System and method for providing in-cockpit actuation of aircraft controls

#The present disclosure relates to the field of flight control systems, methods, and apparatuses; even more particularly, to actuation systems for in-cockpit robot actuation of aircraft controls.

#Recent experience with automation in cockpits has shown that prior approaches of adding additional functionality to flight decks increases complexity, causes overreliance on automation, and may not necessarily reduce workload; especially during critical situations. An additional challenge is that avionics manufacturers, in order to provide high reliability and verifiability, have instituted strict requirements-based design and change orders for any desired improvements. Thus, conversion of legacy aircraft is generally cost prohibitive and requires a large capital investment in requirements, verification, and testing.

#Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation of Manassas, Va. has previously developed a right-seat pilot assistant capable of operating a Diamond DA42 Twin Star during takeoff, cruise, and landing. The right-seat pilot assistant, called Centaur, can be installed into, and removed from, the DA42 without affecting the original type certificate, thus maintaining the aircraft's original certification. Centaur includes mechanical actuation of the primary flight controls and its own avionics suite, and may be used with a pilot in a supervisory role or as a fully unmanned aircraft.

#These and other advantages of the present disclosure may be readily understood with the reference to the following specifications and attached drawings wherein:

#FIG. 1a illustrates a block diagram of an example automation system.

#FIG. 1b illustrates an example flow of information data between the subsystems of FIG. 1a.

#Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure may be described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail because they may obscure the disclosure in unnecessary detail. For this disclosure, the following terms and definitions shall apply.

#As used herein, the words “about” and “approximately,” when used to modify or describe a value (or range of values), mean reasonably close to that value or range of values. Thus, the embodiments described herein are not limited to only the recited values and ranges of values, but rather should include reasonably workable deviations. As utilized herein, circuitry or a device is “operable” to perform a function whenever the circuitry or device comprises the necessary hardware and code (if any is necessary) to perform the function, regardless of whether performance of the function is disabled, or not enabled (e.g., by a user-configurable setting, factory trim, etc.).

#As used herein, the terms “aerial vehicle” and “aircraft” refer to a machine capable of flight, including, but not limited to, both traditional runway and vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) aircraft. VTOL aircraft may include fixed-wing aircraft (e.g., Harrier jets), rotorcraft (e.g., helicopters), and/or tilt-rotor/tilt-wing aircraft.