Patent Description:
This disclosure generally relates to electric vehicles, and more specifically to electrical vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft are aircraft that can take-off and land vertically and hover, providing the ability to carry travelers directly to their destination. Helicopters are VTOL aircraft that generate lift entirely through their rotors. Some VTOL aircraft have wings and propulsion systems that enable the wings to provide the lift required during forward flight. Some winged VTOL aircraft can be sufficiently efficient in forward flight that the aircraft can be battery powered. Electric VTOL aircraft may require battery charging or battery swapping between flights. Thus, the availability of electric VTOL aircraft may be less than hydrocarbon powered aircraft.

A port for electric vehicles is defined in claim <NUM>. A method for off-loading and loading passengers of electric vehicles is defined in claim <NUM>. According to various aspects, a port for electric vehicles to load and unload passengers is configured for high throughput and availability of electric vehicles. The port includes an unloading zone, a loading zone spaced from the unloading zone, and a charging zone located between the unloading and loading zones in which the electric vehicle can be charged when moving from the unloading zone to the loading zone. The port includes multiple lanes, each including its own unloading zone, loading zone, and charging zone. Electric vehicles that have arrived at the port can be routed to a particular lane based on a charging time for the electric vehicle such that vehicles that require less charge can be cycled quickly through a fast lane while longer charging vehicles can be charged through a slower lane.

The electric vehicles can be electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft that may land at a landing zone and then may be directed to the unloading zone. The aircraft may be moved to the unloading zone via a separate tug vehicle such that the aircraft does not move under its own power to the unloading zone. The tug vehicle may move the aircraft from the unloading zone and through the charging zone to the loading zone. Once passengers are loaded on the aircraft, the tug vehicle may move the aircraft to a take-off zone. Optionally, the port may have a single landing zone and a single take-off zone and multiple lanes for unloading, charging, and loading.

According to an aspect, a port for electric vehicles includes an off-loading zone for off-loading one or more passengers from an electric vehicle; a loading zone for loading one or more passengers onto the electric vehicle; and a charging zone for charging the electric vehicle while the electric vehicle is moving from the off-loading zone to the loading zone.

The port includes multiple lanes, each lane comprising a respective off-loading zone, loading zone, and charging zone.

Optionally, the electric vehicle is an electric aircraft.

Optionally, the port include a landing zone for aircraft to land and a take-off zone for aircraft to take-off, wherein the charging zone is located in a facility and the facility is located between the landing zone and the take-off zone.

Optionally, the port includes at least one tug vehicle for moving the electric aircraft from the landing zone to the off-loading zone.

Optionally, the at least one tug vehicle is autonomous.

Optionally, the port includes separate access ramps for passengers to access the off-loading zone and the loading zone.

Optionally, the port includes a tether for connecting to the electric vehicle to provide electricity while the electric vehicle is moving through the charging zone.

Optionally, the tether is configured to automatically connect to the electric vehicle.

Optionally, the tether is configured to cool the electric vehicle during charging.

According to an aspect, a method for off-loading and loading passengers of electric vehicles includes positioning the electric vehicle at an off-loading zone and off-loading at least one arriving passenger; moving the electric vehicle through a charging zone toward a loading zone and charging the electric vehicle while the electric vehicle is moving toward the loading zone; and loading at least one departing passenger on the electric vehicle while the electric vehicle is located in the loading zone.

The method includes routing the electric vehicle to a particular off-loading zone based on a required amount of charging.

Optionally, the method includes moving the electric vehicle toward the loading zone by a tug vehicle.

Optionally, the tug vehicle is autonomous.

Optionally, the electric vehicle is an electric aircraft, and the method includes directing the electric aircraft to land at a landing zone before off-loading the at least one arriving passenger and directing the electric aircraft to take-off from a take-off zone after loading the at least one departing passenger, wherein the landing zone and the take-off zone are separate zones located on opposite sides of the charging zone.

Optionally, the method includes cooling the electric vehicle while the electric vehicle is charging.

Optionally, the method includes flowing coolant to the electric vehicle for cooling the electric vehicle while charging the electric vehicle.

Optionally, the method includes automatically connecting a charging tether to the electric vehicle.

Optionally, the method includes charging multiple electric vehicles simultaneously in adjacent charging zones.

Optionally, the electric vehicle moves in a single direction from the off-loading zone to the loading zone.

