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US 10,293,927 B1Granted
Control system for a stopped rotor aircraft
AssigneeKitty Hawk Corporation
InventorsGregory Mainland Horn, Damon Vander Lind
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
While an aircraft is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with a stoppable rotor is calculated where the stoppable rotor includes a first and second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis. A process to stop the stoppable rotor is started, while the aircraft is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, where the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward.
Claims25
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:
- calculate, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
- start a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
- and
- determine that the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position.
4 more elements
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:
- calculate, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
- start a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
- and
- adjust a braking start point based at least in part on a crosswind.
4 more elements
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:
- calculate, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
- start a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
- and
- rotate the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation.
4 more elements
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:
- calculate, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
- start a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
- and
- rotate the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation until the stoppable rotor is in a stable position.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- calculating, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
- starting a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
- and
- determining that the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position.
1 more element
A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
- calculating, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
- starting a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
- and
- determining that the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- calculating, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
- starting a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
- and
- adjusting a braking start point based at least in part on a crosswind.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- calculating, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
- starting a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
- and
- rotating the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- calculating, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
- starting a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
- and
- rotating the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation until the stoppable rotor is in a stable position.
1 more element
A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
- calculating, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
- starting a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
- and
- adjusting a braking start point based at least in part on a crosswind.
1 more element
A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
- calculating, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
- starting a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
- and
- rotating the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation.
1 more element
A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
- calculating, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
- starting a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
- and
- rotating the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation until the stoppable rotor is in a stable position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.