# US 11,027,825 B2 · Split-aileron control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,825 B2 - Document ID: US11027825B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/312,599 - Filed: 2017-06-23 - Published: 2019-10-24 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-30 - Assignees: Bombardier Inc. - Applicants: Bombardier Inc. - Inventors: Thomas Ahn; Grace Shwu Jen Tang; Farzad Mokhtarian; Gerardus Herbertus de Kok; Sebastien Eric Benoit Vigneron - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027825B2 ## CPC - B64C 13/503: {Fly-by-Wire} - B64C 13/18: using automatic pilot - G05D 1/00: Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots (drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00) - B64C 9/18: by single flaps - B64C 2009/005: {Ailerons} - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES ## Abstract The present disclosure provides methods and system for controlling the operation of an aircraft aileron which comprises an inboard portion and an outboard portion. A velocity of the aircraft is determined. Then, based on the velocity of the aircraft, the aileron is caused to move in certain ways. Below a first velocity threshold, the inboard aileron portion and the outboard aileron portion are caused to move substantially in unison. Between the first velocity threshold and a second, greater, velocity threshold, the outboard portion of the aileron is caused to lock and the inboard portion of the aileron is caused to move independently from the outboard portion. Above the second velocity threshold, the inboard portion is caused to move substantially opposite from the outboard portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling operation of an aircraft aileron comprising an inboard portion and an outboard portion, the method comprising: receiving an operator command for steering the aircraft from an operator control; determining a velocity of the aircraft at a time of receipt of the operator command; when the velocity is below a first threshold, causing the inboard aileron portion and the outboard aileron portion to move substantially in unison; when the velocity is above the first threshold and below a second threshold greater than the first threshold, causing the outboard portion of the aileron to lock and causing the inboard portion of the aileron to move independently from the outboard portion; and when the velocity is above the second threshold, causing the outboard portion of the aileron to move substantially opposite from the inboard portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: when the velocity is below the first threshold, generating and transmitting a first aileron control signal for causing the inboard portion to move independently from the outboard portion; when the velocity is above the first threshold and below the second threshold, generating and transmitting a second aileron control signal for causing the inboard portion of the aileron to move independently from the outboard portion; and when the velocity is above the second threshold, generating and transmitting a third aileron control signal for causing the outboard portion of the aileron to move substantially opposite from the inboard portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the aileron comprises a middle portion, the method further comprising, when the velocity is below a first threshold, causing the middle portion, the inboard portion and the outboard portion to move substantially in unison. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising generating and transmitting a fourth aileron control signal for effecting control of the middle portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the aileron comprises a middle portion, the method further comprising, when the velocity is above the first threshold, causing the middle portion to lock. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an autopilot command for steering the aircraft, and wherein determining the velocity of the aircraft comprises re-determining the velocity at a time of receipt of the autopilot command. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first threshold and the second threshold is computed dynamically based on at least one of an altitude, a Mach number, and environmental conditions for the aircraft. ### Claim 8 A system for controlling operation of an aircraft aileron comprising an inboard portion and an outboard portion, the system comprising: a processing unit; and a non-transitory computer-readable media communicatively coupled to the processing unit and comprising computer-readable program instructions executable by the processing unit for: receiving an operator command for steering the aircraft from an operator control; determining a velocity of the aircraft at a time of receipt of the operator command; and when the velocity is below a first threshold, causing the inboard aileron portion and the outboard aileron portion to move substantially in unison; when the velocity is above the first threshold and below a second threshold, causing the outboard portion of the aileron to lock and causing the inboard portion of the aileron to move independently from the outboard portion; and when the velocity is above the second threshold, causing the outboard portion of the aileron to move substantially opposite from the inboard portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, the program instructions being further executable by the processing unit for: when the velocity is below the first threshold, generating and transmitting a first aileron control signal for causing the inboard portion to move independently from the outboard portion; when the velocity is above the first threshold and below the second threshold, generating and transmitting a second aileron control signal for causing the inboard portion of the aileron to move independently from the outboard portion; and when the velocity is above the second threshold, generating and transmitting a third aileron control signal for causing the outboard portion of the aileron to move substantially opposite from the inboard portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the aileron comprises a middle portion, the program instructions being further executable for, when the velocity is below a first threshold, causing the middle portion, the inboard portion and the outboard portion to move substantially in unison. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, the program instructions being further executable by the processing unit for generating and transmitting a fourth aileron control signal for effecting control of the middle portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the aileron comprises a middle portion, the program instructions being further executable for, when the velocity is above the first threshold, causing the middle portion to lock. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, the program instructions being further executable by the processing unit for receiving an autopilot command for steering the aircraft, and wherein determining the velocity of the aircraft comprises re-determining the velocity at a time of receipt of the autopilot command. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first threshold and the second threshold is computed dynamically based on at least one of an altitude, a Mach number, and environmental conditions for the aircraft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first threshold and the second threshold is determined via a lookup table. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the second threshold is approximately a maximum operating velocity of the aircraft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the maximum operating velocity of the aircraft is defined as approximately 85% of a dive velocity of the aircraft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first threshold and the second threshold is defined as a percentage of a reversal velocity of the aircraft in a given operating mode of the aileron. ### Claim 19 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein sending the at least one third aileron control signal is performed when the velocity is above the second threshold and below a third threshold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the third threshold is a dive velocity of the aircraft. ### Claim 21 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first threshold and the second threshold is a range. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the first threshold is a range having a lower bound and an upper bound, the program instructions being further executable for, between the lower bound and the upper bound of the range of the first threshold, causing the outboard portion of the aileron to progressively lock and causing the inboard portion of the aileron to move independently from the outboard portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein causing the outboard portion of the aileron to progressively lock comprises changing a deflection ratio of the outboard portion of the aileron to the inboard portion of the aileron as a function of the velocity of the aircraft.