Described herein are various aspects of ports configured for high throughput of electric vehicles, such as electric VTOL aircraft, electric buses, electric boats, and electric cars. Ports are configured with multiple charging lanes for simultaneously charging multiple onboard batteries of multiple electric vehicles. Ports may include landing and take-off zones that are spaced from one another, which reduces congestion and can increase throughput through the port. Electric vehicles may move through the port from arrival, through charging lanes, and to departure in the same direction, which can avoid delays associated with electric vehicles crossing paths. Ports may include spaced apart zones for passenger unloading and loading, which can provide non-crossing paths for passenger movement through the port. Electric vehicles may be charged in a charging zone located between the unloading and loading zones. Electric vehicles charge while moving through the charging zone.

The charging zone may include a tether system that may manually or automatically connect to a port of the aircraft. The tether system may provide electricity to the electric vehicle for charging. A tether connected to the electric vehicle may be movable with the aircraft as the electric vehicle moves through the charging zone, so that the aircraft can charge as it is moving through the charging zone. The tether system may be configured to provide cooling fluid to the electric vehicle for cooling the batteries during charging.

The electric vehicle may by moved through the port between the landing and take-off zones by a tug vehicle. The tug vehicle may be an autonomous, semi-autonomous, or manually operated vehicle. In some variations, the electric vehicle may move through at least a portion of the port under its own power.

Electric vehicles are routed to different charging lanes of the port based on a desired charging time for the electric vehicle. For example, electric vehicles that require shorter charging times (e.g., the vehicles just completed a relative short trip) may be routed to a different lane than vehicles requiring longer charging times. For example, charging lanes can be designated for <NUM> minute charging, <NUM> minute charging, and <NUM> minute charging. An arriving vehicle that will require <NUM> minutes to charge (to fully charge or to charge to a level required for a next trip) may be routed to the <NUM> minute charge lane. By directing vehicle to different lanes based on charging, vehicles that need less charging time are not stuck behind vehicles that need more charging time, which can increase the throughput of electric vehicles through the port.

In the following description of the disclosure and embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments that can be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments and examples can be practiced, and changes can be made, without departing from the scope of the claims.

In addition, it is also to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" used in the following description are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is also to be understood that the term "and/or"," as used herein, refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It is further to be understood that the terms "includes, "including," "comprises," and/or "comprising," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or units, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, units, and/or groups thereof.

<FIG> illustrate a port <NUM> for VTOL aircraft <NUM>. <FIG> are perspective views of the port <NUM>, <FIG> is a front view of the port <NUM>, <FIG> is a rear view of the port <NUM>, <FIG> is a side of the port <NUM>, and <FIG> is a top view of the port <NUM>. The port <NUM> provides terminals for passengers embarking and disembarking the aircraft <NUM>. The port <NUM> may be located on the top of a building <NUM>, such as a parking structure. In some embodiments, the building is a pre-existing, such as a pre-existing parking structure, that is retrofitted with the port <NUM>.

The port <NUM> includes a runway level <NUM> that includes a landing zone <NUM> at one side and a take-off zone <NUM> located at an opposite side. Located between the landing and take-off zones is a lounge level <NUM> that provides passenger access to the runway level <NUM>. The lounge level <NUM> may have a waiting area <NUM> where departing passengers may wait for their aircraft to be ready for loading. The waiting area <NUM> may include a check-in area, restaurants, shops, etc. The lounge level <NUM> is supported above the runway level <NUM> such that aircraft <NUM> can move under the lounge level <NUM>.

The aircraft <NUM> lands at the landing zone <NUM> and moves to the lounge level <NUM> for passengers to disembark. After passengers disembark, the aircraft <NUM> moves through the lounge level <NUM> to a loading zone where departing passengers get onto the aircraft. As the aircraft <NUM> is moving through the lounge level <NUM>, the aircraft <NUM> is charged. Once the aircraft <NUM> is charged and departing passengers have been loaded, the aircraft moves to the take-off zone <NUM> from which the aircraft departs once cleared.

The port <NUM> includes multiple lanes 116a-c for aircraft to move through the port <NUM>. Each lane 116a-c may begin at the same landing zone and end at the same take-off zone or there may be multiple landing zones and/or multiple take-off zones. With multiple lanes 116a-c, the port can handle multiple arriving/departing aircraft at the same time. Although three lane are shown, a port can include any number of lanes depending on the available space and expected throughput of the port. In some cases, a port may include just a single lane. A port may include at least two lanes, at least three lanes, at least four lanes, at least five lanes, or more. A port may include multiple different lounge levels that may each include multiple lanes.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the movement of an electric aircraft <NUM> through the port <NUM>, according to various embodiments. <FIG> is a side view of the port <NUM>. <FIG> is a plan view of the port <NUM> with the lounge level <NUM> not shown. The aircraft <NUM> lands at the landing zone <NUM>. The aircraft <NUM> then moves or is moved to an unloading zone <NUM>. The aircraft may move to the unloading zone <NUM> under its own power or may be towed to the unloading zone, such as via a tug vehicle that moves out to the loading zone, latches to the aircraft <NUM> and tows the aircraft <NUM> to the unloading zone <NUM>. The tug vehicle could be, for example, an electric vehicle. Optionally, the tug vehicle operates autonomously.

