Propeller impact detection and force reduction
AssigneeKitty Hawk Corporation
InventorChristopher Scott Saunders
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A commanded control signal is compared against an adaptive control signal in order to detect a rotor strike by a rotor included in an aircraft, wherein the adaptive control signal is associated with controlling the rotor and the adaptive control signal varies based at least in part on the commanded control signal and state information associated with the rotor. In response to detecting the rotor strike, a control signal to the rotor is adjusted in order to reduce a striking force associated with the rotor.
Claims21
A system, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
- detect a rotor strike including by comparing a commanded control signal against an adaptive control signal, wherein the rotor strike is caused by a rotor included in an aircraft striking an object and the adaptive control signal is associated with controlling the rotor and the adaptive control signal varies based at least in part on the commanded control signal and state information associated with the rotor;
- and
- in response to detecting the rotor strike, adjust a control signal to the rotor to change rotation of the rotor to reduce a striking force applied to the object being struck by the rotor and prevent damage to at least one of the object being struck and the rotor during at least one of:
- take-off, landing, and flying at a steady altitude.
A method of rotor strike detection and striking force reduction, the method comprising:
- detecting, using a processor, a rotor strike including by comparing a commanded control signal against an adaptive control signal, wherein the rotor strike is caused by a rotor included in an aircraft striking an object and the adaptive control signal is associated with controlling the rotor and the adaptive control signal varies based at least in part on the commanded control signal and state information associated with the rotor;
- and in response to detecting the rotor strike, adjusting, using the processor, a control signal to the rotor to change rotation of the rotor to reduce a striking force applied to the object being struck by the rotor and prevent damage to at least one of the object being struck and the rotor during at least one of:
- take-off, landing, and flying at a steady altitude.
A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
- detecting, using a processor, a rotor strike including by comparing a commanded control signal against an adaptive control signal, wherein the rotor strike is caused by a rotor included in an aircraft striking an object and the adaptive control signal is associated with controlling the rotor and the adaptive control signal varies based at least in part on the commanded control signal and state information associated with the rotor;
- and in response to detecting the rotor strike, adjusting, using the processor, a control signal to the rotor to change rotation of the rotor to reduce a striking force applied to the object being struck by the rotor and prevent damage to at least one of the object being struck and the rotor during at least one of:
- take-off, landing, and flying at a steady altitude.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.