Landing and take-off have always been the hardest part in flying. This led to the early development of the automatic landing system for commercial airlines, which have been operational since the mid-1960s. In contrast, take-off has continued to be done manually.
At the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow, Embraer announced the world’s first automated takeoff system called the Embraer Enhanced Takeoff System (E2TS), which is expected to enter service in late 2025. This system is designed to improve precision, boost safety, and reduce pilot workload.
Embraer through the years
Embraer was founded in 1969 by the Brazilian government to help Brazil become a major force in the global aerospace industry. It began by producing Bandeirante, a twin-turbopop for regional and military use. The company expanded its lineup with military aircrafts like the Tucano trainer and AMX light attack jet. After being privatized in 1994, Embraer ramped up their innovation and expanded internationally. Today, Embraer ranks as the world’s third largest aircraft manufacturer.
In this article, we examine Embraer’s patenting activity over the years and understand the patents behind the Enhanced Takeoff System.
Embraer’s Patenting Activity
Embraer was founded in 1969 by the Brazilian government to help Brazil become a major force in the global aerospace industry. It began by producing Bandeirante, a twin-turbopop for regional and military use. The company expanded its lineup with military aircrafts like the Tucano trainer and AMX light attack jet. After being privatized in 1994, Embraer ramped up their innovation and expanded internationally. Today, Embraer ranks as the world’s third largest aircraft manufacturer.
In this article, we examine Embraer’s patenting activity over the years and understand the patents behind the Enhanced Takeoff System.
Embraer’s patenting activity clearly aligns with the manufacturer’s innovation strategy. In 2013, Embraer launched their E2 series jets with the E190-E2’s first flight in 2016 and the majority of the flight tests conducted the following year. During this time, Embraer saw increased patent filings, reading a record high of 56 in 2017. Another factor to consider is the establishment of its corporate innovation arm, EmbraerX, in 2017. This is followed by the unveiling of Embraer’s own electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) concept in 2018, which may have pushed the filing activity during that period. The increase in 2019 also coincides with the E190-E2’s certification and delivery in 2018 and the larger variant’s certification in 2019.
Patents by jurisdiction
Despite being a Brazilian company, the majority of Embraer’s patent filings are made in the United States (117) with Brazil (92) only coming in second. This likely reflects the importance of the United States as the major market for its regional jet airliners. This is followed by the European Union (67) and China (50), showing Embraer’s growing presence in both.
Embraer’s Top Technology Areas
As an aircraft manufacturer, the majority of Embraer’s filings are concentrated within the categories B64D and B64C, which are associated with equipment and objects that are put into aircraft and aircraft design in general. The distribution of technology areas is aligned with Embraer’s entity as an aircraft manufacturer, and emphasizes Embraer’s drive to research and develop for aircraft innovation. This includes a focus on climate change mitigation as reflected with their patents under the Y02T category.
Top Law Firms Representing Embraer
Embraer’s patent filings are represented by a diverse group of legal representatives from the U.S., Europe, China, Brazil, and Russia. Nixon & Vanderhye P.C. in the U.S. leads by a significant margin, followed by Boehmert & Boehmert in Europe and China Sinda Intellectual Property Agents Ltd. in China. In Brazil, Veriano Advogados plays the major role while Gorodissky & Partners handles filings in Russia.
Embraer Enhanced Takeoff System (E2TS) and the patents behind it
The Embraer Enhanced Takeoff System (E2TS) is the world’s first automatic takeoff system designed to automate the takeoff rotation of the E2 jet family. It aims to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and performance, with Embraer citing a benchmark range increase of 350NM from London City Airport.
Function of the E2TS
U.S. Patent No. 8,793,040 entitled “Climb-optimized auto takeoff system” presents an aircraft functionality for improving takeoff performance by allowing the aircraft to rotate at an optimal pitch angle during and after the period of rotation without risking tail strikes. This patent establishes the foundational principles of the E2TS and the systems that support its operation.
The patent describes a climbed-optimized takeoff system in which various sensors and voting arrays monitor parameters such as temperature, air pressure, and speed, and send this data to the system. It consists of a receiver called the pitch guidance subsystem which is connected to a pitch control subsystem for performing optimized-takeoff calculations based on said data, including pilot input and aircraft configuration.
The system then transmits the information to the flight control system that controls the flight control surfaces, such as the elevators, and the aircraft’s display monitor for the pilot’s reference. The subsystem also includes an automatic takeoff option that controls the aircraft based on the optimized takeoff calculations and the aircraft’s geometry, without further pilot intervention and while preventing tail strikes.
The patent was filed on June 10, 2011 and was granted on July 29, 2014. Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C. represented Embraer for this patent. The listed inventors are Patrice London Guedes, Ricardo Wallach, Guilherme Maximiliano Verhalen, and Salvador Jorge da Cunha Ronconi.
Operating the E2TS
U.S. Patent No. 11,226,639 entitled “Enhanced take-off system” updates the previous patent with the addition of details on operating the system. The patent further describes the enhanced takeoff system (ETS) integrated into the aircraft’s closed-loop fly-by-wire architecture, requiring no additional inputs during the takeoff sequence. Outlined also is the flow of data to and from the aircraft and system featuring the ETS logic that embodies the climb-optimized control system described in the ‘040 patent.
The pilot initializes the system to compute the maximum allowable pitch to prevent a tail strike during takeoff and the maximum angle of attack to prevent the aircraft from stalling once airborne. The data is then sent to the longitudinal flight control system that is responsible for controlling the longitudinal control surfaces, as also disclosed in the ‘040 patent.
In addition to pitch control, the system now includes control on the lateral-directional control surfaces, which was not in the ‘040 patent, to keep the wings leveled during the takeoff roll and avoid hitting the runway. The same ETS control logic is also responsible for sending commands to said control surfaces based on the information transmitted from the aircraft’s inertial system and air data provided by the probes.
The pilot initiates an automatic takeoff by setting up the ETS through the cockpit interface, such as the Multi-Function Control Display Unit (MCDU). Then the pilot prepares the cockpit for takeoff configuration. The existing takeoff configuration monitor of the aircraft is enhanced to verify that all prerequisites for the ETS function are met, and alert the pilot if otherwise. Advancing the throttles at the start of the takeoff sequence fully activates the ETS function, with indications provided for the pilot to monitor during the takeoff roll.
In the event of failure/s, the aircraft alerts the crew through standard autopilot aural warning, visual indications, and Crew Alerting System (CAS) messages that are displayed through the monitor. A separate flight director then provides the appropriate instructions to be followed according to the failure/s present.
U.S. Patent No. 11,226,639 was filed on September 23, 2016 and was granted on January 18, 2022 with Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C as the representative. Daniel Paulo De Tarso Ferreira, Thomas Kestenbach, Luiz Gustavo Medeiros Carneiro, Patrice London Guedes, and José Roberto Ferreira De Camargo Clark Reis are listed as the inventors.