When the aircraft is at the unloading zone <NUM>, any passengers on the aircraft <NUM> disembark and exit the runway level <NUM>. The passengers may exit the port <NUM> in a downward direction through the building <NUM>.

After passengers have left the aircraft <NUM>, the aircraft <NUM> moves through a charging zone <NUM> toward a loading zone <NUM>. While in the charging zone <NUM>, the aircraft <NUM> may be tethered to charging lines that provide charging energy to the aircraft <NUM> for charging the batteries of the aircraft <NUM>. The charging zone <NUM> may include an overhead structure <NUM> for supporting a charging tether that connects to the aircraft from above, which can ensure that power lines are not running along the floor of the runway level <NUM>.

The aircraft <NUM> may be moved through the charging zone <NUM> by a tug vehicle. The aircraft <NUM> may move continuously through the charging zone <NUM> to the loading zone <NUM> or may stop within the charging zone <NUM>. The aircraft <NUM> may charge as the aircraft <NUM> moves through the charging zone <NUM>, may charge when the aircraft <NUM> is stationary within the charging zone <NUM>, or both. The aircraft <NUM> charges for an amount of time sufficient to reach a desired charge level, which may be a desired charge level for the next flight or can be a threshold charge level that is not based on the next flight (i.e., all aircraft charge to the same predetermined level regardless of their next flight plan).

The aircraft <NUM> moves through the charging zone <NUM> to the loading zone <NUM>. While in the loading zone <NUM>, the aircraft <NUM> may not be tethered to the charging system. While the aircraft <NUM> is in the loading zone <NUM>, departing passengers can move from the lounge level <NUM> to the runway level <NUM> and move onboard the aircraft <NUM>. The departing passengers may move downward from the lounge level <NUM> to the runway level <NUM>, such as via one or more ramps, staircases, elevators, etc. The pathway for departing passengers to access the runway may be different than the pathway for arriving passengers such that departing passengers and arriving passengers remain separate while in the port <NUM>.

Once departing passengers are loaded on the aircraft <NUM>, the aircraft <NUM> moves to the take-off zone <NUM>. The aircraft <NUM> may be moved to the take-off zone <NUM> by a tug vehicle. The aircraft <NUM> may then power on its propulsion system and take-off when cleared.

A port <NUM> includes multiple unloading/loading/charging lanes. The example illustrated in <FIG> includes three lanes, indicated by reference numerals 116a-c. An aircraft <NUM> that has landed at the landing zone <NUM> is routed to one of the lanes 116a-c. Lanes are designated based on charging time, such that aircraft that require less charging may be routed to a different lane than aircraft that require more charging. For example, the three lanes illustrated in <FIG> and 2C may be divided into short, medium, and long charging times. The aircraft <NUM> may provide battery level information to the port <NUM>, such as prior to arrival or upon arrival, and the port <NUM> may determine which lane to route the aircraft based on a determined amount of charging time for the aircraft <NUM> to be able to accomplish its next flight. A tug vehicle may come out to the aircraft <NUM> at the landing zone <NUM>, attached to the aircraft <NUM>, and tow the aircraft <NUM> to the appropriate lane 126a-c.

As illustrated by the arrows in <FIG>, electric aircraft move through the port <NUM>, from the landing zone <NUM>, through the charging zones <NUM>, to the take-off zone <NUM> in the same direction (left-to-right in <FIG>). This streamlined movement of aircraft through the port <NUM> can increase the throughput of aircraft through the port by minimizing the changes of aircraft crossing paths.

