time for boarding and alighting, each presenting technical challenges for achieving larger volume of air travel within cities or between neighboring cities. However, providing such air travel may reduce travel time over purely ground-based approaches as well as alleviate problems associated with traffic congestion. Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft provide opportunities to incorporate aerial transportation into transport networks for cities and metropolitan areas. VTOL aircraft require much less space to take-off and land relative to traditional aircraft. In addition, developments in battery technology have made electric VTOL aircraft technically and commercially viable. Electric VTOL aircraft may be quieter than aircraft using other power sources, which further increases their viability for use in built-up areas where noise may be a concern. SUMMARY Some embodiments relate to dynamic payload assignment for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft transport request is received, the request identifying a rider. A weight estimate of a payload associated with the rider is received. The payload associated with the rider is assigned to a VTOL aircraft based on the weight estimate and weight distribution criteria for the VTOL aircraft. A weight update of the payload associated with the rider is received. The payload associated with the rider is reassigned based on the weight update and the weight distribution criteria. In one embodiment, payload information for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is received. The payload information includes a weight and assigned location of one or more payload items. Weight distribution criteria for the VTOL aircraft is retrieved from a data store. An adjustment of a weight distribution of an internal component of the VTOL aircraft is determined based on the payload information and the weight distribution criteria. An instruction is sent to an actuator to change the weight distribution of the internal component according to the determined adjustment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a computing environment associated with an aviation transport network, according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates the transport services coordination system, according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates the payload module, according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is an illustration of riders and their luggage being voluntarily weighed on a scale, according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 illustrates an electric VTOL aircraft, according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of seat positions in a VTOL aircraft, according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 illustrates views of the seat positions illustrated in FIG. 6, according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method for dynamically assigning payloads associated with riders to VTOL aircraft, according to an embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method for adjusting internal compone