<FIG> illustrates the reversal of the movement of aircraft <NUM> through the port <NUM> relative to that shown in <FIG>, which may be used depending on weather conditions. In the reversal condition, the take-off and landing zone locations are swapped, the loading and unloading zones are swapped, and the direction of movement through the charging zone is reversed relative to the flow illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a configuration of a port <NUM> that may be used in confined spaces that are not large enough to accommodate port <NUM>. Relative to port <NUM>, port <NUM> can be about half the size. The aircraft <NUM> land and take-off at the same zone <NUM>. An arriving aircraft <NUM> move to an unloading zone <NUM> of a designated lane 408a-c for passengers to offload. The aircraft <NUM> then moves to the charging zone <NUM> where it charges and turns around to face the opposite direction. The aircraft <NUM> then moves back to the same zone <NUM> used for unloading, at which point passengers may board the aircraft <NUM>. The aircraft <NUM> then moves to the landing/take-off zone <NUM> for take-off.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate aspects of a charging zone <NUM>, according to various aspects. The aircraft <NUM> may move to a starting zone <NUM> of the charging zone <NUM> at which time a charging tether <NUM> may be connected to the aircraft <NUM>. The charging tether <NUM> may be mounted to a support structure <NUM> above the aircraft <NUM> and may connect to an upper portion of the aircraft <NUM>. The charging tether <NUM> may be manually connected to a charging port of the aircraft <NUM> or may automatically connect to a charging port of the aircraft <NUM>. The charging tether <NUM> may be telescopic and may telescope downward to connect to the aircraft <NUM> and retract upward once charging is complete. The charging tether <NUM> may be movable along the support structure <NUM> so that the charging tether <NUM> can remain connected to the aircraft <NUM> as the aircraft <NUM> moves through the charging zone <NUM> to an ending zone <NUM> of the charging zone <NUM>. In some variations, the aircraft <NUM> may remain stationary while charging. One the aircraft <NUM> is located in the ending zone <NUM> and done charging, the charging tether <NUM> may disconnect (automatically or manually) from the aircraft <NUM>.

In addition to charging the aircraft <NUM>, the charging zone <NUM> may be configured to cool the aircraft <NUM> during charging. For example, the charging tether <NUM> may include a cooling line <NUM> in addition to a charging line <NUM>. The cooling line <NUM> may flow a cooling fluid (e.g., air or a coolant) that may move through the aircraft <NUM>. The aircraft <NUM> may include a cooling pathway that routes cooling fluid through the aircraft, such as through heat exchangers for the battery packs <NUM>. Cooling may be beneficial while charging due to the increase in temperature caused by charging and the lack of air cooling that would otherwise be available while the aircraft is flying.

As noted above, a port can be retrofitted to an existing building, such as a parking garage. <FIG> illustrates an example of retrofitting a port to an existing structure. The runway level <NUM> of the port is formed on or built atop the top of the existing structure <NUM>. An exoskeleton <NUM> that includes the lounge level <NUM> is built onto the existing structure <NUM>. The exoskeleton <NUM> may support operation components such as elevators, power units, storage, etc. An outer structure <NUM> is then built around the exoskeleton <NUM>. The outer structure <NUM> can include an "alive" layer formed of plants, making the port both aesthetically and technically "greener. " Existing stairways, ramps, and/or elevators in the existing structure <NUM> may be used for passengers to access and exit the port. New or additional stairways, ramps, and/or elevators may be added.

<FIG> illustrate a port <NUM> installed at a remote location, such as a desert, forest, or other non-urban location. The port <NUM> may be configured in similar fashion to port <NUM> or port <NUM>, discussed above, with respect to the movement of aircraft through the port <NUM>. In the illustrated example, port <NUM> is configured in similar fashion to port <NUM>, with a single landing/take-off zone <NUM>. The port <NUM> may include sloping sides <NUM> that be designed to blend in with the surrounding environment. A solar energy harvesting farm <NUM> may be installed nearby the port <NUM> to provide energy to the port for charging aircraft. The solar farm <NUM> and/or port <NUM> may include energy storage for storing energy harvested by the solar farm <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the port <NUM> may include tunnels <NUM> for passengers to safely access and leave the port <NUM> to and from outside networks, such as train stations, roads, trails, etc., while preserving the surrounding environment. The tunnels <NUM> may open to the natural surroundings such that an arriving passenger leaves the port <NUM> directing to the surrounding environment.

The foregoing description, for the purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the techniques and their practical applications. Others skilled in the art are thereby enabled to best utilize the techniques and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated, and if included within the scope of the claims.

Claim 1:
A port (<NUM>) for electric vehicles comprising:
multiple lanes (116a, 116b, 116c) to which the electric vehicles are routed, each lane comprising
an off-loading zone (<NUM>) for off-loading one or more passengers from an electric vehicle,
a loading zone (<NUM>) for loading one or more passengers onto the electric vehicle, and
a charging zone (<NUM>) for charging the electric vehicle while the electric vehicle is moving from the off-loading zone to the loading zone,
wherein the lanes are designated for routing of each electric vehicle based on a required charging time of each electric vehicle.